As technology moves forward with progress and showcases our unprecedented technological advancements. A question emerges. Is our relentless pursuit of convenience overshadowing the skills that have defined human ingenuity?
A concern about technology progressing toward convenience rather than ethics has gained a significant amount of attention, specifically with AI with their uses in transforming industries and our daily lives as well as and even the Economy. According to a report in 2020 by the World Economic Forum estimates that AI could displace 85 million jobs globally by 2025 showcasing what could potentially happen.
Research from Cornell College shows industries are being changed by technology that puts efficiency first over expertise. In Healthcare, AI has been incorporated into telemedicine and diagnostic tools have proved more effective. In theory all this sounds great, but it leads to concerns about over-reliance on algorithms rather than skilled practitioners that risk losing their jobs.
According to the National Library of Medicine, incorporating AI into telemedicine leads to education and training no longer being necessary. Why would people have skilled professionals perform comprehensive data analysis when AI can perform a perfect data analysis because that is what it is programmed to do?
This leads into the economic shift it may bring. Specialists are people who specialize in a certain task or role in society. This is how we create community and make money in order to be financially stable. AI can take this away as a machine is easier to work with than a human. Productivity would increase, but the consumer and workers would not benefit from this overall. Only the company as a whole would thrive and workers and consumers might find themselves without a job as human specialists will be devalued.
Convenience is not a bad thing and should not be completely rejected as it has innovated our lifestyle in positive ways. Innovations like the GPS system are considered one of the most innovative pieces of technology. It has made directions incredibly easy and is considered an essential for many. GPS is overall positive as it brings information faster, this applies to calculators and software which allows us to make easier innovations. However, there should be a line that should not be crossed of ethics vs pure convenience.
