My experiences and future ideas of the digitalization in my own field of work

I’m an office worker in The Social Insurance Institution of Finland. While working in a big institution, I’ve noticed that everything moves slowly, including digitalization. The data that the institution collects and uses itself and shares with other officials, is huge and in my eyes never ending. The big data that has been collected over many decades combined with systems at worst from 1980s, makes a challenging combination. The systems are been changed bit by bit, but because of the huge amount of data, the process is irritatingly slow. Of course there are some modern robotics that are being used, but the effect they have in the big picture, is still modest. 

My opinion is that in the future digitalization will change the way we work considerably even though other fields of work are probably always going to be more advanced on digitalization than state institutions. Still the digital evolution is so fast that even institutions have to step up and keep up with the pace. Institutions have often more responsibilities and they have to be on top of the evolution to keep the data safe and sound. Institutions have often loads of data, but only a small part of it is being used effectively. This is where I feel the biggest improvement will happen when the platforms in the Institution are finally ready for the big change. 

Nowadays the situation in my work is that digitalized solutions often aren’t supporting the work so much as hindering it. Because of the outdated systems, the information flowing through to newer systems is partial. Often, we can’t do the work the easiest way, because of the systems, but have to find a way around the issue for the systems to work properly. Even when I hope for the digitalized revolution in our field of work, I’m not holding my breath, because the time for bigger change might be coming when I’m already retired. 

The general data protection regulation 

The GDPR is a law that secures Europe citizen’s privacy. Companies that use personal data of an European citizen or offer services in Europe must obey this law.  

With this law it is made clear how companies and organisations should use data. How to collect, store and utilize it. What data to collect and who to share it. Companies have to decide who is in charge of the data and how to secure it from malicious operators. The law also clarifies people’s privacy rights and highlights consent from the data subject. 

In my opinion the GDPR is essential to making sure that different operators have same guidelines when working in open digital society. It verifies companies obligations and responsibilities and through that protects people’s privacy. It also holds, those who disregard the rules, responsible and makes sure that there are severe consequences when not operating correctly. The GDPR makes me feel protected and safe both in my personal and working life. But it makes me wonder if this is enough regulations or if there needs to be a lot more. The digital world is changing and evolving so fast, that I’m afraid the legislation won’t keep up with all the demands. 

GPT – (AI) artificial intelligence service

The answers that the GPT gave were comprehensible, inclusive and well analyzed. I got the basic knowledge of what I was asking and if the GPT wasn’t sure if it answered my question thoroughly it recommended a website where I should look for more information. The answers were all correct to my knowledge.  

The answers were all pretty extensive, but I think that is mainly because of the way I placed the questions. The GPT only answers the question you ask so it’s immensely important how you ask them. If you what precise answer, ask exact questions. 

This task really opened my eyes to how easy it is to use AI to enhance ones work and learning. AI makes it easy to have quick and combined knowledge of the field you’re working on. It can collect knowledge in a blink of an eye from multiple sources while it would take you many minutes or hours to gather it yourself. Of course you have to use judgment when using the data that the AI assembles. The AI is maybe not yet that good at separating proper websites from websites that share misinformation. Although often it is hard for people to do that also. 

Self evaluation

The digital technology and AI are here to stay. The field of digital technology is growing and expanding at amazing speed. The machines are self aware and intuitive. They are capable of learning and evolving partly by themselves. The data we nowadays collect helps us prevent many outcomes beforehand. Technologies make our life better and easier in many ways. It’s making heavy work lighter and safer and it also creates new jobs as well as makes some jobs vanish.  

I’m now intrigued by the many possibilities that the technology can offer to my field of work but also more widely to working life overall. I can see that the way I do my work now will chance immensely in ten or even five years. Even when I work in a big government institution that is heavy and slow to turn, the changes will reach us too, probably faster than we realize. I see the value that the more advanced technology offers to us workers but also to our customers. I’m ready to take the next step towards that.