Artificial intelligence is becoming more important in daily life and at work. In this project, we look at how AI is used today and how it could affect the future. We focus on three areas: the mechanical world, administration in Switzerland, and the environment. With examples, interviews, and research, we show the advantages of AI and also the possible risks. This project explains why AI is useful, but also why it must be used carefully.
Mechanical World (Arti)
AI is becoming very important in modern businesses because it helps companies work faster, reduce mistakes, and save money. Many companies use AI to support daily tasks, make small decisions, or analyse information much faster than humans. This leads to better quality, lower costs, and higher productivity.
During my visit at the Reimmann fair, I saw the Mitutoyo SmartMeasure-AL system (mitutoyo.eu). In my project, I use it as an example of how AI can support automation in a company. I describe it as an automation system that also uses a basic AI support function to make the work faster and more efficient.
The AI helps the robot choose the correct measuring program automatically and adjust small mistakes in positioning. Because of this, the machine works much faster than a normal manual process and can run without human help. [1]
Here are the main improvements:
⏱️ Time saving
- The system can measure parts up to 3× faster than a human operator.
- No breaks → it can run 24/7.
- No setup time between different parts, because the AI chooses the program by itself.
- Parts do not need to be perfectly placed, because the AI corrects small errors.
💰 Cost saving
- Less human work needed → around 30–40% lower labour costs.
- Fewer mistakes → less waste and less rework.
- The system works with the same precision all day → consistent quality saves money.
📈 Productivity boost
- One automated cell can do the work of 2–3 workers doing manual measurement.
- Because of stable AI-assisted decisions, the machine keeps the same speed and accuracy the whole day.
- Companies can measure more parts per hour → higher output.
AI in administration in Switzerland (Rashid)
AI is becoming more important in Switzerland, also in offices and public administration. Many tasks that people do today, like checking documents, writing texts, answering emails or sorting information, can now be done much faster with AI tools. This makes the work easier, but it also raises questions about the future of jobs.
In Switzerland, many experts say that AI will not completely replace all office workers, but it will change their jobs. Simple and repetitive tasks might disappear, because AI can do them faster and cheaper. For example, AI can read and sort thousands of documents in seconds, while a human needs hours. This means some jobs with only basic office work might be at risk.
But at the same time, AI also creates new work. People will still need to check AI results, control the systems, make decisions and solve problems. Jobs that need communication, teamwork, responsibility or planning are harder to replace. In general, AI will not remove all jobs, but it will shift the work. Workers need new skills, especially digital skills, to stay useful in the future.
For Switzerland, this change is important because the country has many office jobs in banks, insurance companies, government offices and administration. AI can make these jobs faster and more efficient, but people must learn how to work with AI, not against it. The future will probably be a mix: humans doing the important parts, and AI doing the boring parts.
Reflection Administration
My reflection on this theme is that I got the chance to learn new things about AI in different areas, such as the mechanical world and administration. I had the opportunity to talk to two people who work in administration, and I learned about their opinions on AI and how they use it in their daily work.
I concluded that AI makes their job easier in some ways. However, I think the situation is more serious than that. If AI continues to make administrative work easier, there is a risk that people could be replaced by it in the near future.
My final conclusion is that AI is a good and powerful tool, but if it is used incorrectly, it can lead to negative outcomes. In my opinion, AI could cause many people to lose their jobs if it is not handled carefully.
Environmental Impact of AI in General (Rafa)
The rapid growth of artificial intelligence has created a significant environmental footprint because modern AI systems require massive computational resources. Training and running large-scale models consume substantial amounts of electricity, often sourced from fossil fuels, which increases carbon emissions.
These models are hosted in data centers that depend on extensive cooling systems. Many facilities use enormous volumes of water to keep servers at safe temperatures, creating pressure on local water supplies, especially in regions already vulnerable to drought.
Additionally, the production of AI hardware such as GPUs and specialized chips requires rare earth metals and other critical minerals. Mining, refining, and manufacturing these materials contribute to deforestation, soil degradation, and water pollution. When hardware becomes obsolete, it adds to global electronic waste, much of which is difficult to recycle.
Overall, AI’s environmental impact stems from four major areas:
- Energy consumption and carbon output
- Water use for cooling
- Extraction of raw materials
- Increasing e-waste
Addressing these impacts requires energy-efficient model design, hardware recycling programs, the use of renewable energy in data centers, and stronger global regulations for sustainable AI infrastructure. [2], [3], [4]
Recent Development of AI in Indonesia (Revand)
In Indonesia, the development and adoption of AI have accelerated significantly in the past few years. The government introduced the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (Stranas KA), placing AI at the center of digital transformation efforts in public services, bureaucratic reform, smart cities, education, and national industry. Indonesian startups working with AI have grown rapidly, with increasing investment from both local and international sources, and many businesses now integrate AI into e-commerce, finance, transportation, and customer service platforms. Universities and research institutions are also expanding AI programs, although the ecosystem still faces challenges such as limited availability of high-performance computing infrastructure, a shortage of advanced AI talent, and the need for clearer regulations on data governance, ethics, and safety. Despite these challenges, Indonesia is positioning itself as a regional player in AI innovation, with government, industry, and academia collaborating to strengthen research, build digital talent, and create AI solutions tailored for local needs. [5], [6], [7], [8]
Conclusion
In conclusion, artificial intelligence has many advantages and can make work faster and more efficient in different areas. Our project showed that AI is already helpful in the mechanical world, administration, and also affects the environment. At the same time, AI can create problems, such as job risks and environmental impact, if it is not used correctly. Therefore, AI should be seen as a helpful tool, but it must be used responsibly and with care in the future.
Authors
Arti Musaj, Switzerland
Rashid Orta, Switzerland
Rafa Davieza Amiril Putra, Indonesia
Revand Qizar Abiezka, Indonesia
(reviewed by Jael, THE ! ambassador)
Sources
[1] SmartMeasure-AL (mitutoyo.ch)
[2] Aadi Patel. The Environmental Impact of AI Servers and Sustainable Solutions (arxiv.org), arXiv:2601.06063
[3] Hlabisa, S. The ecology of artificial intelligence: energy, water, materials, and land limits of digital systems. Carbon Neutral Syst. 1, 19 (2025).
[4] AI’s hidden costs are accelerating the climate crisis (analystnews.org)
[5] From Paradox to Progress: A Net-Positive AI Energy Framework (weforum.org)
[6] BRIN (National Research and Innovation Agency) (bring.go.id): Stranas KA 2020-2045: National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence.
[7] UNESCO: AI Readiness Assessment Report for Indonesia (unesco.org) (October 2025) ,A comprehensive study on the country’s legal, social, and technical readiness.
[8] Oliver Wyman: Decoding the Potential of AI-Driven Growth in Indonesia (2024). (the-digital-insurer.com)
[9] Chat GPT for text reviewing
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