Is Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Technology Making Us Lose Our Abilities?

I still remember my own experience during an interview at Cadbury in 2001. At the final stage, Mr. Anupam Dutta,(the then Western Zone Branch Head), asked me for my last company's boss’s phone number & without a second thought, I recited both his office and home numbers, which he called to check my reference. Remembering these details was just part of how I worked back then, and it actually helped me land the job. Today, such situations are rare because we’re so accustomed to looking things up or letting our devices remember for us.

Article on AI & Technology by Nilesh Limaye

In recent years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Technology have become an integral part of our lives, transforming the way we connect, communicate, and learn. Yet, this convenience comes at a cost. 

Have we lost some of our core skills and strengths, like memory and creativity, due to the overwhelming presence of gadgets in our lives?

I still remember the early years, a time before smartphones, when technology had yet to take over. Back then, very few people even had telephones at home, and yet, connecting with friends, family, or colleagues was never a problem. Life was simpler and somehow richer. 

We had no gadgets to rely on, yet we communicated easily, and our memory was sharp as we memorized phone numbers, directions, and other essential details. Imagine taking away someone’s smartphone today – not just for a few hours, but for a whole day. It would likely be a challenge, even for you and me! Today, we feel we could survive a day without food, but not without our gadgets.

The difference is clear: Technology and artificial intelligence (AI) becomes a limitation when we let it fully replace our natural abilities. 

Relying on artificial intelligence (AI) and digital tools for everything can dull our creativity, weaken our memory, and stop us from developing our knowledge in a real, organic way. 

Technology should be a tool we use to enhance our awareness and understanding, not something we lean on entirely.

I’m not suggesting that technology is inherently bad or that we shouldn’t use it. It can push us forward in amazing ways, even allowing us to explore Mars and the Moon! But there’s a need for balance. Technology and artificial intelligence AI should expand our capabilities, not replace them.

It’s crucial for us to draw boundaries in how we use technology. We should aim to maintain our creativity, skills, and individual strengths. By doing this, we make sure that technology serves as a tool for growth rather than a crutch. 

Let’s recognize the potential of technology and AI while also nurturing our own abilities, ensuring we leave behind a generation capable of thinking independently and creatively.