Will Compassion, Kindness, and Humanity Cease to Exist in the Future?
The Decline of Emotions in an AI-Driven World
The world is changing rapidly. As time progresses, the pace of change accelerates. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is beginning to dominate humanity. People’s lifestyles are undergoing transformations. While many things seem fine, the latest research suggests that AI and other technologies are eroding people’s values and ethics.
Geoffrey Hinton, known as the godfather of AI, has repeatedly warned that timely caution regarding AI is crucial. Beyond the job losses and privacy concerns, the most alarming issue is the transformation of human mentality. Children born after January 1, 2025, will be classified as part of the Beta Generation. When this generation grows up, their speech and behavior will have completely changed. The adverse effects of AI and technology are already becoming visible.
We’ve witnessed incidents where, instead of helping during accidents, people start recording videos on their phones. Certain behaviors make us question whether people’s emotions have truly dulled. Even in the face of tragic events, some remain unaffected. Good or bad, everything now becomes material for creating reels. Everyone seems eager to make something viral.
In the past, people were driven by empathy, compassion, love, and care for others. Such qualities are gradually diminishing. People are becoming self-centered. Previously, every community had elders or organizations that assisted those in need, provided financial help, and mediated conflicts. Now, fewer people from the younger generation are willing to step forward for such responsibilities. The mindset has shifted to “Why should I get involved? I’ll mind my own business.”
People are starting to care less about even their close ones, let alone strangers. Most only act when absolutely necessary. This detachment is even affecting events like weddings. In the past, family and friends shared responsibilities happily. Now, no one is willing to take responsibility, leading to the hiring of event organizers. Guests attend events to enjoy themselves rather than help.
People are becoming more isolated. Most young people remain engrossed in their own world, often sitting alone in their rooms with their phones. Communication within families is weakening. Rarely do families sit together and talk. Under the same roof, people are unaware of each other’s mental states. Relationships are growing fragile, and bonding is weakening. As a result, loneliness will deepen, leading individuals to feel isolated.
Due to mobile phones and electronic gadgets, people now believe they don’t need anyone. Everything is available online – virtual friends, even virtual lovers. Those who’ve experienced life before mobile phones understand the changes, but the newer generation cannot imagine a world without them. They accept what they see as normal. Future generations may not find anything surprising or shocking because they’ll lack the ability to differentiate between the real and the artificial.
People are using their brains less. Even now, for simple tasks like addition, they rely on calculators. GPS has made them forget routes. With everything easily available, why bother thinking? People are also disconnecting from nature. Even when they go outdoors, it’s less about enjoying nature and more about taking photos or making reels. Many young people constantly wear earphones, oblivious to natural sounds like birds chirping or flowing streams.
Movements to limit the use of AI are gradually emerging. Experts predict that AI will eventually surpass human thinking capabilities. It will respond faster than humans can think. AI will intrude on privacy and blur the line between reality and imagination. AI-generated photos and videos are often more appealing than reality, leading people to desire AI-like perfection in everything, even love and relationships. Relationships may become superficial and self-serving.
Efforts to restrict AI usage are ongoing, but halting AI seems unlikely. Optimists believe humanity might eventually realign with reality, but such change depends on many factors. The risks of worsening are higher than the chances of improvement. Some changes cannot be stopped, and their consequences must be faced. Mental health issues will rise, and loneliness will become widespread. Those who adapt will survive, while others will remain unhappy, endlessly searching for satisfaction.
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