Digitalisation in My Field – Experiences, Observations, and Future Outlook
Digitalisation has revolutionised the way nearly every industry operates, and its effects are also clearly visible in my own work in the social and healthcare sector. In this blog post, I will go through my experiences with digitalisation so far, reflect on its future opportunities and risks, and evaluate the role and impact of artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT, in the years to come. Finally, I will conclude with a brief self-assessment.
Experiences with Digitalisation in My Field
In my field, digitalisation has manifested concretely through the increasing use of electronic services. These tools have improved work efficiency, enhanced information management, and made collaboration easier.
However, implementing digital solutions has not been entirely smooth. Learning to use new systems often requires time and training, which is not always sufficiently available. In addition, technological tools can sometimes draw attention away from the core purpose of the work, such as customer service or professional expertise.
Future Outlook
I believe digitalisation will continue to transform working life at an accelerating pace. Remote and hybrid work models are already commonplace in many sectors, and in the future, even more tasks will become location-independent. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation will significantly influence the kinds of jobs people do and how work is organised.
In the social and healthcare sector, for instance, I see opportunities to use AI in areas like client guidance and service navigation. On the other hand, AI and automation may reduce the need for some current roles, which means workers will need to continuously learn and adapt.
Risks of an Open Digital Society and Data Protection
In an open digital society, data security and privacy are major challenges. The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which came into force in 2016 and has been applicable since 2018, has brought a great deal of clarity and obligation to this area.
In my work, GDPR has influenced practices by clearly defining how personal data should be handled and by increasing focus on data protection. For example, clients’ information must be stored securely, and they have the right to access and request the deletion of their data.
On the downside, GDPR has also increased the workload — documentation requirements and the creation of privacy statements can be time-consuming. However, overall, the regulation has increased trust in digital services, which is a positive development.
AI in Working Life – Testing ChatGPT
I tested ChatGPT by asking it a few questions related to my work, such as:
“How can I improve my communication skills in customer service situations?”
“What trends are expected in my field over the next five years?”
“How can I improve team collaboration in a remote work environment?”
ChatGPT provided surprisingly clear and practical answers. For improving communication skills, it suggested active listening and seeking feedback. Regarding future trends, it mentioned the growing importance of digitalisation, AI, and sustainability. For enhancing remote teamwork, it recommended setting shared rules, maintaining clear communication, and holding regular meetings.
Although the answers were helpful, I also noticed limitations. ChatGPT does not know the specific details of my organisation or the particular characteristics of my field, so the answers remained fairly general. It is also important to approach its suggestions critically — AI should not replace human expertise but rather complement it.
General Thoughts on AI
The greatest benefit of AI, such as ChatGPT, is its ability to provide information, suggestions, and perspectives quickly. It can serve as a brainstorming partner, a sparring tool, or an assistant in searching for information. AI has vast potential in areas such as education, healthcare, and customer service.
However, the biggest challenges are ethical in nature: who is responsible if AI gives incorrect advice? How do we prevent biased data or misleading information? And what happens to the job market as some tasks become automated?
In my opinion, the most important thing is to develop AI responsibly and to ensure that humans remain at the center of decision-making processes.
Self-Evaluation – What Did I Learn?
Through this assignment, I gained a broad understanding of the significance of digitalisation in both my field and society as a whole. I also learned about the GDPR and its impact on practical work. Testing ChatGPT was an interesting experience and encouraged me to reflect on the possibilities and limitations of artificial intelligence.
This task confirmed for me that continuous learning is essential in today’s evolving work environment. In the future, I would like to deepen my knowledge especially in areas such as cybersecurity and the ethical use of AI.
There are the pages that I have commented;
https://blogi.savonia.fi/niinaaimasmaki/digi-society/?unapproved=18&moderation-hash=3c58134f0d9af2f74d221c4093803c7f#comment-18
https://blogi.savonia.fi/annalehtiniemi/digi-society/#comment-8