Many people, when they hear the term ’tech talent,’ imagine a genius developer typing countless lines of code in a dark room, like a scene from a movie. Of course, such individuals are undoubtedly heroes of our time. But now that technology permeates every aspect of our lives, is that really the only kind of talent we need?
Are there people alongside those who create powerful ’tools’ and ‘weapons’ called technology who deeply consider the impact technology has on humans? Today, we will seek answers to this question through two short stories.
First Story: A Grandmother’s “Smart Farm” Meets a Young Humanities Scholar
In a rural village, there was a grandmother who had spent her life working the soil. Thanks to a ‘smart farm’ kit gifted by her children, she could now control the temperature and humidity of her fields and water them using just a smartphone. Technology eased her hard labor and helped her harvest tastier tomatoes.
However, the grandmother faced a new challenge. The smartphone app’s interface was full of difficult terms, and the data graphs were complicated. While the technology was convenient, it somehow felt cold and unfriendly. She also felt guilty calling her children in the city whenever problems arose.
At that moment, a young man who had recently moved back to the village came to visit her. He was not a computer science major but a humanities student studying history and philosophy. Instead of writing code, he listened carefully to the grandmother’s life story and her farming process.
The young man contacted a developer and explained the grandmother’s difficulties. “Wouldn’t it be more relatable to say ‘The tomatoes are thirsty’ rather than ‘Optimal humidity increased by 3%’?” His suggestion brought an amazing change. The app’s language was replaced with words familiar to the grandmother, and the complex graphs turned into cute icons like the sun, clouds, and water droplets.
Now, the grandmother no longer saw the smart farm as a ‘cold and difficult machine’ but as a ‘reliable helper who understands her well.’
This story tells us something important: to advance technology, we need not only excellent developers but also ‘translators’ who build bridges between technology and people. The ability to understand and empathize with people’s hearts and guide technology in a warmer, more beneficial direction. This is the core talent of the new era — those who understand the human side of technology.
Second Story: The Veteran Firefighter Overlooked by an ‘AI Interviewer’
Here is a veteran firefighter who spent decades battling fires and saving countless lives. After retirement, he applied to a company that runs educational programs for aspiring firefighters. His rich experience and wisdom were more valuable than any textbook.
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However, this company entrusted all hiring decisions to a cutting-edge ‘AI interviewer.’ The AI analyzed applicants’ facial expressions, voice tone, and word choice to score qualities like ‘leadership,’ ‘problem-solving ability,’ and ‘stress management.’
The veteran firefighter calmly shared his experiences. Even in terrifying moments at the brink of life and death, he recounted how he stayed composed and led his team.
But the AI’s evaluation was cold. “Lack of vocal tone variation indicates low passion,” “No exaggerated facial expressions or gestures means poor expressiveness.” Ultimately, the AI failed to measure his key strengths — ‘calmness in crisis’ and ‘insights gained from vast experience’ — and rejected him.
What if a human had been there? Wouldn’t they have seen the true ‘hero’ in his eyes, his calm voice, and the weight of his story?
This story shows us the limits of technology and the essential role of humans. Data and algorithms are efficient but can miss the depth and value of human qualities that cannot be quantified. Designing, overseeing technology, and continuously questioning and addressing the ethical and social issues arising from these decisions is ultimately a human responsibility. This is why AI developers must collaborate with ethicists, sociologists, and psychologists to consider what values to embed in AI.
Our Story: Asking People for the Future of Technology
The question of “talent gaps” raised by these two stories is not simply about a shortage of good coders. It is closer to a cry that we lack people who can steer technology toward humans, making our society warmer and richer.
Just as the warm empathy of a humanities scholar completed the grandmother’s smart farm, and the veteran firefighter’s experience complemented the AI’s cold judgment, our future will only be complete when diverse knowledge and experiences respect and collaborate with each other.
Technology is advancing at an astonishing pace, but deciding its destination is ultimately up to us, the people. Whatever field you study or work in, there is a role only you can play in the age of technology. That role is to fill in the ‘human side’ of technology.
You are the true talent this era has been waiting for.
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