We've stopped trusting institutions and started trusting strangers | Rachel Botsman
TED
17 min, 9 sec
An in-depth exploration of how trust has evolved from local to institutional and is now entering a distributed phase with technology playing a key role.
Summary
- Trust is essential for society and is being transformed by technology, impacting how we connect with others and institutions.
- BlaBlaCar is an example of a 'trust leap' where strangers share long car rides, relying on social profiles and reviews.
- Trust is redefined as a confident relationship to the unknown, and three significant chapters of trust evolution are described: local, institutional, and distributed.
- The blockchain technology exemplifies the shift to distributed trust, removing the need for intermediaries in transactions.
- Platforms like Uber and Didi demonstrate the power of technology to create trust at a scale and in ways that were never possible before.
Chapter 1
The speaker introduces the concept of trust, its fundamental importance, and the profound changes happening in how we trust.
- Trust is a fundamental aspect of human interactions.
- Modern technology is changing the way we trust strangers and institutions.
- Examples of Airbnb, Bitcoin, and Tinder illustrate new forms of trust.
Chapter 2
The speaker discusses BlaBlaCar, a carpooling service, as an example of a 'trust leap' where users rely on social cues to trust strangers.
- BlaBlaCar pairs drivers and passengers for long-distance travel based on social profiles and reviews.
- The service demonstrates a shift in trust, allowing strangers to share rides over average distances of 320 kilometers.
- The key social identifier on BlaBlaCar is the amount of conversation passengers prefer, indicated by 'Bla' ratings.
Chapter 3

An interactive visualization exercise is conducted to help the audience understand the concept of trust leaps.
- The audience is guided to visualize a gap between themselves and the unknown, which trust helps them to cross.
- Trust enables individuals to embrace new experiences, such as online shopping or ride-sharing.

Chapter 4

The speaker offers a personal definition of trust and its role in enabling connection and coping with uncertainty.
- Traditional definitions of trust are challenged as being too rational and predictable.
- Trust is redefined as a confident relationship with the unknown.
- This new definition explains trust's capacity to facilitate change and innovation.

Chapter 5

The concept of the 'trust stack' is introduced, explaining how people develop trust in new ideas and platforms, using BlaBlaCar as an illustration.
- Climbing the trust stack involves trusting the idea, the platform, and other individuals.
- Initial trust leaps can feel risky, but can quickly become normalized.
- Technology is pivotal in facilitating trust leaps and enabling change.

Chapter 6

Trust is examined through its historical evolution, highlighting three major chapters: local, institutional, and distributed trust.
- Trust evolved from local, personal relationships to institutional trust with the growth of cities and corporations.
- Institutional trust is waning in the digital age, giving way to distributed trust.
- The shift in trust is leading to a redesign of systems to be more transparent and accountable.

Chapter 7

Blockchain technology is discussed as a revolutionary tool for the future of distributed trust, eliminating the need for third-party intermediaries.
- Blockchain technology is complex but offers a decentralized ledger of asset transfers.
- It represents a significant shift in trust, allowing direct peer-to-peer interactions without intermediaries.

Chapter 8

Uber is analyzed as a case study of distributed trust, showing how technology can create trust between people on a massive scale.
- Uber's success demonstrates a cultural shift to trusting strangers for transportation services.
- Distributed trust through platforms like Uber has led to increased accountability and changed behaviors.

Chapter 9

The speaker concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding and embracing the shift in trust to design more inclusive and accountable systems.
- The real disruption is not technological but the trust shift it creates.
- The speaker aims to help people understand this new era of trust for creating more transparent systems.

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