Advancements in technology are accelerating at an unprecedented pace, integrating deeply into the human experience through innovations like wearable health devices and brain-machine interfaces, such as Neuralink. While tech companies focus on creating and deploying new technological innovations, it’s largely the role of academic research to investigate their effects on individuals and society — only after they’ve already been adopted. However, there are significant societal benefits to encouraging an ecosystem of industry-academia partnership. Tech companies can partner with academic institutions on research projects to provide resources, data and funding — helping to accelerate research and insights. At the same time, the scientific rigor and ethical constraints of formal academic research can ensure new digital technologies are safe and positively contribute to individual and societal health and well-being.

Technological advancements alone do not necessarily lead to greater happiness, and indeed can have unintended consequences that can significantly shape society. Despite technological change driving globalization, economic development and improvements in living standards, societal competition and rising expectations have left many individuals feeling inadequate, creating a constant drive for more in order to “keep up” with others on social media. This relentless pursuit can lead to stress, anxiety, behavioral addiction, social development concerns in children and overall decline in mental health. It’s crucial that emerging technologies are guided by meaningful impact on the real-world human experience and not the pursuit of novelty alone — ensuring technology serves people, not the other way around.

The future of health and science is shaped by advancements in information technology that better detect and treat illnesses, increase knowledge sharing between fellow researchers and make scientific information more accessible to the general public. There is exciting research on the ability of artificial intelligence (AI) to correctly and accurately make diagnoses based on medical imaging scans (like X-rays and MRIs) and even regular photos (as in the case of correctly identifying skin cancer). With the integration of big data and artificial intelligence, scientists now have vast amounts of biological data which can reveal insights and generate scientific hypotheses that were previously unnoticed by human analysis alone. For example, AI could help identify genetic markers that are correlated to an increased risk of certain diseases, which can help individuals better understand their risk profile while also potentially accelerating the discovery of treatments or cures. 

There is also a push towards “open science,” which emphasizes transparent research practices, accessible and comprehensible data and research findings, and increased collaboration among scientists from different disciplines and research laboratories around the world. This can bring fresh perspectives and technological solutions to what has traditionally been a siloed, academia-centric approach to research. For example, involving immunologists and microbiologists in neuroscience research can lead to a better understanding of the interplay between gut and nervous system health.

Public health policies aim to improve the health of entire populations by addressing the social, environmental and economic factors that shape individual health and well-being. Social science examines how the determinants of health — such as access to nutritious food, safe housing, education and healthcare — can significantly impact a person’s overall health outcomes. By focusing on these factors, public health initiatives seek to prevent illness before it arises and promote conditions in which people can thrive physically and mentally. 

In addition to well-known campaigns promoting healthy eating and exercise, public health initiatives also tackle issues such as mental health struggles — and the growing epidemic of loneliness, which is partly driven by the growing use of and reliance on technology. Although less visible than infectious diseases or tackling obesity, these issues carry profound health risks, including increased rates of depression, anxiety, cardiovascular disease and even early mortality.

The goals of public health can sometimes clash with influences from the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. As Dr. Vivek Murthy points out, there is an over-reliance on medications and quick fixes to address health concerns while at the same time discounting the impact that behavioral, lifestyle and environmental factors can have on mental and physical health outcomes. It is crucial to ensure that public health policies remain independent of industry influence and prioritize long-term well-being and sustainability over short-term profit.

Growing research has shown that intentional and mindful use of social media and AI can provide significant opportunities for social connection, learning and self-improvement, though passive or mindless consumption can have negative effects for both mental and physical health. Artificial intelligence can improve mental and physical health by using AI’s data and analysis capabilities in conjunction with — not in place of — human expertise. AI-powered apps can provide individuals with personalized insights and supportive coaching on diet, exercise, sleep and mental health based on their personal data. Wearable devices can also monitor vital signs and detect anomalies, providing alerts and recommendations for follow-up care with a (human) healthcare professional. 

Research has shown (and everyday experience confirms) that smartphones and social media usage contribute to symptoms of behavioral addiction and attention deficits that mimic ADHD — though, it’s highly important to note that this is not the same as having ADHD, which is a legitimate neurobiological disorder. Whether or not you have ADHD, the rapid context-switching and overwhelming amount of stimuli that specifically targets your brain’s dopamine systems will impair your brain’s ability to focus and sustain attention on deep, meaningful work or creative pursuits.

While technology can offer significant benefits, the nature of the interaction with communications technology is important. Active engagement, such as forming and maintaining relationships through social media, will have more positive health implications compared to passive consumption, particularly of negative or inflammatory content.