WHEN THE WORLD CAN MEASURE EVERYTHING… CAN WE STILL “MEASURE OURSELVES”?

 

“The same old world… but with the added requirement that we need to ‘upgrade’ our brains every day!”

 

Hello, dear readers. Today, I’d like to discuss “learning” in an era where we can no longer stand still, because the world is spinning so fast we can barely keep up! Have you ever felt like, after updating an app on your phone, a few days later a new version is available? Our daily lives are inextricably linked to learning, because material progress, technology, and innovation are constantly “overwhelming” us, like a tsunami of information that keeps us swept away by “ignorance.”

 

• The Undeniable Truth: “Learning” is the Lifeblood of this Era.

 

Learning is no longer confined to the classroom. It’s about learning “how to learn” to adapt to new tools, new techniques, and most importantly… new “ways of thinking.” In this time when we must “be aware” of this new learning experience, what preparations do we need to make? The most important mindset is “accepting that we don’t know” and being ready to start anew always. A technologically advanced future is far too “grand” and “exciting” for us to remain confined by old ways of thinking. Therefore, our first lesson is: always be open to learning!

 

• An Ordinary Morning…That’s No Longer Ordinary

 

One morning…you wake up. Your alarm clock doesn’t just wake you up, it “analyzes your sleep.” Your smartphone doesn’t just give you notifications, it “predicts your mood.” Your health app doesn’t just tell you your steps, it “measures your life’s risks.” Today’s world…is not the world we perceive, but a world that is “measured” in almost every dimension. We live in an era where “everything has numbers,” from our hearts…to our thoughts. The question is:

 

Are we using technology…or is technology using us? Interestingly, behind this accuracy doesn’t come AI or cutting-edge applications, but from a “science that most people rarely talk about”: “Metrology.” It’s the foundation that makes this world “reliable,” makes a pill the same dosage, allows cars to stop at calculated distances, and lets satellites know your location on Earth. But at the same time…it makes this world “fragile” in ways we don’t even notice.

 

• When Accuracy…Becomes a Double-Edged Sword

 

The more accurate measurements become, the more “controllable” the world becomes. And when controlled, it can be used for both “creation” and “destruction.” Look at current conflicts in the world: measurement technology is used in weapon guidance systems, drones capable of pinpointing targets to the centimeter, and missiles that never miss their target. All of this is not accidental, but stems from “human-created precision.” On the other hand, technology also saves lives and makes life more convenient: AI assists doctors in diagnosing diseases, drones deliver medicine to remote areas, navigation systems help people travel, and sensors help farmers increase crop yields, and so on.

 

• The “Source” of “Accuracy”… But the “Result” is “Uncertainty”?

 

I have a personal observation that no matter how “accurate” the foundation is, when humans use it, it is always “uncertain.” This is because measurement technology always involves uncertainty. No human has ever been able to measure exactly to the true value; we only measure close to the truth with the least possible error. This is the result of measurement uncertainty, which means that the technology we use always has room for improvement and development. Humans are good at using these foundations to create new technologies and innovations. It depends on… we are good at “measuring” and “creating,” but we are not yet “good” at “controlling” and “using” it creatively. This is the “shadow” hidden behind the light of progress!

 

 

• AI : An All-Knowing Genius… or just a “Shadow” of Human Thought?

 

The AI that we are beginning to become familiar with is growing from “measured data.” It learns from our behavior, analyzes us, and sometimes… knows us better than we know ourselves. I am not saying that technology is bad, but I am asking the question: “When the world can measure everything… will humans still have room for imperfection?” Because humanity is never about precision, but about “meaningful error.”

 

Up until now, we have created “AI,” the master of data and the source of thought, which we believe can use this intelligent artificial intelligence to advance human progress in this era. But is that really the case? Progress that comes at the cost of “uncertainty.”

 

I feel that AI is like a “shadow” that we have created… a shadow that reflects our thoughts, our data, and our own biases. We are cramming vast amounts of data generated from measurement and collection into AI and hoping that it will be “smarter” than us!

 

But the fact is, AI “doesn’t think” on its own. It only “calculates” and “processes” from the data we give it. If the data is dirty, the results will be dirty! The danger is that if we rely too much on AI, we may gradually “lose our creativity” and “ability to make decisions.” We may become “slaves” to algorithms or dimwits without even realizing it!

 

My personal opinion: This is an era where we must “challenge” the belief that AI is the answer to everything. We must view AI as a “tool,” not a “master.” We must be “skilled” enough to use it intelligently!

 

 

Summary of Lessons… Crisis is Always an Opportunity

“Crisis is Change… and ‘Change’ is Opportunity!”

 

My dear readers, we have seen both the “benefits” and “drawbacks” of measurement technologies and new innovations. We have seen both their creative power and their destructive capabilities. What I want to emphasize is: “Crisis is change… and ‘change’ is always an opportunity!”

 

No matter how much the world changes, how smart AI becomes, or where wars break out… we, as humans, always have “opportunities”! Opportunities to “relevant learning,” “re-adaptation,” and “re-creation.”

 

To foster awareness of learning from new experiences during times like these, we must accept the reality that “standing still is falling behind.” We must have “flexibility” and “creativity” that surpasses AI.

 

I believe that humans do not “lose” to AI as long as we know how to “ask questions” and “think outside the box.” We may not be able to “measure” creativity or empathy for our fellow human beings, but these are our true “powers” that no tool can replace.

 

“The World After Numbers… When the Future Knocks on Our Door”

 

Let’s work together, learn together, and build a “more beautiful” future with our own hands! Thank you for reading to the end. See you again in the next column! …To Thaprachan.