The Future of Artificial Intelligence: A New Era or a New Crisis?

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Can we discuss the most important topic, digital illiteracy, and leave the noise aside?

The Central Problem

In Portugal, digital illiteracy is a critical issue, especially among the older population. Around 23% of Portuguese people are over 65 years old, and many of them are disconnected from the digital transformation. According to Eurostat, around 50% of people aged between 55 and 74 have never used the internet.

This is not just a statistical issue, but rather a reflection of a society that is leaving a significant portion of its population behind. In an era dominated by artificial intelligence (AI), this disconnect is particularly alarming.

The Access and Education Gap

The lack of digital access and education creates a significant whatsapp data gap in opportunities. People who are tech-savvy have a clear advantage in accessing better jobs and salaries, while those without digital skills face a much steeper learning curve. This inequality not only affects individuals, but also perpetuates cycles of disadvantage in future generations, as many children only have access to one computer at school, often an outdated one.

AI, far from being a silver bullet, could exacerbate this gap. Technological innovations tend to benefit those who are already best equipped to adopt them, leaving the less advantaged even further behind. So shouldn’t we be focusing on how to upskill this population? The question is not just about access, but also about empowerment and inclusion.

Impact on the Job Market

The Portuguese labor market is feeling this impact acutely. Competition for talent is not just a domestic issue. With the democratization of teleworking, a young person can easily work for a company in the US, which makes it difficult for Portuguese companies to compete.

Over the next two years, we expect a significant transformation in work processes, both in terms of soft and hard skills. Companies will face increasing difficulty in filling technology vacancies . There is an urgent need to implement a plan to ‘retrain’ roles and workers, helping them adopt new processes and integrate into an increasingly digital economy.

Education and Training

To mitigate this problem, it is crucial to invest in digital literacy programs aimed at the aging population, while reviewing the learning and adoption processes of new programming languages ​​and emerging technologies, such as generative AI.

We spend too much time blaming and labeling the use of tools like ChatGPT as cheating. Instead, using these tools should be seen as a sign of intelligence and time-saving . The focus should be on teaching how to prepare information, make choices and structure ideas – in short, ‘ teaching how to think ’. Technology is just a tool; the real skill lies in the ability to reason and adapt.

Conclusion

Digital illiteracy in Portugal is a worrying reality that, if not addressed, will only get worse. Continuing to focus on the problem and criticize it is counterproductive. Bridging this gap is essential to create a more inclusive society and a dynamic job market.

Digital transformation should be seen as an opportunity to reshape our approach to education and the labour market, promoting broader and more equitable integration. It is a challenge that requires coordinated action and commitment from all sectors of society.