Technology, the human replacement

 

"The true measure of humanity is striving to be better than you were yesterday." Dr. BLR

 

The world as we knew it before the 1990s didn’t prepare us for the world we live in today. I never imagined life would become so much easier to manage, but it could also lead to our downfall. This is a frightening thought, but if we don’t act now, there may be no way to undo it.

Back in the day, I was part of the Encyclopedia Britannica generation. This was a forgotten era, but for those who grew up reading them, you know exactly what I mean. Everything we knew about anything was in these books. Families used to have salespeople knocking on their doors, explaining the benefits of giving their families access to the world's knowledge. These books were expensive, and only those with disposable income could afford them. I grew up with these green-and-white books, proudly stored on a bookshelf in our home for everyone to admire and for our family to read. I have no idea how my parents could afford them. But these were simple times with not much to think about. Just open the books and read. 

As society advanced, everything around us also changed. With the rise of computers and then the internet, we stayed glued to our screens, waiting for our incredibly slow dial-up modem to connect so we could access the World Wide Web. The annoying “You got mail” voice told us to check who sent us a message on AOL, whether it was something special or spam. I thought this was the best we could do, so I didn’t expect much more.

Then technology skyrocketed when Apple launched several products that sparked our addiction. First came music and the iPod in 2001, followed by our downfall—the iPhone in 2007. Who knew they could fit a damn computer into a phone? The idea alone made life so much easier. We could make calls and perform complex tasks all on the same device. No doubt, I was all in. However, Apple and its competitors raised the stakes, introducing the iPad in 2010 and similar tablets in 2011. And this is where it truly began.

When the newest generation of children was introduced to these products, outdoor play was replaced by hours of screen time on their new gadgets. What did we do to these kids? Children no longer enjoyed sitting at the dinner table to talk about their day, and parents were eager for some free time, so they let them use their devices. But everyone was happy, right? Not so fast. Children often find ways to use things to their advantage for various reasons. Apple added cameras to its devices, and so did everyone else. Computer websites, both good and bad, appeared, and social media platforms became everywhere. Parents couldn’t keep up with technology, and their kids kept pulling the wool over their eyes, and as a result, cyberbullying emerged. Some children give in to peer pressure and choose to self-transition. Society became alarmed as the number of children dying increased, but it was a little too late. 

The world keeps moving forward because money needs to be made. Greedy entrepreneurs will find ways to exploit others, and increasingly, young people will be affected. So, I introduce you to artificial intelligence (AI). I am conflicted about my stance on it. While it is a remarkable tool, I also recognize the risk that it could diminish the intelligence of future generations. Education professionals are likely to voice their concerns. AI has evolved into chatbots like ChatGPT and Grok that conduct research, write papers, and produce presentations as if the student had done the work. As an educator, it is frustrating to know that some students choose the easy way out instead of earning what they paid for in tuition. The phrase, “If you ain’t cheating, you ain’t trying,” resonates in my mind, which is often expressed by some. 

Many people don’t realize that maintaining AI is costly. AI uses a lot of energy and harms the environment. Data centers must be built to support AI’s growth, but where should they be located? If it’s environmentally damaging, they are likely to be placed in low-income communities and communities of color. What else is new? The negative impacts of AI don't end there.

The development of technology has enabled AI to hold conversations with users to the point that some believe they are talking to real people. This has led to “Chatbot psychosis, also known as AI psychosis, which is a phenomenon where individuals reportedly develop or experience worsening psychosis, such as paranoia and delusion, in connection with their use of chatbots.” I feel sympathy for those who’ve gone down this rabbit hole and are struggling to get help. However, technology doesn’t care. How so, you may ask?  

If you’ve contacted a doctor’s office or any business with an answering service, you’ll likely hear an AI-generated chatbot. This small change has replaced a human and saved the business owners money. At first, it may be frustrating, but as the technology improves, you might not notice the difference. However, workers who would normally do those jobs AI has replaced will need to find new employment. Employers such as Amazon, UPS, and Target have announced plans to lay off many employees, citing that AI reduces costs. 

Driverless cars, autonomous robotic delivery, facial recognition, and biometrics will also replace humans, as CEOs and shareholders profit handsomely. Moreover, tech companies like Meta, Palantir, Google, Amazon, Oracle, and NVIDIA are colluding with the federal government. They are securing deals that will enable them to spy on and control much of what we do in our daily lives. Big Brother has grown up and has invited many of his friends to the party. 

Lastly, military personnel may also be affected by AI. Often considered the largest employer of federal workers, the increase in drone usage replaces soldiers on the ground and likely leads to downsizing across the entire military. While this is mostly speculation, the precision of drone strikes makes them the most feasible option to either win a war or cause the most destruction while safeguarding American lives. As someone nearing retirement age, I don't think all this new technology will negatively affect my peers. We raised the generation that caused these issues. Unfortunately, the genie is out of the bottle, and society is enjoying it, so don’t expect a slowdown or halt.