Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention. Can we also infer that laziness is the mother of creativity? Do we not find easier ways of doing things in a bid to serve the lazy person? Don’t we strive to make the lazy person’s life easier? As such, is laziness not what causes us to seek easier ways of doing things?
Take for instance, online shopping. With online shopping sites such as Amazon, eBay and Jumia, we can shop from the comfort of our homes. All we need is a phone, tablet or personal computer and the internet. This was indeed a life saver during restrictions of movement in the wake of COVID-19. However, is this convenient way of shopping also not a solution when you feel too lazy to get out of bed?
Another easier way of doing things is online dating. Gradually, this seems to be even more common than approaching people in person for a date. With a swipe on our phones and minimum effort, we can determine who we want to hook up with. Does this laid-back approach, which enables us to sample, pick and choose a person through a screen, not aid the lazy? Did it not arise out of a desire to make things as easy as possible?
Yet another example is that of online banking. This makes banking so convenient as we can have access to our funds wherever we are, day or night. There is therefore no need to go physically into the banking hall. Can’t we credit laziness with this intervention?
Moreover, doesn’t the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) have as its cause the desire of the lazy person not to lift a finger to do anything? Burns, Laskowski and Tucci define artificial intelligence in “What is Artificial Intelligence and How does AI work?”. They define it as the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems. They note that in a number of areas, AI can perform tasks much better than humans. This is particularly with respect to repetitive, detail-oriented tasks.
The authors also note that we use AI widely in healthcare, education, law and security. We also use it widely in manufacturing, entertainment and media, transportation and business. They acknowledge that in business, we use AI effectively to automate tasks done by humans.
Furthermore, the authors observe that the rapid advancement of generative AI technology, such as ChatGPT, is expected to have far-reaching consequences. This is in the area of eliminating jobs, revolutionising product designs and disrupting business models.
These instances show how integral AI has become to our lives. We can say that it has even overperformed its role of making things easier for us. This is because through its automation of tasks, it renders us redundant and rather increases unemployment rates.
All said and done, can we conclude that laziness and the quest for finding easier ways of doing things have led to creativity?
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Thanks Heidi-Marie for this stimulating post. Made me sit up and make a cup of coffee, instead of lolling about. 😂
Convenience = more purchases = profits.
Perhaps the root is not laziness but greed. 🙏🏻
That’s a very interesting angle!
Yes, I think greed plays a major role too!
I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks 😊
There’s a difference between convenience and laziness. Sometimes we come up with new ways of doing things which is a function of operating out of the box. So I will say that creativity is a product of the human desire to be less mundane and more dynamic. So the humdrum of routine drives our appetite to be creative through invention.
That’s true 👍
Thanks for your comments 🙏
An insightful piece.
Thanks 🙏
Most welcome 🙏
I think creativity produces comfort, ease and efficiency and does not necessarily encourage laziness. On the contrary, laziness and creativity are oceans apart.
Great piece!
Thanks for your comments 🙂
Wow! Food for thought!
Another interesting piece.
Thanks so much! 😄
Insightful indeed, Heidi. Thank you.
Most welcome 🙏 🤗
💐 Stay healthy and happy
You too 👍☺️
The world has evolved. In our current generation, the abilities required are different from those in the 1900. One had to be able to brag about their physical prowess and their capacity to put up with undertaking physically demanding job for extended periods of time in those days of hard physical labour. However, in today’s information economy, what differentiates one from the competition is the capacity to creatively resolve complicated issues and provide original, revolutionary ideas. The goal is not to embrace inactivity but to find innovative ways to do tasks and balance the equation. The system has been improved to produce needed results with shorter amount of time. Great piece Madam.
The world has evolved. In our current generation, the abilities required are different from those in the 90s. One had to be able to brag about their physical prowess and their capacity to put up with undertaking physically demanding job for extended periods of time in those days of hard physical labour. However, in today’s information economy, what differentiates one from the competition is the capacity to creatively resolve complicated issues and provide original, revolutionary ideas. The goal is not to embrace inactivity but to find innovative ways to do tasks and balance the equation. The system has been improved to produce needed results with shorter amount of time. Great piece Madam.
That’s so true 👍
Thanks for your comments 🙏
Thought provoking!
Thanks 😊
Surely, yet this quite educative.
Thanks for your comments 🙂