I believe in the power of shared data and technology to help

Hear now the words of the visionary Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft and dreamer of vast horizons, who proclaimed: “I believe in the power of shared data and technology to help build a better future.” These words are not only the reflections of a man of invention, but also a torch held high for generations yet to come. For in them lies the conviction that knowledge, when unlocked and shared, becomes not merely power for the few, but light for the many.

From the beginning of human history, the greatest leaps forward have come not from solitary genius, but from the sharing of knowledge. The wheel, the plow, the alphabet, the compass—none of these remained the possession of one tribe or one man. They spread, were improved upon, and became pillars of civilization. Thus Allen’s words echo the law of the ancients: that knowledge hoarded is fragile, but knowledge shared becomes immortal.

Consider the story of the Library of Alexandria, the fabled storehouse of ancient wisdom. There, scrolls from across nations were gathered, and scholars from many lands studied together. Though the library itself was lost to flame, its spirit endured—the belief that the accumulation and sharing of knowledge can lift humanity higher than any single throne or empire. In our own day, Allen saw technology as the new library, a vast and living archive where data could be shared freely to guide medicine, science, and discovery.

Indeed, his vision was not abstract. Paul Allen devoted his wealth to fields where shared data could change destinies: medical research, brain science, space exploration, and artificial intelligence. He believed that technology was not an idol to be worshiped for profit, but a tool to be wielded for the good of all. His life itself became a parable—of how one who gathers great resources must open them to the many, so that the seeds of progress may flourish in unexpected soil.

The meaning of his words is therefore both noble and urgent. In an age where technology grows swiftly, the temptation is great for nations, corporations, and individuals to hoard knowledge, to build walls around data, to wield it as a weapon of dominance. But Allen’s voice calls to us across the noise: that if knowledge is to shape a better future, it must be shared, not hidden; it must serve humanity, not enslave it.

The lesson is this: every one of us can choose to be a keeper of gates or an opener of doors. You may not hold the wealth of Paul Allen, but in your own life, the principle remains. Share what you know, that others may rise. Use technology not only for your gain, but to uplift your community. Speak, teach, and build in such a way that your gifts do not end with you, but continue in those who come after.

Take action, beloved seeker. When you learn, pass it on. When you invent, consider how it might serve the world. Support open knowledge, open collaboration, and the free exchange of ideas that make all stronger. For every fragment of truth shared is a stone laid in the foundation of the better future Allen envisioned.

Thus the voice of Paul Allen becomes like the voice of an elder from the ancient halls: Believe in the power of shared data and technology, not for the glory of one, but for the good of all. Let these words guide you, that in your own measure you may help build not only a future of progress, but a future of justice, wisdom, and light.