My last blog, “The Human Cost of the Digital Revolution,” delved into the growing phenomenon of technostress — identifying five emerging stressors that define the Digital Age: Overload, Insecurity, Invasion, Complexity, and Uncertainty. While stress is an adaptive response that enables us to react quickly to potential threats in our environment, in the digital age, any opportunities for rest and rejuvenation have been replaced by a constant barrage of interruptions and algorithms designed to keep our brains entertained and prevent boredom. Without an opportunity to recharge, we drain our natural resources and are left running on empty.

“We are drowning in information but starved for knowledge.”– John Naisbitt, Author of Megatrends

Techno-overload

Every day we consume around 74GB of data in the form of 333Bn emails, 23Bn text messages, 1Bn Facebook updates, 5Bn videos on YouTube, 1M Tik Tok snippets and 867M Tweets. In 2012, IBM claimed that 90% of the world’s data had been created in the previous two years. We know through experience, that the pace continues to accelerate. Yet we still have only 24 hours in a day, and our brain’s capacity is largely static — so how are we keeping up?

Despite having access to an abundance of information, it takes enormous effort and focus to extract meaningful knowledge or insight from any of it. We’re consuming more than double the amount of data we did 10 years ago — the sheer volume of information we filter through every day often prevents us from finding a nourishing morsel that might be relevant and important. More often, we resort to bingeing on empty bytes: satisfying the craving but not the hunger. An abundance of empty calories can leave us starved for real nourishment. Information overload acts as an antecedent, or a precursor, to cognitive overload but the impacts of each are pretty uniform and relatable — overwhelm, poor focus and concentration, and impaired decision-making.

ChatGPT makes it infinitely easier to regurgitate and churn out more and more content than ever before. Our social media algorithms depend on it. Hell, they demand it! Hence, any tool that improves our human ability to create and disseminate content, faster and easier than ever will undoubtedly contribute to infobesity. (Infobesity is a term used to describe the downsides of too much information — particularly when the nutritional content of that information is low and contributes to distraction)

So, I thought I’d have sit down with ChatGPT to chat about its contribution to information overload, and other forms of technostress. It was both informed, balanced and refreshingly forthright.

Me: I can see how you might add to the proliferation of content and contribute to information overload

ChatGPT: The sheer amount of information and content available online can be overwhelming, and my ability to generate information and answers in a matter of seconds can certainly contribute to that. However, I can also be seen as a tool for filtering and organizing information, helping users find what they need and reducing the time and effort required to find it, potentially acting as a stress inhibitor in that sense. It’s all about how I’m used and the context in which I’m being used.

Me: Absolutely agree — thank you. Curation of information is a great antidote to information overload. However, that raises the aspects of trust and polarization in relying on tech algorithms to curate.

ChatGPT: Yes, that’s a very important point. Trust in technology, including AI systems like me, is a critical factor in determining whether their use will contribute to stress or reduce it. If users don’t trust the information I provide or the sources it’s based on, it can increase their stress and anxiety. Similarly, if I contribute to echo chambers or reinforce pre-existing biases, I can perpetuate polarization and further divide people, potentially increasing stress and conflict.

Turning information into knowledge requires filtering vast amounts of information, making sense of it, connecting different bits and pieces to come up with new ideas. ChatGPT can be an effective tool in building your own personal knowledge management system (PKM) by helping you capture and curate the information that captures your interest, (with an effusive health warning against misinformation!) The real value is in the curation — what value does each piece of information offer you? Does it help you advance towards a goal? Then comes the synthesis phase — the part that AI can’t yet do — deriving meaning from the information you’ve curated and hashing it together with the deep bank of knowledge you’ve accumulated in your mind’s library (your long-term memory).

Techno-invasion

Technology has become an ever-present and inescapable part of our daily lives. Our constant connectivity and online presence not only blurs the lines between our offline world (where we need to sleep, eat and rest) and the online 24/7 world, but the expectation that we’re available and connected at all times creates anxiety

Me: How might ChatGPT contribute to Techno-invasion?

ChatGPT: ChatGPT, like other AI-powered technologies, has the potential to contribute to techno-invasion for its users by adding to the constant and pervasive presence of technology in their lives. Some of the ways this might occur include:

1. Increased screen time: By using ChatGPT, users may spend more time looking at screens and interacting with technology, which can be tiring and overwhelming.
2. Distraction and interruption: ChatGPT’s instant and always-available nature may distract users from other tasks or important moments, leading to feelings of stress and burnout.
3. Dependence: By relying on ChatGPT for information and answers, users may become dependent on technology and less able to problem-solve or think critically on their own.

However, it’s important to note that ChatGPT can also provide benefits and alleviate stress in other areas of life. For example, it can provide quick access to information and help users complete tasks more efficiently. Like all technology, it’s about finding a balance that works for the individual user, and using ChatGPT in a way that enhances their life, rather than detracts from it.

To be fair to ChatGPT, it doesn’t insist on interrupting me with notifications, tips, popups or other disturbances. It simply answers my questions and stands by silently, ready and available to contribute. This type of simple and intuitive UX is a key pillar of user-centered design. A clean uncluttered interface reduces cognitive load and helps users focus on the task at hand. From my personal experience, ChatGPT lets me find flow and stay focused. It feels more like an invisible butler, rather than the annoyingly over-attentive waiter whose main contribution is to ask how are you enjoying your meal.

Techno-insecurity

Me: Do you think that ChatGPT may contribute to techno-insecurity?

ChatGPT: ChatGPT itself is not a direct source of techno-insecurity. However, like any technology, there is always the potential for its use to contribute to a sense of insecurity in some users.

For example, the reliance on technology and algorithms for information and decision making can create feelings of uncertainty and mistrust, as individuals may question the accuracy or impartiality of the information they receive. Additionally, the growing use of chatbots and AI-powered technologies in customer service and other areas can create feelings of detachment and impersonalization, as users interact with non-human entities instead of human beings.

Me: I think it may trigger some anxiety for people who make a living from generating content, such as writers?

ChatGPT: Yes, that’s a valid concern. The rapid advancement of AI and natural language processing technologies like ChatGPT has the potential to disrupt many industries, including writing and content creation. As AI-powered technologies become more sophisticated and capable of generating high-quality content, there is a risk that traditional content creators, such as writers, may feel threatened and experience anxiety about their livelihoods.

AI technologies like ChatGPT are not designed to replace human writers, but rather to augment and support them. By enabling writers to focus on the creative and strategic aspects of their work, while relying on AI to handle routine and repetitive tasks, they can be more productive and effective in their work.

Additionally, as the demand for high-quality content continues to grow, there may be new opportunities for writers and content creators to work with AI technologies like ChatGPT in innovative and impactful ways. By embracing these technologies and exploring new ways of working, writers can help to shape the future of their industry and ensure that their skills and expertise remain relevant and valuable.

Change is ringing on the doorbell folks — we can’t hide behind the couch until it gives up and goes away! Burying our heads in the sand, or continuing our work with increasing imposter syndrome won’t help us adapt to a rapidly changing future. Generative AI has the potential to put information overload on steroids if we choose quantity over quality. Or it can be a force multiplier for those who have ideas and fresh perspectives to be shared with the world. The choice is ours.

Techno-uncertainty

We experience techno-uncertainty as a stressor when we feel that technology is changing too quickly or we don’t fully grasp the impacts that new technologies might have on their lives. ChatGPT really fired up our techno uncertainty over the past 8 weeks!

Me: That’s leads me to techno-uncertainty. How might ChatGPT feed into this technostressor?

ChatGPT: ChatGPT, as an AI technology, can contribute to techno-uncertainty in a number of ways:

1. Rapid pace of change: The pace of technological change can be overwhelming, and the rapid advancement of AI and natural language processing technologies like ChatGPT can add to this sense of uncertainty. People may feel like they are unable to keep up with the latest developments and fear that their skills and expertise will become outdated.
2. Lack of transparency: AI technologies like ChatGPT operate using complex algorithms and models, and the inner workings of these systems are often opaque to the general public. This lack of transparency can feed into feelings of uncertainty and mistrust, and people may worry about the potential consequences of these technologies.
3. Job displacement: There is a growing concern that AI technologies like ChatGPT will displace human workers, and people may feel uncertain about their future job prospects. They may worry about their ability to find work in an increasingly automated world, and this uncertainty can contribute to feelings of anxiety and stress.
4. Unintended consequences: There is always a risk that new technologies will have unintended consequences that are difficult to predict. With AI technologies like ChatGPT, there is a concern that these systems may perpetuate existing biases or reinforce harmful stereotypes. This uncertainty can contribute to feelings of anxiety and stress.

Techno-complexity

Whenever we feel like we need to make an investment to fully understand and feel comfortable with emerging technologies, we experience techno-complexity. We make a quick-and-dirty assessment whether it’s worth the effort to acquire the required level of knowledge or expertise, or even build the skillset to troubleshoot when things go wrong.

Think about the investment needed to learn how to drive a car and navigate the complexity of the ecosystem of car ownership, road networks and driving competencies (not to mention other road users!) While the investment is significant, we consider the lifetime value is largely worth it. However, many emerging technologies demand considerable investments of our time without the same promise and certainty of long-term value. As the pace of change continues to accelerate, we are naturally more hesitant and unsure of where to invest our resources.

Me: How might ChatGPT contribute to Techno-Complexity

ChatGPT: ChatGPT and other AI technologies can contribute to Techno-Complexity in several ways:

1. Complex algorithms: AI technologies like ChatGPT are built using complex algorithms and models that can be difficult to understand and interpret, even for experts in the field. This can lead to feelings of confusion and frustration, and people may feel overwhelmed by the technical details of these systems.
2. User interfaces: Some AI technologies have user interfaces that are complex and difficult to use, and this can add to the feeling of complexity and frustration. This can make it difficult for people to take full advantage of the capabilities of these technologies, and it may also lead to errors or misunderstandings.
3. Interoperability: AI technologies like ChatGPT often need to interact with other systems, and this can lead to complexity as different systems use different protocols, data formats, and APIs. This can make it difficult to integrate these technologies into existing workflows and processes, and it can add to the feeling of techno-complexity.
4. Data privacy and security: AI technologies like ChatGPT often process large amounts of personal and sensitive data, and this can raise complex privacy and security issues. People may worry about who has access to their data, and how it is being used, and this can add to the feeling of techno-complexity.

“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” — Alvin Toffler

Tools like ChatGPT have the potential to revolutionise the ways in which we communicate (by providing personalised language coaching), the ways in which we play (by creating more realistic and engaging online experiences), and the ways in which we work (by acting as a force multiplier for our innate human abilities). Equally, it has the potential to create more noise, more misinformation, and more overwhelm.

Ultimately, human values shape modern technologies. In turn, technology influences and shapes our values.

The choice is ours: what kind of future will we create?  Technology cannot make you inferior unless you consent.