By Walker Broadbent

Published on 11/29/2024

What would happen if robots took over the world?

Would some artificial super virus take over all the technology in the world and control it? What if robots learn how to build and reproduce themselves and construct an unstoppable army? Maybe our beloved Roombas would strap knives to themselves and run around our living rooms?

Or maybe, they already did.

Social media algorithms are not foreign to us. We understand that short form content social media apps such as TikTok and Instagram have algorithms that show us what we want to see. People purposefully consume certain content to “perfect” their algorithms.

What might be a little foreign, however, is the extent to which these algorithms have altered our own lives.

Recommender systems are undeniably an incredible feat of machine learning, and an even more dangerous weapon. It is one of many in the arsenal of technology that threatens our sense of humanity.

We, as humans, seek and crave mental stimulation that is rewarded via chemicals in our brains. It’s what makes us naturally curious and creative in our own beautiful ways. We seek out ways to fulfill ourselves, which manifests itself into hobbies and traits that make us unique — a natural curiosity that makes us human.

Therefore, it is unsurprising that we’ve naturally grown towards preferring shorter form content as a society. The psychological warfare between our humanity and technology has drawn us to seek out the most efficient way to stimulate ourselves.

However, as a result, apps have “learned” how to best manipulate us as if we were a Pavlovian experiment. Each notification on our phone becomes associated with dopamine. With so many screens fighting for our attention, our brains see our technology as immediate and primary sources for gratification.

So, what does this mean for us?

Creativity, and the manifestation of it, undoubtedly involves time and effort. We receive dopamine as the result of our work in the form of satisfaction and pride, but what happens when there’s a more convenient method of satisfaction in our pocket?

If we hear our phone buzz, we’re conditioned to reach for it and see what it is. Plus, once we do, we’re often trapped in a dopamine loop called doomscrolling.

We’re so used to instant and constant gratification that we tend to fill every moment of our lives with trying to catch up with the overwhelming stream of information on our phones—we’re chasing the dopamine rush because we’re conditioned and addicted.

Eating meals disconnected feels rarer than its counterpart. Commuting without music is usually an accident, not a choice.

Technology has sneakily integrated itself into every aspect of our lives, whether it’s in bed, at the table, or even in the bathroom.

It looks a little different than what the science fiction movies told us, but it's starting to feel a little too real.