Will We Control Technology or Will Technology Control Us?

In the era of digital transformation, technology is reshaping how we work, live, make decisions — and even how we connect with one another. One of the most crucial questions we must answer today is: will we be able to control technology, or will it control us? This is not just a philosophical dilemma. It is both human and very practical. On one hand, technology impacts the environment and generates unnecessary data, but on the other — it helps save time and even saves lives.

Technology is a Tool — The Choice is in Our Hands

The question of who maintains control is not new. As far back as 1999, musician Prince, in one of his speeches, urged people to be mindful when using technology, emphasizing — “don’t let computers use you.” In 2025, this warning is more relevant than ever. When we use technology irrationally and uncontrollably, it becomes a thief of our time and contributes to environmental harm.

Half of Internet Data is Video Content

According to data published by Exploding Topics, approximately 402.74 million terabytes of data are generated every single day. That is roughly equivalent to 50 billion HD-quality movies created in just one day. It is projected that by 2025, the total volume of data will reach 181 zettabytes. This is an amount of information that would take a human millions of years to read or watch non-stop, 24 hours a day. More than half of the internet’s data volume is video content — movies, series, YouTube videos, live streams, and so on. Around 70% of this data is considered "waste" — unnecessary data that is stored but will likely never be used.

Facebook Generates More Data Than NASA

A staggering amount of content is generated every second worldwide. For example, Facebook produces 80 times more data per day than NASA (the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration). Not only organizations generate data — each of us contributes. According to Eurostat, the average Latvian citizen spends more than 2 hours per day on social media — adding up to 37 full days per year. This time isn’t just producing new data — photos, videos, and more — it is also a portion of our lives spent in front of screens. In recent years, the number of smart devices per household has also grown significantly: on average, a U.S. household now uses 21 smart devices, European households — 10, and Latvian households — up to 7 (according to data from the company Bite). As the number of devices grows, so too does the desire for convenience, speed, and instant gratification — but is our understanding and compassion growing along with it?

When Technology Truly Serves Humanity — The Example of Sinapse

Fortunately, there are many positive examples of how technology can promote humanity. One of the most notable and recent examples in Latvia is the artificial intelligence solution Sinapse, used at Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital. This system can detect strokes in 93% of cases. This means a patient’s scan is automatically processed and evaluated — often before the doctor even sees it — in about 15 seconds. When the doctor opens the scan, the AI-generated interpretation is already there. This tool has processed more than 1,000 cases in less than a year, improving its accuracy by 13% during this time. Sinapse can also detect other conditions — such as hematomas after head trauma or other neurological pathologies. Moreover, this solution is particularly valuable in situations of staff shortages and high workload.

Technology Can Give Us More Time

Technology can also become an ally and help us save significant amounts of time — if used correctly. For instance, AI solutions in education can reduce teachers' administrative workload by up to 70% — helping to prepare materials, evaluate assignments, and personalize tasks. This allows teachers to spend more time directly engaging with their students.

Augmenting, Not Replacing, Humanity

AI can also become a valuable support tool in general practice, helping doctors dedicate more time to one of the most important parts of their profession — having a human conversation with their patients. On average, a general practitioner’s visit lasts about 20 minutes, with approximately 75% of that time spent on administrative tasks — filling out forms, writing referrals, preparing sick leave notes, and entering data into systems. This often leaves doctors with just a few minutes to genuinely talk to patients about their feelings, concerns, and quality of life. If these tasks were automated — for example, using speech-to-text transcription or automatically generating draft documents — doctors would have more time to focus on each patient. These examples clearly show that technology does not have to replace humanity — it can enhance it.

We cannot stop the advancement of technology, but we can choose how to use it. Will we allow ourselves to be swept away by algorithms? Or will we use technology to free up space for creativity, empathy, and meaningful conversations? The impact of AI and technology on the environment and on various aspects of our daily lives is not just an issue for IT professionals. It is a future that we are shaping — today.