3.3 million years ago – The first tools

1 million years ago – Fire

20,000 to 15,000 years ago – Neolithic Revolution

6000 BCE – Irrigation

4000 BCE – Sailing

1200 BCE – Iron

850 CE – Gunpowder

950 – Windmill

1044 – Compass

1250–1300 – Mechanical clock

1455 – Printing

1765 – Steam engine

1804 – Railways

1807 – Steamboat

1826/27 – Photography

1831 – Reaper

1844 – Telegraph

1876 – Telephone

1876 – Internal combustion engine

1879 – Electric light

1885 – Automobile

1901 – Radio

1903 – Aeroplane

1926 – Rocketry

1927 – Television

1937 – Computer

1942 – Nuclear power

1947 – Transistor

1957 – Spaceflight

1974 – Personal computer

1974 – Internet

2012 – CRISPR

2017 – Artificial Intelligence

That’s how long it took for humanity to introduce plans to deviate from self-reliance to complete automation, well, almost. If you have been closely following the developments of CES this year and the mind-boggling innovations humanity has concocted, then you know what this year was all about. 

You have heard this repeatedly across all domains and in every little snippet of news you scroll through on social media: AI! But have you ever stopped to wonder about the effects of relying on technology to a point where we have now ultimately let go of control and rely on dots and digits?

From AI-powered catflaps (Yes! That’s a thing now) to cars with AI DJs, CES 2024 was about complete trust in AI and automation. What about the days you would personally curate your playlist for those long drives? And when did we accept that conversations with real humans rather than AI chatbots were too dull or redundant? 

As the world grapples with a transformative future with AI leading the charge, stats show that the global artificial intelligence market size is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 37.3% from 2023 to 2030. It is projected to reach $1,811.8 billion by 2030.

Artificial Intelligence has helped us realise the potential of the future, but using AI to replace every little aspect of our lives can lead to digital dependency rather than self-dependency. If the past is relevant to determine the future, then we know what the foundation for the Gen-Z crowd will look like. Studies have shown a drastic loss in concentration and reliance on technology for the smallest tasks. Are we masking our lack of interest in carrying out simple tasks by declaring the advancement of technology, or are we really stunting our growth, eventually forgetting what it truly means to be free?