Embracing Change: Reflecting on Our Past and Envisioning the Future of Human-Machine Synergy

As 2023 comes to a close, I find myself reflecting, just as many of you might be. New Year's Eve isn't just a time for celebration; it's a moment when time seems to pause, allowing us to look back and forward simultaneously. How often do we genuinely get this chance to pause and reflect?

I'm not a philosopher or a futurist, but I can't shake the feeling that we're at an inflection point. The world of 2033 will likely look very different from the pre-2020 era. The change is not just coming; it's here, reshaping every facet of our lives.

?One of my favorite topics is the growing synergy between humans and machines, something some of us are already experiencing and will become normal in 10 years. I can't imagine my daily life without "talking" to a machine to "help me" do things, from helping add the right error handling and docstring to a method I just wrote, reviewing the grammar of this post, checking if my delivery arrived, or programming my breadmaker machine to have fresh bread at dinner time. Every day, I find myself using more technology, communicating more with machines, and trusting them with small tasks. I was at the supermarket today and asked chatGPT if I could substitute corn semolina with corn flour for my bread recipe. This seamless human-machine interaction isn't just part of our present; it's a clear glimpse into the future norm.

Technology is changing how we approach medicine, engineering, architecture, and actually most of our professions.? In 10 years, all these professions will be heavily assisted by robots/intelligent machines. The way we work and understand work will shift, and we will develop a much greater capacity for critical thinking and brainstorming. For example, a designer needs to think fast because the design process takes time. What if you could direct a machine to do things for you almost instantly? How many iterations could you do then? Even the ability to "challenge" the machine and gain a different perspective will ignite the creative process. I believe we will feel the freedom to do more, achieve more, and think more, and that will translate into happiness, higher quality and ultimately, a better quality of life for everybody.

By 2033, robots will have evolved to continue assisting with heavy manual jobs. With self-driving vehicles, robots designing cars or organizing warehouses, and smart supermarkets that restock themselves or don't need cashiers, we all wonder what our role will be.? As I said at the beginning, I'm not a futurist, but I do know that humans have an incredible capacity to adapt. Are the current professions or tasks the same as 100 years ago? Are they the same as in the 80s before the internet? This change is probably more dramatic and larger in scale than any before, but we will adapt and find our way to transform this new synergy with AI technology into quality of life.

As we navigate this shift, it's crucial to address the environmental impact of our growing reliance on technology. In a world increasingly run by robots and intelligent machines equipped with ever-larger models, the environmental toll is becoming impossible to ignore. The surge in energy consumption, contribution to global warming, and the proliferation of waste are just the tip of the iceberg. Therefore, future professions may likely pivot towards discovering and implementing sustainable solutions. This could involve developing renewable energy sources, advancing recycling techniques, creating smaller, more efficient models, and innovating new, biodegradable materials. As we strive to harmonize our technological advancements with environmental stewardship, these areas may not just be fields of study but essential frontiers for human innovation and survival. Other areas that need to evolve significantly to prepare the road for the future are communications, cybersecurity, data privacy, and human rights protection.

Certainly, AI-related technology isn't the only change. Let's consider the changes within society itself. I was born in the 70s and grew up in the 80s. How different was the mindset then compared to now? Our views on gender, identity, relationships, self-worth and even food have evolved (for the better), but we surely still have a long road ahead. Can you imagine what society will look like a decade from now, shaped by our changing values and the technologies that reflect and influence these values?

However, there's a nostalgia in me for certain aspects of the past, particularly in the realm of employer-employee relationships. The commitment and loyalty that once defined many work relationships seem less common now. [Some] People often move jobs quickly, chasing better offers, and [Some] companies, in turn, are quick to restructure and downsize. Despite this general trend, I consider myself fortunate. In my corner of the world, I give 200% and feel I receive as much in return because I'm not just doing a job; I'm building relationships, I’m getting trusted and validated, I’m contributing to the creation process and above all I’m growing as a professional and as a person. My passion for what I do, next to my family, is one of the things I'm proudest of. It's a rare balance I (personally) cherish, especially when the norm seems to shift.?

As we stand on the cusp of 2024, let's embrace the changes and challenges. Let's carry forward the lessons of the past while remaining open to the innovations and opportunities of the future. Here's to a year where we continue to grow, learn, and adapt, making the most of every moment in this ever-changing world.

Wishing you all a reflective New Year's Eve and a transformative 2024.

Disclaimer: This post represents my unfiltered personal viewpoint. It is not intended to convince anyone of specific future events or to declare them as inherently good or bad. Neither to say it is good to give 200% at work. It merely reflects my thoughts about my life and what I enjoy and I think about the future on a reflective Dec 31st, waiting for the New Year to come.