There have been a number of remarkable achievements and advancements in technology over the years. At times, it can give its users power at the touch of a button and convenience through a voice command. However, it is not without its concerns and negatives, particularly in terms of what can happen when over-reliance occurs and when replacing certain things with it come up.
In the modern world, technology is a crutch that is integral and often necessary. Over-reliance on it, however, can be a problem. When we rely too much on it for entertainment, i.e., video games, social media, streaming, it becomes addictive, which may affect mental health and happiness. If we use it for every single task, including the most basic ones, we might become too lazy. Moreover, when it comes to information, simply looking at the plethora of sources online and holding them all as facts is not right either, just as it is not right to toss an iPad to a toddler to keep them entertained. Speaking of which, prolonged exposure to screens can also have its effects on eye-health, another issue. As necessary as it can be, over-reliance on technology can present problems, making moderation important.
Meanwhile, a common thing I hear nowadays is that technology will increasingly be able to replace certain parts of our lives, one of which could be certain jobs. An article by Arianna Johnson in Forbes this year noted three jobs that could be impacted or replaced by artificial intelligence (AI). These are finance and banking, legal services, and media and marketing, where reporters from media outlets such as Business Insider and CNET have even used the AI chatbot ChatGPT to write news stories. They, however, have been criticised for having had false information in the article. On that note, the chatbot can even be used to write essays, though the tone and quality will vary. With its increasing application, one might ask what repercussions there could be and how it can affect the jobs and tasks where people play a key role for things like creativity and decision making.
Moreover, in stores such as IKEA and Don Don Donki, self-checkout machines are available for use, which may save time and manpower. The same goes for ordering and paying for meals from a large screen at a McDonalds, or at several local restaurants where you can scan a QR code to order. Although technology takes a bigger role and adds certain conveniences, I think it takes out special parts of going to those places, which is the human element that comes with every interaction. Even in a cold and busy environment, there is always at least one person who will greet you warmly, smile and make small talk, things that technology cannot replicate. It can never replace human connection and interaction, which speed and convenience can’t make up for in my opinion. Simply seeing your reflection and the items you bought on a screen can just be as cold as a machine gets once it is turned off.
Technology has brought about a number of great things, especially in the modern world. However, there are still certain things to look out for as it isn’t without its faults, particularly in terms of over-reliance and when considering making certain replacements in different facets of our lives. Although I will not go as far as saying that we might have a dystopian future where technology takes over the world, I believe there are still things to watch out for.
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