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From Libraries to ChatGPT

 


From Libraries to ChatGPT: Are We Gaining Speed or Losing Ourselves?


By Nidhi Guglani



Technology has become the silent backbone of our lives. It helps us, supports us, and makes the impossible seem effortless. Yet, in the same breath, it can make us dependent, complacent, and even a little lazy.


We live in a progressive nation, moving forward with every innovation. But somewhere along the way, we’ve grown so reliant on certain gadgets and apps that living without them feels almost unthinkable.


There was a time when research meant walking into a library, scanning shelves, flipping through indexes, and discovering books one after another. The choice was limited, but the experience was rich. You went in looking for one answer and often came out with ten new pieces of knowledge — some related, some not — but all valuable.


Then came Google. Suddenly, the idea of not having to leave your desk to find information felt unreal. Just type your topic in the search bar, and the world’s knowledge unfurled before you.


And now, we have ChatGPT — a tool that doesn’t just hand you pages of results but tailors answers to your exact prompt. The process has never been easier. But here’s the question: have we stopped “racking our brains”? In skipping the slow search, are we also skipping the hidden gems that come with wandering through information?


Artificial intelligence, on the other hand, carries a different kind of concern — it can quietly replace the human mind. We use Gemini, ROC, GPT, and countless other tools, but we need to ensure our thoughts remain our own. If AI adds its own interpretations, our work risks becoming a fabricated version of our original intent. That’s why every masterpiece produced with AI should be viewed with a degree of caution: how much of it is truly ours? There’s always a layer of meaning added by the machine.


The solution is awareness. We must double-check what we create, pause to see if it aligns with our own thinking, and let our intuition and wisdom guide us. After all, we created technology — we shouldn’t let it overpower us. The reality is, AI will take over many jobs, and that’s unsettling. At the same time, those who understand and adapt to AI-related skills will have a better chance to thrive in the future.


The truth is, every step of technological progress has its pros and cons. It’s not about whether Google, ChatGPT, or any AI tool is good or bad — they’re tools, and like all tools, their value depends on how we use them. If they make us sharper, freeing time for deeper thought, that’s progress. If they make us passive consumers of pre-packaged answers, that’s a loss.


Technology and AI have made our lives easier — there’s no denying it. The key now is to make sure they’re also making our minds stronger.


Because in the end, the greatest technology we’ll ever own is the one between our ears — and it’s worth keeping switched on.


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