Do you know what a Kindle is? It is a device used to read e-books. It is easy to use, easy to carry, and customizable as per the user’s needs. For book lovers, it is a useful servant. But what if an update comes in Kindle that can sense your expressions and emotions while you read a book? It would know when you get angry, surprised, and happy while you read any book. It would then start recommending you exactly the books that suit your emotions. You would happily buy those books, not even realizing that now, the same Kindle has become a dangerous master.

Technology has been the greatest creation of man on earth, second only to the creation of man itself. But has technology aided man in realizing a bright future, or has it overpowered man itself and is leading into a tunnel, at the end of which there is no light? The essay would endeavor to discuss the dual role of technology in a man’s life.

The birth of technology
Though the earliest reference to technology can be made to the ancient times of the Indus Valley civilization, Mesopotamian civilization, and the Greek civilization, when we find the discovery of construction, mathematics as an economy, civil and mechanical engineering, in modern times, the discovery of atoms, gravity, magnetism, and electricity form the bedrock principles on which the whole technology exists.
The Industrial Revolution of the eighteenth century, invention of the spinning jenny, steam engine forms a major breakthrough in human life.
This was led by the invention of assembly-line manufacturing (Ford cars), invention of mobile phones, radio, TV, and computers.
Finally, the current age which is called Industrial Revolution 4.0 comprising of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Quantum computing, etc. is where humanity currently is.
Technology as a useful servant
In the economic sphere, technology has helped farmers realize their potential through the Green Revolution, use of better quality seeds and inputs, micro-irrigation techniques.
We now have production capacity of millions of cars being manufactured every year.
The services sector has realized its dream through stock exchanges, internet and inter-country connections through globalization.
In political terms, people can now vote online, track the work of their elected representatives, voice their opinion on social media, engage in debates and discussions, thus furthering the aim of a deliberative and robust democracy.
Administratively too technology has enabled people to voice their grievances like My Gov app, UMANG app, etc and for the administration to reach to the rescue of citizens. Ex. people tweeting and lack of services on a train or to External Affairs Ministry on facing problems in a foreign country.
In the education sector, the construction of smart classes in schools has made education more interactive, fun and effective. This has been observed particularly during COVID lockdowns when students attended online classes.
In the health sector, technology is able to defeat fatal diseases like cancer. Stem cell therapy is used to create new organs altogether.
Technology has helped ensure justice at doorsteps through virtual courts and e-courts.
In the social sphere, it has helped in women empowerment as now women can file e-FIR against domestic violence. They can pursue courses, build skills and work, thus liberating them.
The youth has been the greatest beneficiary of technology. It can learn new skills, open startups, create employment, lead social movements like Metoo, Black Lives Matter, etc.
But the other side of the picture needs attention too.
Technology: A dangerous master
The famous whistleblower Edward Snowden has made the world aware of the greatest threat to humans – surveillance by technology.
The recent example of Cambridge Analytica in conjunction with Facebook points out how the things we like or retweet on social media help political parties profile our likes, dislikes, political preferences and political ideologies. We are then made to feed on posts that suit our ideology. This may help in building a favorable image of any politician even for people who do not like him.
Similarly once we browse something on Google, we think Google provides us free services. But we forget that our activities are being sold by Google. Then we start receiving recommendations of the products we have searched on Google. This leads to targeting of customers and forced consumerism on the part of customers.
This technology in the hands of MNCs has given them sway over markets of developing countries like India, where they are driving out local businesses and MSMEs, thus leading to monopoly.
In the hands of unscrupulous elements like hackers, people’s chats are being leaked all over. Privacy is violated. Confidential medical data is retrieved and then used by insurance companies.
Malwares like Wanna Cry enter into computer systems and demand ransom from users to open important files.
Artificial Intelligence is used to create Deep fakes, which is deliberate morphing of a video or photo to make it look like something else.
Similarly, recently cases have come to surface where software like Deep Nude has been used to generate naked images of women leading to their harassment.
The choices we make
The essay has summarily discussed the role of technology as a useful servant and as a dangerous master.
Yuval Noah Harari in his book “Homo Deus” says earlier man domesticated animals. Now technology has created differences between humans. This difference can be used in two ways – whether to empower the less empowered human or whether to domesticate the less technologically empowered human by the more technologically empowered. This is a choice that we will have to make and make it soon.