Bridging the Digital Divide: Understanding the Human Impacts of Digital Transformation

Abstract

Digital transformation, or the incorporation of digital technologies such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and others into companies and society, has the potential to significantly disrupt economies and societies around the world. While digital transformation has enabled innovations and efficiencies that can drive revenue growth and give competitive advantages for businesses, we must also carefully analyze and investigate the huge human consequences, both positive and negative. This paper provides an overview of current digital transformation trends and business impacts, including a brief history of how previous technological shifts have transformed organizations and societies over time. However, the core focus is on elucidating the economic, social, and individual human impacts thus far. The main economic effects include both job creation and destruction as existing
positions become outdated and new ones arise, as well as growing inequality problems. Risks to society include data privacy concerns, internet extremism in echo chambers, and information overload. Individually speaking, there has to be lessening of the consequences of deskilling, being "on," and other such problems that impact relationships, health, and more. Bridging disciplines to unite technical
expertise with ethical, philosophical, sociological and psychological perspectives is imperative. With technology rapidly evolving, outmoded ethical frameworks struggle to keep pace, while short-term financial motivations often override responsible long-term thinking. Education innovating to promote technological literacy and wisdom shows promise. Just as ethical technology design patterns prioritize human well-being. In summary, even if digital revolution has tremendous promise, we need to put our
knowledge of its human effects ahead of its technological prowess. By working together across disciplines, regions, and industries, we may responsibly direct its path to advance broadly shared prosperity. But doing so means facing the current digital gaps and pledging to research the associated human costs.