You wake up in the morning and your mattress will tell you based on body temperature and breathing rhythms how well you have slept. Step into the bathroom, and your urine is instantly analyzed for any health abnormalities. In the meantime, the mattress has notified the coffee machine to prepare your favorite coffee while your computer starts up and plays your favorite music.
The future sparks excitement in some and fear in others. Yet, like it or not, the digital age (digitality) is here to stay, unless an apocalypse hits the reset button.
Can robots and AI replace us. In the book “Die Zukunft ist menschlich” Andrea Gadeib covers why we; humans are irreplaceable.
Let's take a moment to consider what distinguishes humans from machines. Machines excel at repeating what they have learned with incredible speed and consistency. Humans, on the other hand, are the exact opposite, they behave individually, vibrantly, and unpredictably. A machine lacks aspects such as personality, emotions, and attitude. It cannot make sense of values, visions, or creativity. Imagine a machine with humor! 😊
Remember Google Glass? People weren’t exactly thrilled about being recorded without consent. Then was Sophia the robot? She spoke with a human-like voice and could process language, but emotions? Not quite. And have you seen NAO the robot dance? If not, don’t worry you haven’t missed much!
We still have the power to choose the technology we use and to recognize the difference between content created by AI, whether text or images, and that created by humans. What sets us apart are our uniquely human abilities: complex problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity. As machines take over repetitive and exhausting tasks, we’re given the opportunity to focus on what we do best which is innovating, imagining, and connecting in ways only humans can. In this balance, technology becomes a tool for empowerment, not replacement.
A good example is elderly care: this is a deep human industry, where there is already a severe shortage of skilled workers. The aging society will further exacerbate this. What happens when machines step in where the human workforce is already stretched thin? By handling routine and repetitive tasks, digital robots can free up caregivers to focus on what truly matters, meaningful, human-centered interactions
It is important to note that we are very behind when it comes to integrating technology into our school curriculum. Children learn how to use digital phones and tablets, but they never learn the technology behind it. The situation is even more concerning for women since currently, only 17% of IT professionals are female.
Maybe leaving our comfort zone and getting to know technology deeper would be a bit challenging but it is an opportunity into a new world. Maybe our new digital idea will not only improve our lives, but also that of an entire nation or even the whole world? Sounds crazy? But it is not!