From Modern Times to AI: Technology as an Ally

In 1936, Charlie Chaplin released Modern Times, a film that made history by criticizing the mechanization of labor and the exploitation of workers. The iconic scene of the Tramp being swallowed by factory gears became a symbol of worker alienation in a system that demanded relentless production. Chaplin warned of a world where humans were reduced to mere machine parts, with no time to truly live.

Artwork: SK

Nearly a century later, automation and artificial intelligence have advanced significantly. But instead of the dystopian nightmare Chaplin feared, today’s technology has the potential to free people from repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on what truly matters: creativity, human relationships, leisure, and knowledge. Robots take on exhausting work, while we, as humans, can embrace what makes us unique—art, empathy, and critical thinking.

Rather than being consumed by machines, we are learning to coexist with them. AI tools support medicine, science, and education, democratizing access to information and improving quality of life. The time once spent on monotonous tasks can now be invested in learning, innovation, and well-being. If used wisely, technology can help us build a future where progress means freedom, not oppression.

Chaplin showed us a world trapped in industrial gears. Today, we have the chance to write a new story—one where machines don’t dominate us but empower us. The real challenge is not fighting technology but ensuring it serves humanity so we can live, create, and dream as never before.

References:

• CHAPLIN, Charles. Tempos Modernos (Modern Times). 1936.

• GORDON, David. Charlie Chaplin and His Times. New York: Harper & Row, 1998.

• ROBINSON, David. Chaplin: His Life and Art. London: Penguin Books, 2001.

• BRYNJOLFSSON, Erik & MCAFEE, Andrew. The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies. W.W. Norton & Company, 2014.

• FORD, Martin. Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of a Jobless Future. Basic Books, 2015.