Implications of Emerging Computer Technologies (Grade 12)

The final iteration of this recurring discussion subtopic — by Grade 12 you're expected to bring in real, current examples and argue multiple sides fluently under exam time pressure.

Apply the same five-factor lens (gender, race/culture/religion/ethnicity, environmental, economic) — but at Grade 12 level, aim to:

Name a specific, current technology (not just 'AI' in general — e.g. a specific type of application like generative AI content tools, autonomous vehicles, or biometric payment systems).
Discuss at least one genuine benefit and one genuine drawback per factor you address, rather than assuming all impacts are negative or all positive.
Where relevant, note that impacts can differ by context — e.g. a technology might be economically empowering in one region and inaccessible in another due to infrastructure or cost.

Example

Autonomous/self-driving vehicles: potential to reduce accidents caused by human error and increase mobility for people unable to drive (positive social/accessibility impact), but raise concerns about job losses for professional drivers (economic), reliance on data collection that raises privacy questions, and high costs that make the technology inaccessible to lower-income households initially (economic).

💡 Exam Tip

This is typically a 'discuss' question worth significant marks (often 6–10). Use clear paragraph breaks or bullet structure per factor so a marker can quickly identify and credit each distinct point you make — don't bury multiple valid points inside one dense paragraph.