I asked ChatGPT to sum up AI’s role in today's world, and here’s what it said: “Rumors about my arrival are to be proclaimed no more, I’m here, and am here to change - AI“
Well, that’s AI for you, folks. This bold declaration raises an important question—while we debate AI’s pros and cons, has anyone ever thought about the fact that we might be on the verge of history repeating itself?
The Industrial Revolution brought about a great apprehension in the minds of people, especially factory workers over the present landscape being disrupted, and fears mounted about how their future will be. It was followed by times of hardships and struggles, but a revolution was a revolution. It revolutionized modern-day jobs, creating a demand for engineers, machine operators, technical experts, etc. Those who adapted, and stood the test of time thrived, but those who whined over good old days, fell apart.
AI is expected to cause a similar disruption with a majority of physical tasks and a certain amount of technical tasks being automated, within the next decade or two. As jobs of those involved in shopkeeping, data entry, security services, and call centre services are all expected to bid adieu to the job market, those of programmers, data scientists, engineers, and others similar are expected to rise exponentially over this period. While certain conclusions have already been made about AI, we believe that it should not be judged without knowing its entire pros and cons. With rising opportunities for upskilling, threats regarding job loss shouldn't be considered so, and should instead be seen as opportunities to reinvent and rediscover oneself to carve a better version.
AI-powered tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and other AI-powered software are already performing tasks that once required human expertise. This has led to concerns that human-related cognitive tasks such as designing, and creation, which historically were shielded from automation, will now face the same job insecurity that factory workers did in previous centuries. The most vulnerable sector is the low-skilled labour industry, particularly in developing countries like India, where large portions of the workforce lack the necessary training to adapt to this rapidly evolving AI paradigm.
Although history suggests that technological progress is not purely destructive; unlike past transitions that took decades, AI’s rapid advancement could outpace society’s ability to adjust, leaving millions struggling to find new career paths.
The crisis caused by AI and resulting out of AI build an unending list. Over time, AI has begun to erode natural human cognitive abilities, as more people outsource thinking and creativity to chatbots. Tasks that once required effort—like writing essays, conducting research, or problem-solving—are now completed with AI-generated responses in seconds. Limitations owing to technical illiteracy, have now been covered by AI and people can even outsource challenging tasks like creating a deepfake, generating prank calls, cyber frauds, and even morphing images. The larger interest and well-being of humanity succumb to a chatbot and the man, who created it, is now being governed by it. What an irony!
Development is essential for the progress of humanity but it should never be at its own cost. Automation and mechanization promote efficiency and lead to a more productive workforce, with mundane and monotonous tasks being performed without wasting human energy, the other world of AI dominated by chatbots and other chats, has only incentivized cyber crimes and laziness, with certain tasks being completely run on ChatGPT that hampers productivity and creativity. This side of AI nullifies its benefits and can be the basis of an unproductive and incapable generation. However, just like how cheap industrial goods captured the market after the Industrial Revolution, such cheap alternatives have already dominated the market with their users falling prey to it, and a comeback from that presently seems impossible. All this makes it seem like ill intentions are materializing. Just like how Nestle made it seem like breast milk, one of the most natural and nutritious foods on earth has substitutes, Altman and his army, are on a mission to show that, essay writing, homework, content creation and other projects are all a waste of time and is not meant to be done by humans when a chat can generate it in seconds.
While we welcome AI applications in business and industry, Artificial intelligence is artificial and can never replace its freshest form. After all, humans created AI, and anything that overpowers its creator becomes a threat to existence. Corporations are on a mission to create a dumb world and maximize control without realizing they could fall prey to their plot because, at the end of the day, no one survives single-handedly. We all thrive on mutual support, and breaking that support equals breaking us.
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