Professor of Economics and New Technologies Marios Papaevstathiou, with his apt and analytical speech, shed light on two critical issues that strongly concern modern society: the invasion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the labor market and the unexpected but characteristic return of "old" mobile phones, phenomena that reveal the resistances and adaptations of man in the technological age.
Marios Papaevstathiou analyzed with evidence the enormous changes that Artificial Intelligence brings to the professional map, affecting dozens of specialties and radically changing the way in which modern man works, thinks and produces. At the same time, he referred to the new social trend of returning to "simple" mobile phones, a move that expresses as well as underlined the need for citizens to regain control of their digital lives and restore the balance between technology and everyday life.
The 44 Professions Most Threatened by AI
Mr. Papaevstathiou presented data from OpenAI's new GDPval study, which was based not on theories, but on real tests of professional tasks performed by the most advanced AI models such as GPT-4o, Claude Opus and GPT-5.
The survey revealed that 44 professions—from lawyers, accountants, financial analysts, programmers and journalists, to designers, secretaries and business consultants—are already directly affected by the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. OpenAI notes that in many of these cases AI doesn't completely replace humans — but turns them into supervisors: the one who checks, approves, or corrects the machine's output.
However, according to the results of the survey, the jobs that could be most susceptible to automation are: Medical and health service managers Police supervisors and detectives Regulatory compliance auditors Lawyers Accountants and auditors Receptionists (concierges) Retail sales supervisors Film and video editors Financial product, stock and Merchandisers Pharmacists Production and Operations Supervisors Administrative Services Managers News Analysts, Reporters and Journalists Front Desk and Rental Clerks Information Systems Managers Leisure Workers General Operations Managers Software Developers Private Investigators and Investigators Investment Analysts Producers and Directors Sales (Non-Retail) Supervisors Buyers and Managers Procurement Managers Sales Managers Nurse Practitioners Warehouse Clerks, Receipts and Inventory Office and Administrative Support Supervisors Personal Financial Advisors Real Estate Brokers Real Estate Sales Agents Audio and Video Technicians Financial Services Managers Child, Family and School Social Workers Non-Retail Sales Supervisors Order Clerks Engineering and Technical Services Supervisors Registered Nurses Information Systems Managers Office and Administrative Supervisors Support Project Management Specialists Industrial Engineers Mechanical Engineers Sales Managers Customer Service Representatives As Educator Marios Papaefstathiou pointed out:
“In just two years, AI systems have gone from assisting to replacing many cognitive tasks. But this does not mean the end of professions, but the beginning of a new relationship between man and machine."
OpenAI researchers provided anonymized results to reviewers who did not know whether the work was produced by a human or a machine. The result? In several cases, AI models surpassed human levels of accuracy, especially in technical or repetitive tasks.
“The question is not whether the technology will advance—that's a given—but how we as a society, as workers, and as states will prepare ourselves to use it in an ethical and functional way. "Governments must establish controls and limits on the use of AI, to ensure values and working relationships," the professor underlined.
The great comeback of "old" mobiles - A digital counterweight
In the second part of the show, Marios Papaevstathiou analyzed the impressive global trend of returning to traditional mobile phones (feature phones), now also known as dumbphones. A trend that is not only about nostalgia, but the conscious need of users to "disconnect" from information overload and digital addiction.
“The overload of notifications, apps and social networks has led to psychological fatigue and reduced concentration. People are beginning to understand that technology should serve life — not absorb it,” noted Mr. Papaevstathiou.
The reasons for this return: Mental health and concentration: Reducing stress and restoring balance. Time recovery: Fewer notifications, less wasted scrolling. Personal data security: Fewer apps, less risk of breach. Conscious use of technology: Not denying evolution, but choosing how to use it. As he characteristically commented:
"Technological progress is not a one-way street. Progress can also be made by choosing simplicity. The future won't just belong to those with the smartest phones — but to those with the wisest use of technology.”
A show – a guide for tomorrow
The discussion on the show "Society Has a Reason" left an excellent impression, combining technological analysis, social reflection and scientific validity. Marios Papaevstathiou proved once again why he is considered one of the most authoritative and up-to-date analysts on the topics of artificial intelligence, digital transformation and social adaptation to technology.
Technology changes the world — but man sets the pace of change. And Marios Papaevstathiou, through his scientific knowledge and social sensitivity, shows the way to a technology with a human face.
