The Biggest Blocker to Technology? It’s Human Behavior.
We need to talk about the real reason people struggle with technology.
And no, it’s not AI. It’s not complexity. It’s not even a learning curve.
The biggest blocker to technology is human behavior.
AI is advancing at full speed, but people aren’t keeping up—not because they can’t, but because they’re stuck in old habits. How many times have you tried explaining AI, automation, or data to someone outside your industry, only to get:
Glassy eyes
Confused nods
The polite “Oh, cool!” before they change the subject
It’s not about intelligence. It’s about how we interact with technology.
We Were Built for Change—But Not Everyone Was
Xennials and elder Millennials lived through a massive tech shift. We adapted because we had no choice.
• Rotary phones → Cordless phones → Cell phones
• VHS → DVDs → Streaming
• Dial-up internet → High-speed → WiFi
But other generations?
• Older generations had time to adjust—slow, incremental changes.
• Younger generations never experienced the leap—technology has always been part of their world.
And this difference impacts how people adopt new tech today. We’ve been trained to think of technology as social media. Quick, easy, low effort. That’s why ChatGPT exploded—it feels like a better version of Google search. But when we introduce tech that requires deeper engagement, people shut down.
Think about it:
• AI beyond surface-level prompts? Too much work.
• Data platforms that require analysis? No thanks.
• Letting go of spreadsheets? Cue existential crisis.
We aren’t just facing a technical problem—we’re facing a behavioral one.
The Real Issue? We’re Racing Ahead Without the Basics.
Right now, businesses are struggling with:
People still working in spreadsheet mode instead of adopting modern analytics tools.
Resistance to unstructured or AI-driven workflows because they break familiar habits.
A workforce that doesn’t feel prepared for the shift.
We’re pushing AI adoption while ignoring the fundamentals of data education.
AI can’t fix bad data. And it sure as hell won’t help if the people using it don’t understand data in the first place.
And that’s the thing—people aren’t rejecting technology.
They’re rejecting displacement. They don’t know where they fit in this AI-driven world, so they cling to what they know.
What Needs to Happen?
If we want people to embrace AI and emerging tech, we need to do two things at once:
1️⃣ Keep pushing forward with innovation.
2️⃣ Invest in data literacy so people can actually use these tools effectively.
This isn’t an either/or situation. We can move toward the future without leaving people behind.
Because progress isn’t just about how fast we move—it’s about making sure we all get there.
What do you think? Have you seen this disconnect in your industry? Drop a comment and let’s dig into it.
