At the Crossroads of Tech and Humanity…

For a moment, just imagine that we are living in a world without technology… No Internet, No air conditioning. We need not sit before a computer to work. Wrapped and processed food? No longer available in the stores. Want to listen to music? You’d need to attend a live concert. You walk everywhere because cars haven’t been invented yet.

It seems impossible now, doesn’t it? The word "no technology" may not sound very appealing to most of us. But as strange as it sounds, in a few hundred years, humans might actually regret their overwhelming dependence on technology and disregarding nature. We might not realize it now, but the path we’re on could fundamentally change not just how we live, but even who we are.

But let’s take a step back in time first.

Life Before Technology…

Before the invention of mobile phones and the internet, life was different. Slower, perhaps, but in a good way. People spent more time outdoors, engaged in face-to-face conversations, and if they needed to reach someone, they might have to write a letter, or gasp, knock on their door! Information wasn’t at our fingertips, it had to be searched for in books, or sought through experts. News traveled slowly, and entertainment wasn’t something you could stream instantly; it was experienced live or through physical media like vinyl records or radios.

Work was a very different affair. There were no laptops, emails or video calls. You either went to the office or you didn't work at all. Productivity was judged by physical effort and intelligence rather than the number of emails sent in a day.

As tough as that sounds, there was a simplicity to it. We were more connected to nature, less distracted by screens, and spent more time being physically present with the people around us. ‘Man is a Social Animal’ and social life was prominent in society unlike today’s virtual life. This is something everyone knows about and it has become a mere topic of discussion but, what if the existing human race gets split into two sub-species throughout the world??

Oliver Curry’s Theory: Two Types of Humans?

The evolutionary theorist Oliver Curry, in 2006, predicted that in the distant future, humans could evolve into two distinct sub-species. According to him, by the year 3000, there may be a genetic divide: an "upper class" and a "lower class."

The "upper class" would be tall, slim, intelligent, and attractive. They’d be the result of centuries of people becoming increasingly selective about their partners, choosing mates based on intelligence and beauty. On the other hand, the "lower class" would be dim-witted, physically unattractive, and perhaps even shorter. Think of it as the future humans splitting into different breeds, just as different dog breeds exist today.

What does this say about our relationship with technology? Could it be that our over-reliance on gadgets and machines will ultimately define who we are? Curry suggested that people may become so dependent on technology that we’d lose touch with our natural instincts, effectively turning or resembling into domesticated animals, shaped by convenience rather than evolution. But, the economic experts especially from Asian countries have a slightly different version. Whether Oliver Curry’s theory might come true or not but, in the near future if this advancement of technology and Gen AI continues to develop consistently at a faster pace then, only two categories of humans would evolve in the society - The Rich and The Poor due to the economic changes and financial alterations. The middle-class which has a majority in India and other Asian countries will decline and transform into Employers and Employees. The rich would rule the world in respective sectors and the poor would be highly trained to use AI and other advanced technologies to cut-down human involvement efficiently and conveniently. Which probably might start yet another revolution and the results are left to our wild imaginations. Well! that’s a story to discuss another day.

The Age of AI: How We Got Here?

Fast forward to today and we see this happening already. The rise of Artificial Intelligence is transforming everything—from how we work to how we communicate. AI is in our homes, helping us manage tasks with smart assistants. It’s in our jobs, automating processes once thought to require a human touch.

AI has come a long way since its early days. Today, we have self-driving cars, personalized recommendations from news, stock markets to streaming platforms, and even AI-generated art. Machine learning models are predicting diseases, helping us build smarter cities, and even assisting in space exploration. One of the recent posts on #Linkedin featured AI technology to detect road defects in Dubai and what not? Man, AI is everywhere…

We rely on technology more than ever before, but where is it taking us?

The Future: Where Will This Technology Lead Us?

As we look to the future, one question remains: where will this all lead us?

One possibility is that AI and advanced technology will continue to improve life in extraordinary ways. We may develop better healthcare systems, smarter cities, and even solutions to climate change. AI could free us from mundane tasks, allowing us to focus on creativity and innovation. (Not to mention the fact that, content and creativity is also slowly getting taken over by AI, pushing everyone hard to upskill themselves to get a control on it)

But the other side of the coin is more unsettling. We risk losing our humanity, just as Oliver Curry predicted. With technology meeting every need, we might stop thinking for ourselves. Our ability to connect on a deeper, emotional level could diminish. If AI can create art, music, and literature, what does that leave for us? Probably a time would come when people would have gone to such an extreme level that social skills such as communicating and interacting with others might turn out to be history, emotions such as love, sympathy, trust and respect would no longer be seen. People would have stopped caring for others and stopped performing activities in teams. Right from today’s kids to the older generation getting addicted to mobile phones and other hi-fi devices could just be the beginning.

Moreover, as AI systems become more intelligent, the balance of power between humans and machines could shift. What happens when AI no longer needs us to operate? It’s a question scientists, philosophers, and futurists continue to debate.

The Conclusion: A Choice to Make

So, where would this technology lead us? The truth is, we don’t know for sure. What we do know is that technology is a tool—a powerful one. And like all tools, it can be used to build or to destroy. The future depends on how we choose to wield it.

As we stand at the crossroads of human evolution and technological advancement, it’s up to us to decide - Will we allow technology to dominate and define us or will we learn to coexist with it, ensuring that our humanity remains at the forefront of progress?

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