{
  "id": 14737436,
  "title": "When machines can do more, what should we do?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/when-machines-can-do-more-what-should-we-do",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-15T16:00:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40444399/when-machines-can-do-more-what-should-we-do"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "For over two decades, the author has been creating software, yet their connection to computers stretches back even further. Recollections of playing on an Atari and a Commodore 64, where simple pixels on a screen kept them entertained for hours, linger. The arrival of the family PC with its bulky monitor and x86 processor sparked curiosity about what this desk-bound machine could actually accomplish. Computers once seemed like enchanted portals, but they were also constrained. Fast forward to the present, and the evolution of software from processing information to connecting systems and automating repetitive tasks is astounding. The internet has made vast amounts of knowledge readily accessible, and observing the definition of 'possible' constantly shifting has been a captivating experience. Nowadays, artificial intelligence (AI) can draft code, scrutinize extensive data sets, craft full presentations, function as a multiagent team, discern patterns, and make decisions at a speed that once seemed unimaginable. While the rapid pace is thrilling, it is also prudent to take a step back. Often overlooked when discussing AI's capabilities is the question of what comes next. The focus is understandably on productivity – time savings, serving more people, rapid development, and automating tasks. These are undoubtedly crucial inquiries, yet they are not the sole ones that deserve attention. If machines can execute tasks once deemed uniquely human, our challenge transcends merely learning how to utilize increasingly proficient tools. Instead, we must deliberate on the purpose those tools serve. Companies that flourish in the forthcoming technological era might not merely be those that embrace AI promptly; they could be those that comprehend when it truly adds value, where human judgment remains indispensable, and the overarching purpose driving the technology they develop. Having spent ample time working with software, the author understands that a system's worth is contingent on the problem it addresses. Building sophisticated technology around a poorly defined objective still results in solving the incorrect problem exceptionally efficiently. AI amplifies this likelihood. Systems capable of handling more extensive workflow portions necessitate someone (a human) to comprehend its workings, question its assumptions, scrutinize its decisions, and identify when an apparently sensible answer possesses detrimental consequences. Moreover, the growing potential for AI to operate independently is a topic for another discussion. Responsibility cannot be automated. This becomes particularly pertinent as AI systems permeate businesses, schools, hospitals, governments, and communities. Decisions made by a system can determine whether an individual receives a loan, how a candidate is evaluated for a job, the accuracy of a doctor's diagnosis, the information a child accesses online, or how a customer is treated. While the technical query lies in the system's ability to make such pivotal decisions, the human query pertains to whether it should. The conversation surrounding AI should mature beyond determining technical feasibility to considering whether it is equitable, necessary, and worthwhile. This doesn't imply resisting progress. Quite the contrary; optimism about AI's potential is warranted. However, potential does not equate to progress contingent on how we utilize that potential. One intriguing consequence of AI may be that, as execution becomes swifter and more cost-effective, deciding what merits execution becomes even more crucial. When a team can transform an idea into a prototype in days instead of months, the competitive advantage shifts from possessing resources to building something towards identifying the right problem, understanding its impact on affected individuals, and posing better questions before initiating development. This responsibility resides firmly within humans. Furthermore, it transforms what we should impart to the younger generation. Technical expertise will persist, but curiosity, judgment, empathy, critical thinking, and the capacity to grasp consequences may become equally, if not more, invaluable. We will require individuals who can collaborate with intelligent systems without relinquishing their intellect to them. This presents a paradox of our current technological era: the more capable our machines become, the more vital it becomes for us to grasp what distinguishes our contribution, not because humans will perpetually be swifter—simply not—but because we are the ones who bear the consequences of the systems we construct. We value outcomes, attach significance to them, and endure the social, economic, and human ramifications of our decisions. Science fiction has dedicated decades to envisioning machines capable of thought, creation, and action. We are now in the process of actualizing versions of those very machines in our daily lives. This is a remarkable feat. The entities that prosper in the next technological chapter may not merely be those that adopt AI first; they could be those that discern when it genuinely benefits, where human judgment remains paramount, and the larger purpose underlying the technology they create. AI propels the future forward, but it is humans who determine where it ultimately leads.",
  "summary": "I’ve spent more than 20 years building software, but my relationship with computers goes back much further. I still remember the excitement of playing on an Atari and a Commodore 64, when a few pixels moving across a screen could keep us occupied for hours. Later came the family PC, with its chunky monitor and x86 processor, and the fascination of discovering what this machine sitting on our desk…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}