Acquiring preemptive knowledge about emerging technologies is the best way to ensure that we have a say in the making of our future.

The quote argues that agency in a technology-shaped society depends on learning ahead of the curve. “Preemptive knowledge” suggests not merely reacting to innovations once they are widespread, but understanding them early enough to influence how they are designed, governed, and distributed. It frames technological literacy as a civic tool: those who grasp emerging tools can participate in debates about ethics, regulation, and social impact, while those who do not risk having decisions made for them by experts, corporations, or states. The emphasis is less on prediction than on preparedness—building the capacity to question, prototype, and intervene before trajectories harden into infrastructure and policy.