Reflections on AI: Technology & Society

Visionaries of Leisure

“Het waren zieners” (“They were visionaries”)—this ironic phrase concludes Jarl van der Ploeg's column on how artificial intelligence (AI) could reshape our roles as working humans. Could AI's advancements truly usher in the long-dreamed-of leisure society? If so, does this make the study of leisure profoundly prophetic? 

While the thought is intriguing, history suggests otherwise. Instead, this piece explores whether AI might create a utopia or dystopia—and whether its societal impacts spark a newfound urgency to study leisure.

Read Jarl van der Ploeg's original column in Dutch.

The AI Revolution: A Coach or Catastrophe?

AI owes its cultural prominence largely to innovations like ChatGPT, launched in November 2022. These tools, powered by large language models (LLMs), promise a vast range of capabilities—from text generation to multimodal abilities that include processing images and sound. Applications now extend to complex domains like autonomous driving, previously untouchable due to technical hurdles. 

But where is this rapid progress heading? For some, AI represents the ultimate democratization of knowledge, offering tools like personal coaches to empower individuals. For others, AI portends disaster, a harbinger of inequality (something Adriaan as a true sociologist mentions frequently during his workshops on the responsible and effective usage of LLMs), or worse, existential threats. 

Learn more about ChatGPT’s development.

Will AI Replace Us?

Pioneers like Sam Altman of OpenAI have starkly stated, “Jobs are definitely going to go away, full stop” (The Atlantic). Yet, not all experts agree. Optimistic perspectives, such as those of Acemoglu and Johnson, envision AI enhancing humanity rather than replacing it—addressing repetitive tasks, improving decision-making, and amplifying human strengths like empathy and creativity. 

However, this hopeful outlook is tempered by the recognition that AI can simulate empathy and social interactions surprisingly well. The question then becomes: How do we harness AI to complement rather than overshadow human capabilities? 

For insights from Acemoglu and Johnson, see their book Power and Progress. 

Leisure Society: A Myth? 

Historically, the promise of technology delivering a leisure-filled utopia has often been a mirage. Despite advancements, societal norms tend to adapt by demanding ever-higher productivity, erasing the gains in free time. 

Thinkers like Beckers (1977) and Smits (2014) argue that technological progress often creates new obligations instead of relieving them. Today, AI continues this trend, amplifying expectations while remaining intertwined with our lives—even during our supposed “free time.” 

Explore Martijntje Smits' Dutch essay "Uitrusten van de Tijdwinstmachine". 

So, What Changes?

The truth is sobering: our world doesn’t appear poised for radical transformation. Instead, AI seems destined to incrementally improve efficiency, create new sectors, and automate repetitive tasks. Yet, even this progress prompts us to reflect. 

As educators and researchers, we’ve embraced AI tools like Consensus and ChatGPT to streamline writing, summarizing, and data analysis. These tools assist, but they also raise questions: Does using AI truly free up time for more meaningful activities? Or does it subtly enforce an endless cycle of ever increasing productivity? 

Consensus is an AI-powered search engine for research. 

AI’s Call for Reflection

Perhaps AI's most significant impact lies in its ability to make us question what truly matters. It invites us to evaluate its promises of efficiency, its risks to equity, and its place in our collective future. Can AI help create a better society, or will it merely amplify the inequalities and pressures of the present? 

The leisure society may remain an illusion, but studying leisure is no less relevant. By critically examining AI and its integration into our lives, we might yet prove to be the visionaries of our time.

Want to dive deeper?
This article is based on the Dutch article, Het waren zieners. You can access the original text on the NRIT website. The article also shares more references to claims made in this blog post for the curious.