Does technological advancement enrich our lives, or does reliance on machines diminish our intelligence?

This article discusses the dangers of relying too heavily on machines and the convenience of technology, particularly the potential for intellectual degeneration, including our memory and thinking skills. It emphasizes the need to use technology thoughtfully and selectively, and warns of the problems of uncritical reliance on machines.

 

Technology is one of the key drivers of human progress. From stone-age tools to modern-day artificial intelligence, humans have always used technology to improve their lives. Today, we enjoy a level of convenience that was once unimaginable, and machines are at the center of it all. The development of machines has greatly increased our productivity, saved us time, and enhanced our quality of life, but there is also a growing discussion about the negative effects of this rapidly advancing technology and machines on us. One such concern is that our uncritical reliance on technology can lead to the degradation of human capabilities, which can go beyond mere convenience to a situation where machines take over our intellectual activities.
Many people have experienced the inconvenience of losing or breaking their cell phone and not being able to remember the phone number of someone close to them until they pick it up again, especially if they use a smartphone. This is a symptom of “digital dementia,” a condition in which a person’s reliance on a variety of digital devices, such as cell phones, PDAs, and computers, leads to a significant decline in intellectual abilities, such as memory and computational skills. We all like to think that we’re in control of turning our phones on and off, but when we look at examples like this one, can we really say that we’re in control of our machines? Or are we being controlled and dominated by them?
We use machines because they certainly make our lives easier, but as machines take over more and more of what we used to do, we tend to do less of what we’re used to. From simple calculators to microwaves, cell phones, computers, air conditioners, cars, airplanes, and industrial machinery, machines calculate, walk, memorize, and do things for us, and the use of all these convenient machines seems irreversible. That’s because once a machine is created, it initially exists as an alternative, but once we get used to it, it seems impossible to choose whether or not to use it anymore.
The more we get used to machines, the less we are physically and mentally active. Our bodies and brains degenerate if we don’t use them, so we rely on machines for more activities. At the same time, our reliance on machines isn’t just about convenience – they can do things we can’t do faster and more accurately, so we rely on them more and more. But there’s one thing we shouldn’t overlook. As the amount of information that machines process increases, we run the risk of entrusting them with critical judgment.
I’m particularly wary of human reliance on machines for intelligence. As society and the problems we face become more complex and machines become more sophisticated, there will come a point where 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 rely entirely on machines. At that point, our reliance on machines could become more than just a case of digital dementia; it could become a major problem that could affect the very existence of the human race.
The movie The Matrix serves as a wake-up call to machine dependence by showing us the dark future that could come from such a scenario. In the movie, at the beginning of the 21st century, science and technology are highly advanced, and humans are dependent on machines for most of their lives. Humans have succeeded in creating machines with artificial intelligence, but as many feared, friction with the machines causes humans to lose wars due to their dependence on machines, and humans are dominated by machines, leading to a dark ending where humans are reduced to “bioelectric cells.
While this may sound too far in the future, intelligent dependence on machines is already a problem today. In the case of digital dementia, the brain responds to repetitive stimuli to improve its performance, but when it’s not used, it becomes less capable. This mechanism is also found in many internet users who, when they don’t understand something, rely on a Google search to get a quick answer and then forget about it again. In addition, the reliance that almost all drivers have on navigation systems today leads to a decline in spatial thinking skills. As navigation takes over the process of finding your way, the human brain uses less of it. This means that the brain development pathways of someone who looks at a map and finds their own way will be very different from someone who relies solely on navigation.
So, in order to avoid machine dependence, do we have to live in this highly technologically advanced world and deny ourselves all the benefits of technology? No. Our ancestors sought convenience through the use of tools, and technology is already a part of us, so we can’t completely cut it off. I would suggest selective use of machines to solve this problem. For example, the Amish people try out new technologies and abandon them if they don’t meet their standards. Even if we don’t reject the entirety of modern civilization like they do, we should be able to use machines selectively.
The problem of machine dependence extends beyond the personal to the social and political. The machines and technologies we use today are connected in a global network. If this system breaks down, it can have a huge impact on the economy, public services, and even national security. To prevent this, we need to carefully consider our use of machines and be determined to give up convenience when necessary.
In the end, we need to become mature users who can weigh the benefits and harms of machines rather than blindly accepting them. It’s time to be slow adopters and develop the ability to manage and selectively utilize machines.