By Tim Janssen,
published February 6, 2024.
In our first blog post of 2024, we would like to reflect on the balance between technological advancement and our human nature. We live in a time where technology is taking on an increasingly central role in our (work) lives. The possibilities for international communication, data tracking, and using advanced tools like ChatGPT have profoundly changed our way of working and living. This progress is undeniable, but it influences more than just our measurable output.
Take, for example, the comparison between an online video call and a physical meeting. Video calls are efficient and time-saving, allowing us to work from home and connect with people from all over the world. The latest addition to our toolbox, generative AI, suddenly allows us to save a significant amount of time in performing certain defined tasks. For instance, you can quickly transform a hastily typed email into a polished piece of writing with ChatGPT. However, in both cases, you still lose a bit of your own personal touch or a certain depth and the personal aspect of a face-to-face conversation. It's like trying to express yourself in a second language. No matter how fluent you are, in a second language, you probably miss the nuances and depth that you have in your native language.
Similar trends are relevant in the field of clinical research. For example, a Clinical Research Associate (CRA) plays a crucial role in leading clinical studies. This role requires a strong relationship with physicians involved in the study, as they have direct contact with patients and are responsible for the study's administration. However, due to the increasing trend of outsourcing CRA roles, evaluated based on KPIs and targets, the valuable human contribution of the CRA is at risk of disappearing. This loss of humanity in the name of efficiency and measurable results is, in our opinion, a subtle but significant decline.
At SolCur, we believe that the key to safeguarding these essential human values is our own awareness. Although our society often emphasizes performance, both in work and private life, it is crucial to remind ourselves why we do what we do and what is personally important to us. This is sometimes collectively seen as idealistic, but we consider it essential.
To summarize our thinking: as a society, we often anticipate a major revolution in how much we will work in the future during technological advancement. This was the case with the rise of the internet, and it is now with the emergence of AI. However, we believe that what truly matters does not change. That is the need for human input, interaction, and nuance.