of Marios Papaevstathiou
The future came at the speed of light — but we forgot to turn on the light within us
Technology must serve Man - not replace him
Artificial Intelligence is turning the global professional map upside down at the speed of light, transforming the way humans work, think and produce. Professor of Economics and New Technologies Marios Papaevstathiou opened one of the most essential dialogues of our time: where does progress stop and where does the loss of the human essence begin?
"Technology must serve man, not replace him," emphasized Mr. Marios Papaevstathiou, recalling that progress without an anthropocentric orientation leads to a cold, mechanical civilization. The changes are already huge: new professions are born, old ones are lost, while Generation Z seems torn between technological dependence and the search for authentic life experiences.
Technology should help people – not replace them
Progress is not an end in itself:
"Technology should help people and not replace them. We are at the crossroads of developments and we must be prepared."
Knowledge and vigilance are, as he said, the only antidotes to the uncontrollable power of the digital age. Because, as he characteristically noted:
"We are very good lawyers for our mistakes and very good judges for the mistakes of others."
One of the most disruptive trends analyzed is the return to simple cell phones, without internet access — a form of resistance to technological addiction.
"The mobile phone when you are far away brings you closer. But when you are close, it takes you away", said the professor meaningfully, describing in one sentence the paradox of the digital age.
Our society is hungry for true communication. And yet, social media, created to bring us closer together, often isolates us.
"People exist to communicate. Social media is there to be used. The world is in chaos because these two are upside down."
At the same time, in an age where information is produced at a dizzying pace, education cannot be limited to the transmission of data. "Education is not learning facts, but training the mind to think," the professor pointed out. Technological literacy must be accompanied by ethics, judgment and self-awareness, so that innovation remains an ally of man and not a threat to his existence.
Mr. Papaevstathiou emphasized to the television viewers in Cyprus and Greece the following: "Education is not learning facts, but training the mind to think." A failure is not a defeat, but a suspension of victory."
"To live without hope is to stop living,"
"You don't have to say what you know, but know what you're saying."
The new generation must learn to filter, to judge, to stand tall against the storm of information. Because knowledge without critical thinking turns into mechanical obedience, and tradition is the sum total of a society's successful innovations – and to invoke it is eminently progressive.”
Artificial intelligence is changing everything – except the most important: the human soul. The real battle of the future will not be fought between man and machine, but within man himself.
Technology is not the enemy. Complacency is.
