Automation Amnesia

Automation has revolutionized our world in unimaginable ways. From the way we work to the way we communicate, technology has made our lives easier and more convenient. But what is the cost of this convenience? Is our over-reliance on technology causing us to lose some of our cognitive abilities? This phenomenon, which I have coined "automation amnesia," is a growing concern that requires our attention.

Over millennia, humans have always been drawn towards convenience. It is a natural inclination to seek out ways to make our lives easier and more efficient. This is evident in the history of technological advancements, from the invention of the wheel to the development of the internet. The drive towards convenience has led to a society that values speed, efficiency, and automation above all else. But in our quest for convenience, we may be overlooking the importance of cognitive engagement.

Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to change and adapt in response to new experiences and stimuli. It is the mechanism through which we learn and grow. When we are faced with difficult tasks, our brains respond by creating new neural connections and strengthening existing ones. This process of neuroplasticity allows us to become more efficient and effective at problem-solving.

However, when we rely too heavily on technology to do the thinking for us, we risk losing some of our neuroplasticity. This is because our brains are simply not being challenged.

There is emerging research to support this idea. An article published by Psychology Today, provocatively titled "Are Smartphone Making Us Stupid," leads with this sentence:

Cognitive capacity and overall brain power are significantly reduced when your smartphone is within glancing distance—even if it’s turned off and face down—according to a recent study.

If the mere presence of a device can impact mental capabilities, what happens when a process is entirely abstracted away through automation? Let's zoom in on localization for a minute.

Think about a continuous localization loop. A series of triggers, web hooks, and callbacks routes data from a hosting platform to a certain destination (a translation management system or a machine translation engine, for instance) and back again. Connectors and integrations have been around for a long time to answer the call for this need in the marketplace. Over time, though, things change. API endpoints are updated, code bases are refactored, things like that happen that can cause a hiccup. Who will be best equipped to triage and fix it?

An expert whose schedule is booked solid, that's who. One key person. It is the antithesis of a scalable and repeatable process because the automated actions limit the pool of stakeholders who can remedy the situation.

Don't get me wrong. Automation is essential to help companies move at the speed of business. It has it's place. My point is that there is a red hot love affair with it. Generative AI and the API economy wistfully imply that no one has to point and click at all. This is a false paradigm in my view.

We are at the precipice. As more and more tasks are automated, we rely on technology to do all the thinking for us. What will the long-term impact be on our cognitive abilities?

You could counterargue, for example, that no one needs to know how to shoe a horse. And you'd be 100% right. The shift from horse-based transportation to automobiles obviated the need for the majority of us to know anything at all about taking care of horses.

That shift was gradual, though, and very good for the health and treatment of horses. The shift to automation today is happening at a blistering pace and is an order of magnitude more significant. It touches on everything from automating appliances, self-driving cars, work routines, you name it.

So, how do we avoid automation amnesia?

I believe that the key is to find a balance between convenience and cognitive engagement. We should not be afraid to take on challenging tasks that require us to think critically and problem-solve. We should embrace the challenge of finding solutions on our own. This will not only keep our brains engaged but also give us a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.

It is also important to recognize the value of stress. While stress is often seen as a negative thing, it is actually an essential part of cognitive engagement. When we are faced with difficult tasks, our brains respond by releasing stress hormones that help us focus and stay alert. This heightened state of awareness allows us to perform at our best and find creative solutions to complex problems.

In conclusion, automation amnesia is a growing concern. As a solutions architect in the localization industry, I see it in myself and others frequently. At work, when designing a solution, keeping humans in the loop at important junctures, making documentation clear and accessible to all stakeholders, performing periodic reviews, and drawing up a plan as a living document that can be evolved as time passes might help us move away from the "set it and forget it" model.