WITH the advent of technology and internet access even in remote areas, one had the notion that the level of knowledge would increase across the board. However, the human brain has been rendered dumb by enhanced and easy access to the sources of knowledge.

True knowledge has disappeared and self-declared ‘influencers’ have taken over, corrupting the minds of the youth with questionable content and ways to sell brand image only, instead of imparting ideas that may come in handy in a society that is already in ruins.

It is unfortunate to see the students using ChatGPT or various other artificial intelligence (AI) methods to produce assignments that lack originality. What is even more astonishing and disappointing is that certain teachers are supporting such an approach.

Gone are the days when people dedicated their lives to researching content that built civilisations. Neither Rome was built with the help of Google, nor did Aristotle use ChatGPT to construct ideas. The era of scholars, poets and academic writers is coming to an end, and originality in content is disappea-ring. Saving time and earning money to waste on inanities have become part of the new normal.

Indeed, humans have become slaves to the very technology that they had developed to improve their lives.

Ifrah Shahbaz
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2024