Back to the Future: The Technology Revolution in the Workplace

AI can be your new best designer, content creator, assistant, and more. Panic? For sure.

People are freaking out about the idea of AI and how it can affect their work. Well, ChatGTP and other technologies are performing many tasks,traditionally human, but even faster and better. Does this make sense? Let's see…

 When we talk about AI, we're not talking about something new. Surprise! AI has been a part of our lives for quite a while — 50 years to be specific.

You wake up in the morning and wonder, "Is it going to rain today?" The weather forecast you see on TV relies on AI to predict weather conditions. 

You have breakfast, and before heading to work, you want to check the traffic. AI will help you find the best route. 

Do you want to organize your inbox? Well, AI has done that for you, filtering spam and highlighting the most relevant messages. 

Finishing the day, you're shopping in a store to buy a special gift for your family member's birthday. You guessed it! AI is there, analyzing the store's location, the type of items being bought, and your typical spending patterns, all while using fraud detection algorithms.

And that’s without getting into social media, e-commerce, and entertainment. 

“We are entering a new era” “The future of work and the impact of technology” "Workplace Revolution: The Impact of Computers and Connectivity." Déjà vu? These headlines are more than 20 years old. 

Let's step back two decades: personal computers were becoming commonplace in offices, allowing tasks that once took hours to be completed in minutes. Repetitive tasks were revolutionized by technology. Automated processes reduced human error, increased accuracy, and saved time. Fax machines and landline phones were still vital, but email started to reshape communication dynamics. Industries were transformed; media, entertainment, and retail were particularly impacted by technology.

"Technology for efficiency" "Adapting to communication shifts and Industry Transformation" "Boosting Productivity?" "Facing competition?" Sound familiar?

 While some people are afraid of those changes, the truth is that technology has been among us for a long time. 

Remember the days of waiting for letters to arrive or using landline phones? The internet and smartphones have transformed communication, allowing us to instantly connect with friends and family across the globe. 

Entertainment has also taken a new form; streaming services bring movies and music to our devices wherever and whenever we want. Online shopping has made the market accessible with just a few clicks, eliminating the need to drive to physical stores. 

Our health and fitness routines have been enhanced by technology, too. Fitness trackers and health apps help us monitor our well-being and track our progress.

Education? Online courses and educational apps now provide learning opportunities beyond traditional classrooms. Information is at our fingertips, enabling us to access knowledge instantly.

And there's more! Smart homes from fiction movies have become reality, with voice-controlled assistants enhancing our living spaces.

We could  go on and on.

Why would the workplace be any different?

While people celebrate technology in different ways, for some reason, when we talk about “work,” there is a kind of uncertainty. But why is that? 

Is it because, as human beings, we are, on some level, defined by our work? Work represents the opportunity for us, as individuals, to contribute to society and fulfill our needs and aspirations. It's not just a means of sustenance and economic support; it's also a way for us to express our skills and passions, create social connections, and develop personally and professionally.

Ikigai for the Japanese, beruf in German, propósito in Spanish — no matter the language, every human being needs the sense of creating value in the world we inhabit and in our own individual lives. Perhaps any threat to this naturally causes a sense of panic, and that, indeed, makes perfect sense.

Should this once again be a battle between machines and human beings? Well, technological advancements have demonstrated a positive influence in various industries, making them more efficient, accessible, and productive.

Medical diagnoses have also accelerated and become more precise thanks to technology. AI-powered imaging tools can now identify issues such as tumors in medical images, way faster than human experts. In agriculture, precision technologies like GPS-guided tractors and drones contribute to improved crop growth, conserving resources and mitigating pollution. The retail landscape has transformed due to e-commerce platforms that provide global accessibility and unique shopping experiences that are just a click away.

What will be the place for human beings in this equation? 

Well, don't panic! We are an essential part of this equation. Empathy, compassion, emotional intelligence, creativity, and innovation are products of the human mind's potential, transcending the limits of artificial intelligence, by far.

At the end of the day, we must remember that our humanity remains an irreplaceable force, fortunately. We shape not only the work we do but also the world we inhabit, and, lucky for us, no level of intelligence, robotics, or advanced technology can take that essence away from us.