Technological Transformation: Navigating Progress for the Common Good

By Hyunwon Ro, GRC 2023 Global Essay Competition Top 30

In a time of revolutionary developments in AI, automation, and telecommunications, technology emerges as a powerful force with the potential to propel our society toward prosperity. The fundamental question arises: "How can we harness this technological power for the benefit of society as a whole?" The potential of new technologies offers real advantages to our everyday lives through significant improvement in industries like healthcare, food production, and transportation.

Artificial intelligence presents remarkable advancement in diagnosis and treatment in the healthcare industry. Diagnostic AI algorithms enable healthcare professionals to discern patterns and abnormalities that may escape the human eye, analyzing massive datasets at unprecedented speeds. A milestone event, the successful completion of the first fully robotically aided eye transplant at NYU Langone Health on November 9th, 2023, showcased the accuracy and effectiveness of AI, paving the way for safer and more innovative treatments.

Moreover, AI's integration into the food sector enhances people's daily quality of life by revolutionizing food production. Companies like V7 Labs exemplify the impact of AI in agriculture through precision agriculture, which maximizes yields, and customized nutrition recommendations. BI Intelligence Research predicts a significant growth in AI adoption in agriculture, with global spending on "smart" agriculture projected to triple, reaching $15.3 billion by 2025. AI enables the food industry to meet changing consumer demands, fostering healthy living through optimized procedures, resource usage, and product quality.

The transformative impact of technology also extends to public transportation, where self-driving cars represent a fundamental advancement. AI algorithms interpret real-time data from sensors to negotiate complex traffic circumstances, significantly reducing the likelihood of accidents. According to the University of Michigan, autonomous vehicles have the potential to decrease fatal car crashes by 90%, mitigating human error-related incidents. This not only increases safety but also enhances transportation efficiency while reducing air pollution and environmental effects. ( Rose-Harman, 2023)

However, amid its limitless potential, technology raises serious concerns, particularly regarding privacy violations. The infamous Cambridge Analytica controversy in 2018 highlighted how the company gathered information from millions of Facebook profiles with an open disregard for user privacy to influence voting behavior, exposing how technology can be misused for criminal purposes, emphasizing the fragility of our digital identities and the need to address ethical considerations. The moral consequences of uncontrolled technical breakthroughs deserve more thorough examination as human lives get more and more intertwined with digital platforms, raising the challenge of a careful balance between progress and protecting individual rights.

Prioritizing ethical development and application of technology is essential. Enforcing strict privacy regulations and robust data protection procedures is vital to prevent the misuse of personal data. Emphasizing openness in technology processes, from data collection to algorithmic decision-making, enables informed decision-making and builds confidence in the digital environment. Collaboration among technology developers, legislators, and advocacy organizations is crucial in establishing moral standards and norms that align with society's ideals.

Furthermore, promoting digital literacy and education will provide individuals with the tools to behave responsibly online, safeguard their privacy, and understand the consequences of their actions. A proactive and moral approach to technology signifies a shared commitment to using its power sensibly, maximizing its potential to boost prosperity without compromising core values and rights. Through the adoption of these guiding principles, humans will be able to direct technological progress in the direction of a future where the common good is given priority while society and the digital world coexist peacefully.

The pursuit of harnessing technology's potential for the benefit of society remains crucial amidst unprecedented technical advancements in transportation, food, and healthcare. Addressing new challenges, particularly those related to privacy invasion, requires a commitment to ethics, openness, and education. Society must create conditions for a future where technological progress aligns with core principles and human rights for responsible usage. By adopting these guiding principles, we can direct technological progress toward a future where the common good takes precedence, fostering a harmonious coexistence between society and the digital world.

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References

NYU Langone Health Performs World’s first whole-eye & partial-face transplant. NYU Langone News. (2023, November 9). https://nyulangone.org/news/nyu-langone-health-
performs-worlds-first-whole-eye-partial-face-transplant

Rizzoli, A. (2021, October 12). AI in agriculture: 8 practical applications [2023 update].AI in Agriculture: 8 Practical Applications [2023 Update].
https://www.v7labs.com/blog/ai-in-agriculture

Twenty20 Solutions. (2021, October 2). The state of AI and Machine Learning in
agriculture. https://www.twenty20solutions.com/post/the-state-of-ai-and-machine-learning-in-agriculture

Center for Sustainable Systems University of Michigan. (n.d.). Autonomous vehicles -CSS.UMICH.EDU. Autonomous Vehicles Factsheet.
https://css.umich.edu/sites/default/files/2023-10/Autonomous Vehicles_CSS16-18.pdf

ROSE-HARMAN, A. (2023, September 19). The environmental benefits of driverless cars.Greener Ideal. https://greenerideal.com/news/vehicles/driverless-cars-environmental-benefits/#:~:text=Most%20gas%20is%20burned%20when,resulting%20in%20less%20air
%20pollution.&text=Driverless%20cars%20also%20mean%20fewer%20cars%20per%20household

Confessore, N. (2018, April 4). Cambridge Analytica and Facebook: The scandal and the fallout so far. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/04/us/politics/cambridge-analytica-scandal-fallout.html