While I think the author has some valid points regarding the intersection of software and the human experience, the majority of the article strikes me as a knee jerk reaction to the election. I agree that there are deranged CEOs using technology to act like philosopher kings raking in the money, but I disagree with the idea that Silicon Valley has an empathy vacuum. It's much more realistic to observe that humans are in the Information Age and haven't adequately developed public policy and education on how we allow technology to affect our lives. I think it's best to focus on solutions and how we can move forward to create a society we're proud of.
I think many issues the author lamented can be addressed via education. When I was first introduced to the Internet, very little of the education I received focused on verifying information found on various sites. Schools should consider adding a digital citizenship course that encompasses topics like verifying information, maintaining security with password managers, when to troll/when not to troll (possibly a futile endeavor), and general information about how our devices work. Instead of waiting for multi-million dollar corporations to change, we can empower the disenfranchised through education.
Automation is the future and likely the present. Instead of blaming the technology, the U.S. should focus on developing policy and education initiatives to address the role and scope of automation, the possibility of universal basic income, and how we move forward in an automated environment.