Relationship Status - It’s Complicated

Digital technology is all around us. We’re using it for almost every aspect of our daily lives from banking, shopping, to keeping in touch with friends and family. In recent weeks we’ve seen the Horizon Scandal dominating the news where hundreds of postmasters were wrongfully accused of theft and many convicted as the result of what was essentially a programming error in a piece of critical software. Has this scandal and other recent “algorithm” based controversies, such as the exam results fiasco during the covid pandemic, affected our relationship with technology? 

Whilst it’s clear we won’t be “breaking up” with technology any time soon, hopefully stories like these, whilst shocking for those affected, serve to remind us all that technological solutions are not infallible, they are designed and built by humans who, just like all of us, are capable of making mistakes. The big difference is that it’s impossible to hold a piece of software accountable for its mistakes. 

This brings back memories of the “computer says no” sketch from ‘Little Britain’ in the early noughties, whilst intended to be a parody of such blinkered assumptions, this has sadly become reality in the case of many organisations as a drive to cut corporate ‘human’ overhead costs. As a result, more processes are fully automated and whilst there have been many successes, it can sometimes result in failure, as was the unfortunate case with the post office system.

As an Asset Integrity specialist, CAN Group sees the benefits of software and Artificial Intelligence (AI) as an assistive technology to enhance the work of our experienced and qualified teams, not to replace it. If an AI tool says an inspection of a piece of plant equipment isn’t required and later results in a major issue, will the AI tool be apologising for the failures to the regulators on your behalf? Of course not. Ensuring that the decision-making process is led by an empowered, integrated and highly experienced workforce, who are aided, not replaced, by technical innovation for safety critical inspections, can help to ensure safety and certainty for years to come. Don’t look as far as the horizon when the solution is closer to hand; CAN Group, harnessing the power of people, process and technology.   

For more information about our range of market-leading asset integrity services please visit the homepage on our website.