In this blog post, we will look at how technological advancements are changing human life and consider the possible degeneration of intelligence that may come with our reliance on machines.
Technology is one of the key driving forces behind human progress. From stone tools to modern artificial intelligence, humans have always been developing technology to improve their lives. Today, we enjoy a level of convenience that was unimaginable in the past, and at the heart of this convenience are countless machines. The development of machines has greatly improved productivity, saved time, and improved our quality of life. However, there is also an increasing discussion about the negative impact of these rapidly developing technologies and machines on us. The main concern is that uncritical reliance on technology could degenerate human capabilities. This could lead to a situation where machines replace human intellectual activities, beyond mere convenience.
Many people experience inconveniences such as not being able to remember the phone numbers of their close acquaintances and not being able to contact them until they get their phones back after losing or breaking them. If you use a smartphone, you will experience more than just the inconvenience of not being able to contact people. This is a manifestation of “digital dementia,” a condition in which people’s intellectual abilities, such as memory and calculation skills, have significantly decreased due to their overreliance on various digital devices such as mobile phones, PDAs, and computers. People all think that they have the initiative to turn their phones on and off, but when we look at examples such as digital dementia, can we really say that we are in control of the machines? Could it be that we are being controlled and dominated by machines?
We use machines because they certainly provide us with convenience. However, the more machines take over the work that humans used to do, the less we tend to do the things we are used to doing. From simple calculators to microwaves, mobile phones, computers, air conditioners, cars, airplanes, and industrial machines, machines calculate, walk, memorize, and work for us. And using all these convenient machines feels irreversible. This is because once a machine is made, it initially exists as an alternative, but once you get used to it, it seems impossible to choose whether to use it or not.
The more we become accustomed to machines, the less we do physically and mentally. The human body and brain degenerate if they are not used, so we rely more on machines. At the same time, the reason we rely on machines is not just because they are convenient. Machines can do things faster and more accurately than we can, so we are increasingly entrusting them with more and more tasks. However, there is one fact that should not be overlooked here. The more information machines process, the more we risk entrusting them with important decisions.
I am particularly wary of the intelligent reliance of humans on machines. As the problems facing society become more complex and machines become more sophisticated, there will come a time when it will be more efficient for machines to make decisions about problems than humans, and it may even become impossible for humans to make decisions and we may become completely dependent on machines. If that happens, relying on machines will become a serious problem that can affect the survival of humanity as a whole, rather than a problem like simple digital dementia.
This is probably a more serious situation than our dependence on cars, microwaves, and simple document creation programs. The movie The Matrix shows a dark future that could come about in such a case, thereby raising awareness of our dependence on machines. In the movie, at the beginning of the 21st century, science and technology had advanced to a high level, and humans lived their lives relying on machines for most of their needs. In the midst of this, humans succeeded in creating machines with artificial intelligence, but as many people feared, friction with the artificial intelligence machines led to humans losing the war and becoming dependent on machines and ruled by them. Ultimately, humans will fall into a dark end where they become “living batteries.” It may sound like a story from the distant future, but intelligent dependence on machines is already a problem today. In the case of digital dementia, the brain responds to repetitive stimuli to improve performance, but if the function is not used, the ability will decline.
” This mechanism is also found in many Internet users who rely solely on Google searches to get answers to questions they don’t know the answer to, and then forget about them again. In addition, today, almost all drivers rely on navigation systems, which reduces their ability to think spatially. Since the navigation system takes over the task of finding the way, the human brain uses its functions less. This means that the brain development paths of people who look at a map and find their way on their own and people who only look at the navigation system are very different.
So, in order not to rely on machines, should we live in this highly technologically advanced world rejecting all the benefits of technology? That is not the case. The ancestors of mankind have sought convenience by using tools, and technology has already become a part of us. Therefore, we cannot completely block them. I would like to propose selective use of machines to solve these problems. For example, the Amish people try out new technologies and if they don’t meet their standards, they abandon them. We should be able to use machines selectively, even if we don’t reject modern civilization as a whole.
The problem of machine dependency can extend beyond the individual to become a social and political issue. The machines and technologies we use today are connected in a global network. If this system breaks down, it can have a significant impact on the economy, public services, and national security. To prevent this, we need the determination to carefully consider the use of machines and, if necessary, give up convenience.
Ultimately, we should become mature users who can judge the pros and cons of a machine rather than blindly accepting it. It is time to develop the ability to manage machines and use them selectively in a slow adopter’s attitude.
