Embracing Human Experience In A Tech-Driven World

As technology continues to advance at an unprecedented pace, the future of humanity is poised for transformative changes. In this evolving landscape, the integration of artificial intelligence, automation, and digital innovations will redefine how employees live, work, and interact with the world around them. 

At the 9th edition of BW People HR Excellence Summit & Awards, S V Nathan, CEO & co-founder, Visara Partners highlights the importance of balancing these technological advancements with human values and ethics in shaping a sustainable and inclusive future.

In his keynote address, Nathan painted the gray picture of our evolving work environment, which is blended with rapid technological advancement. He draws audience attention towards both the positive and negative aspects of technology in our daily lives. He says, “We are becoming increasingly preoccupied with the virtual reality we now experience.”

“If people are in chat rooms, they are not present and if people are present, they are not in chat rooms. There are a lot of feelings that get expressed when people are together in a virtual world that doesn’t exist,” he adds. 

Back in the 1980s, only computer scientists dealt with data and computing and data, but in current times, irrespective of the profession, all employees have to deal with data and artificial intelligence. Nathan remarks that on one hand, technology makes our job easier by providing unprecedented connectivity and efficiency, and on the other hand, people sleep with phones, rather than their partners, and calls it a ‘sad state of humanity’. Therefore, it's crucial to prioritise human connections and well-being, and for that, individuals need to build technology that blends with humans. 

"Human experiences are crucial, and we must leverage technology to enhance our experiences, not replace them. Nathan also emphasised the importance of data and AI, stating that data provides information, information offers insights, and insights lead to actionable outcomes.

Regarding AI, he comments, “It's not the job that is going away; certain aspects of the job can be done better,” underscoring that upskilling, reskilling, and right-skilling are essential for staying relevant in one’s career.

Nathan's address, which began with references to movies, included a plethora of insightful stories and was highly engaging. His use of stories, anecdotes, and quotations illustrated how we can balance 'technology' and 'humanness' in our lives, with an open mind being key.

He concluded his speech with a thought-provoking story, emphasising the need to unlearn outdated concepts to thrive in a new world. He added, “Sustainable organisations start with people. The value we create for our employees is not about keeping them employed forever but about making them employable forever.”