Over the last century, there have been several major technological leaps that have reshaped society, business, and daily life. Each innovation faced scepticism, fear, and resistance before becoming an integral part of our world. Let’s consider the most significant advancements, the objections they faced, and how they ultimately changed business and life.
- Electricity (Widespread Adoption: Early 20th Century)
Objections:
Dangerous and could cause fires or electrocution.
Too expensive for widespread use.
Distrust in replacing gas lighting with electric bulbs.
Impact:
Transformed manufacturing with 24-hour production.
Revolutionised homes with lighting, appliances, and heating.
Enabled urban growth with electric transport and infrastructure.
- Automobile (Mass Production: 1910s)
Objections:
Horses are more reliable and cheaper.
Cars are dangerous and unnecessary.
Infrastructure (roads, fuel stations) was lacking.
Impact:
Created entire industries (oil, roads, auto manufacturing).
Increased mobility and shaped modern cities.
Led to suburban expansion and new business models (delivery, taxis).
- Air Travel (Commercialisation: 1920s–1930s)
Objections:
Too dangerous compared to trains and ships.
Too expensive for the average person.
Impact:
Made global travel and trade accessible.
Revolutionised supply chains and tourism.
Enabled fast international business and diplomacy.
- Television (Widespread Adoption: 1950s)
Objections:
People feared it would make society lazy.
Critics claimed it would erode traditional entertainment like theatre and radio.
Businesses feared advertising wouldn’t work on screen.
Impact:
Became a dominant source of news and entertainment.
Created the advertising industry as we know it.
Shaped cultural trends and political campaigns.
- Computers (Mainstream Use: 1970s–1980s)
Objections:
Too expensive for personal or small business use.
Jobs would be lost to automation.
Too complex for the average person to use.
Impact:
Increased efficiency in nearly every industry.
Made data storage, communication, and automation essential.
Created new jobs in IT, programming, and software development.
- Internet (Mainstream Use: 1990s)
Objections:
Businesses doubted people would shop online.
Security concerns about online transactions.
Thought to be a fad, not a necessity.
Impact:
Transformed commerce (Amazon, eBay, digital banking).
Created entire digital industries (social media, SaaS, content creation).
Changed how we communicate, work, and learn.
- Mobile Phones & Smartphones (Mainstream: 2000s)
Objections:
Unnecessary since landlines and computers existed.
Distracting and bad for social interaction.
Expensive and limited functionality at first.
Impact:
Changed communication with instant access to calls, texts, and emails.
Enabled mobile commerce, entertainment, and app-based businesses.
Revolutionized social media and the way we consume content.
- Social Media (Explosion: Mid-2000s)
Objections:
Would make people antisocial.
Privacy concerns about data collection.
Businesses doubted its marketing potential.
Impact:
Changed personal and business communication.
Became a dominant force in marketing and branding.
Created new careers (influencers, digital marketers).
- Cloud Computing (Adoption: 2010s)
Objections:
Security concerns about storing data off-site.
Reliability concerns about connectivity.
Businesses feared high costs and lack of control.
Impact:
Allowed businesses to scale without huge infrastructure.
Enabled remote work and global collaboration.
Led to SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) and subscription-based businesses.
- Artificial Intelligence (Mainstream: 2020s)
Objections:
Fear of job losses and automation replacing human workers.
Ethical concerns (bias, privacy, and misinformation).
Businesses worried about reliability and accuracy.
Impact:
Increased efficiency in healthcare, finance, and logistics.
Revolutionized content creation, customer service, and automation.
Opened new possibilities in data analysis, personalization, and predictive decision-making.
Conclusion:
Every major technological breakthrough initially faced resistance, scepticism, and fear. However, once adopted, they went on to revolutionise businesses, create new industries, and improve everyday life. The pattern suggests that while AI and future technologies will face challenges, they will likely integrate deeply into society, much like their predecessors.
So what’s holding you back from embracing AI ?
Is it fear?
Lack of knowledge?
Or do you think it wont effect your business ?