Will brave new world of automation lead to a lonely world?

The recent announcement that NatWest Bank in Wanstead is closing caused dismay in the local community. The last bank on the high street gone - they used to be numerous. Then, came the news that ticket offices are to close at railway stations across the country. So, if you have a problem, where do you turn? What of disabled people needing help? There seems to be a de-peopling process going on across society. Supermarkets have been endeavouring to force customers onto self-service check outs for years. Many have stubbornly refused, preferring to be served by a real human being. Post offices have been shutting down across the country - some migrating into shops. The advance of technology has meant that fewer people are needed to provide these services. A lot is now done online. The COVID pandemic saw much of this automation revolution accelerate in its application. A lot of shopping moved online, with deliveries coming to the door. Helpful in days of lockdown. The move from cash to credit cards also accelerated. Today, a number of businesses will not accept cash - whether this will last as they miss out on business remains to be seen. The worrying thing is what about the human being in all of this? Job losses but also people who don't want to do everything online. Lonely people who may look forward to some interchange with fellow human beings at the bank, post office or supermarket. What about people who still like to talk face to face with someone rather than communicate by phone? People cannot just be cut off because they don't want to go online. What modern society is creating are soulless oceans of loneliness. We saw how damaging this can be to mental health at the time of the pandemic. The advance of artificial intelligence is likely to accelerate the automation process further So what can be done? Businesses would argue they are there to make money, not provide some sort of social service. However, some recognition that not everyone wants to be forced online, away from people would be helpful. If all the jobs go, what happens to the people? Maybe some businesses might consider swimming against the tide. New staffed banks providing in-person services. The demand could be there - people may flock to them. A similar approach in other businesses. They would, though, have to be supported by customers. Whether, any of this can happen remains to be seen. What is for sure is that not everyone wants to sign up to the brave new world of automation. It makes many feel increasingly isolated, anxious and insecure. It does ofcourse make life easier for many others but there needs to be some sort of middle way found that puts the well being of human beings as the central concern.