Today, no one can deny the deep integration of modern technology and its applications into nearly every aspect of daily life. Technology has become a powerful social force that significantly shapes human behaviour and interactions at all levels.

Modern technologies and their countless applications have undoubtedly influenced every area of life and human behaviour. They’ve introduced new habits and dimensions to our lifestyles. While enjoying the benefits of technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality—now widely accessible through mobile apps—we must also strive for balance. One of the most noticeable shifts has been in traditional family and spiritual practices, especially during Ramadan for example, where even something as simple as grocery shopping has moved online.

Of course, like any innovation, modern technology comes with both advantages and disadvantages. The value it brings depends greatly on how it's used, and on the user’s awareness and ability to harness it for improving quality of life and accessing better services. However, one of the biggest risks today lies in the misuse of AI—by individuals or organizations engaged in aggressive competition. If this continues unchecked, people might lose the ability to think, create, or innovate independently, becoming instead slaves to machines.

Technology plays a central role across all fields, for all age groups, and at every level of society. That’s why it's crucial—especially for those over 50 years old to combat digital illiteracy. Individuals, institutions, and governments must take responsibility for guiding everyday users, particularly older adults, in understanding how to use essential tech tools, like mobile applications, that now dominate our lives.

The key is how individuals use technology to lead better, more informed lives. The world is moving rapidly toward a tech-integrated future, especially with the rise of AI. A clear example is the use of smart contracts on blockchain platforms, which bring transparency, integrity, and secure ownership in processes like real estate transactions. Many governments are beginning to adopt blockchain to record property sales, ensuring ownership rights, accurate payment processes, and reliable registration.

This rapid technological advancement is also reshaping the way corporate leaders think. Executives in large companies now ask: What tasks can AI handle? What roles still require humans? These questions are at the heart of a new wave of workplace transformation and automation.

It's critical to strike a balance—leveraging technologies like blockchain, AI, and cryptocurrency—while protecting data privacy and making sound decisions. Unfortunately, many organizations overlook these priorities. Several IT providers have rushed into positioning themselves as AI or blockchain enablers without fully understanding business requirements or ensuring data security. This has led to disputes and even legal cases.

In many cases, decision-makers still fail to take a comprehensive, 360-degree view of technology adoption. They must consult experts before making strategic decisions. A key example is the poorly written technical project contracts that lack legal and technical depth, often leading to disputes. This has given rise to the term LegalTech, emphasizing the need for executives to seek legal and technical guidance to avoid negative impacts on business performance.

At the individual level, responsible use of technology depends on awareness. Tech should be used for learning, increasing income, and exploring beneficial new opportunities. Investing in technology is now seen as a promising endeavour and rightly so.

The Benefits of Tech Investment for Individuals:

1. Income Growth: Acquiring new tech skills or investing in tech projects opens doors to freelancing or entrepreneurship.
2. Career Advancement: Technical expertise increases access to better job opportunities and higher salaries.
3. Flexibility and Innovation: Tech allows people to manage their work efficiently—think e-commerce and digital marketing.

The Benefits of Tech Investment for Business organizations:

1. Efficiency Gains: AI and automation reduce costs and speed up processes.
2. Global Market Access: Technology connects companies with new clients worldwide via platforms like e-commerce.
3. Innovation and Competitive Edge: R&D investments lead to superior products and market leadership.
4. Data Analytics: Modern technologies like AI and BI empower data-driven decision-making.

In my point of view, tech investment isn’t just an option—it’s a necessity for thriving in the digital economy. It offers long-term financial and societal returns.

Let us explore how the technology influence in Education, Hospitality, Retail, and More

Education:

Despite the rise of educational technologies, schools and teachers remain essential. Human interaction fosters life skills and emotional intelligence that screens cannot replicate. However, tools like virtual reality have improved learning outcomes and deepened student engagement. The challenge now is building a bridge between tech-based learning and students’ psychological and social needs.

Hospitality:

Automation allows smaller hotels to compete with larger ones by simplifying operations. Staff can focus on excellent customer service while AI handles check-ins, room assignments, and cleaning. AI can even predict guest preferences, offering personalized experiences that increase customer satisfaction. Still, human service will always play a vital role in hospitality—especially in guest situations that require empathy and flexibility.

Retail:

Technology has reshaped retail, especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. E-commerce platforms surged in popularity, reducing traditional supermarket sales. Innovations like dark stores, self-checkout, food tracing with blockchain, and smart trolleys are redefining the shopping experience.

AI can now predict customer needs and send alerts before the customer even realizes what they want—thanks to big data analysis. AI helps retailers with stock management, out-of-stock predictions, and even enables augmented reality shopping—like smart mirrors and virtual furniture fitting.

Still, physical stores won’t disappear anytime soon. Many customers, especially homemakers, still enjoy the tactile experience of shopping in person. Technology will enhance—not replace—the traditional retail experience.

Justice System:

Virtual hearings and smart courts have improved the efficiency of legal proceedings. However, a fully automated court system without human judges poses significant ethical and legal challenges.

Judges bring human judgment, empathy, and an understanding of legal nuances—qualities that machines lack. Moreover, using AI in court decisions raises concerns about algorithmic bias, data privacy, and religious or cultural diversity. In Islamic countries, legal decisions often rely on spiritual values and religious interpretations that are hard to encode into software.

Thus, while AI can support justice, it cannot fully replace the human role in court systems without careful balancing between technology and legal/religious values.

Sports:

Technology now plays a role in sports medicine, performance evaluation, and refereeing (e.g., VAR). However, a more controversial development is the use of AI to analyse opponents, predict injuries, and guide training. This may create unfair advantages for wealthier clubs that can afford such tools, leading to a concentration of power in elite teams.

My Final Thoughts

There is no denying the importance and inevitability of technology in our daily lives. Individuals must commit to continuous learning, proper tech usage, and time management to improve their standard of living. This requires vision, clear goals, and a supportive community of like-minded people.

Governments and corporations have to invest in digital education, support tech entrepreneurs, and ensure sustainable digital infrastructure. High-speed internet and reliable access to services must be prioritized to handle the ever-growing volume of data in today's digital world.