The benefits and drawbacks of digitalisation, AI and new technologies

Sandra Moore, Chartered EHP and Director of Safety & Compliance Services at Hygenisys reflects on the increasing role of digitalisation, new technologies and AI. She weighs up the positives and potential drawbacks while exploring examples of AI and emerging technologies being utilised by environmental health professionals.

Digitalised due diligence documentation

One positive utilisation of digital technology I have witnessed has been with the introduction of digitalised due diligence documentation.

• Opening and closing checks – traceability/trend analysis on the efficacy of the checks being conducted; this reduces the need for paper-based records, loss of documentation and fraudulent records. This has resulted in a major step forward in due diligence records, making them easy to complete and access; information is time stamped and the person completing checks is documented. This reduces the risk of fraud
• Online temperature monitoring – provides real time temperature readings for fridges, freezers, cold stores. This reduces the risks associated with food handlers manually (or not) recording incorrect temperatures. Most systems provide digitalised temperature probes for monitoring cooking, hot hold, chilling
• Online Risk Assessments tools to support carrying out assessments/modelling outcomes
  Quantitative and predictive food microbiology
• Efficiency and effectiveness of process and procedures
• Improvement in trend analysis and spotting areas for improvements

Enabling managers to remotely log in to view checks also provides a benefit.

Allergen Management

New technologies and digitalisation have had a positive impact on reducing the risk in allergen management.

Many apps are now available to provide up to date allergen information for customers, however, this is only as good as the information initially entered.

Problems could arise if the recipe ingredients are substituted, and the old information is still displaying on the app/website.

However, there are opportunities created by this digitalisation to allow some suppliers to link in with companies’ allergen management system to provide instant automatic updates.

Training

Online training has its place in a company training management system, however, it has become a ‘tick box’ exercise for many businesses.

It is part of the toolkit for training, but I believe nothing beats face-to-face training; it allows for discussion and shared experience and insight on food management and processes, something e-learning cannot offer to the same degree.

Remote Inspections/Audits

Reviewing digitalised records prior to the audit is a big positive, so that consultants can focus on the areas that require attention in a more effective and efficient way when physically on the premises.

Conducting the entire audit remotely though has several downfalls, as the consultant will not be able to conduct a robust physical inspection. The reliance will be on the Food Business Operator/Manager showing the consultant around the premises using a camera, and relying on them being honest to show all the areas of the premises.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI, has it place in the world of safety compliance, it is the future of things to come. However, heavy reliance can take away the creativity of starting something from scratch.

One area of concern with AI is authenticity of information. It is my understanding that AI trawls the internet to gather information as part of the solution it offers – this could lead to misinformation.

I have seen documentation that has been clearly put together by AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and whilst it is a good starting point for ideas, but more and more people are relying on it, rather than critically appraising the information and making pragmatic decisions.

I have read some articles that states that due to overuse, users are losing the basic concept on thinking for themselves and even finding the right words.

The changes in environmental health training courses over the years has influenced and shaped the EHPs that are now qualifying. The depth of knowledge that was once the core part of our training e.g. meat inspection and other foods, is not what it once was.

AI could potentially be another nail in the coffin of environmental health as we know it. It is already clear to see that there is a reduction of the individual being able to critically analyse/think/take a pragmatic approach.

When there is a heavy reliance on AI and digitalised systems, it can affect our abilities to make on the spot decisions that is quite a regular occurrence in the ‘day job’. It is my view that there is a need for a balance between AI/digitalisation and standardisation of processes. The more we rely on AI the less we use our brains, the more shrinkage there is.

Scientific research has shown that the human brain has/is shrinking leading to short attention span and not being able to decipher complex issues.

Further concerns

As outlined, I am seeing and foresee in the future a range of benefits to improving technology, digitalisation and AI on workplace safety, the work we do as environmental health professionals and to our everyday lives more generally.

However, there are drawbacks, some more of which are below:

• Loss of human interactions and interface
• Increase in unemployment
• Lack of transparency for customers and the business; not understanding the route to the solution/outcome provided by AI
• Reduced flexibility – everything automated
• Loss of skills
• What to do in a power outage – back up plans; the world comes to a standstill when the system fails. e.g. allergen information not being able to be accessed if kept solely online
• The move away from accepting cash by some businesses, can cause major financial loss when the banking system goes down

This is such a wide-ranging and nuanced debate and as technology only develops and further impacts on our day-to-day life, this debate will further intensify, I’m sure.

It would be great to hear what other environmental health professionals working in different areas and having different interactions with technology think about this topic and I look forward to hearing these views.

Join us at the CIEH AI and Tech Conference: Empowering Efficient Services conference on 4 July to explore how AI and technology are transforming the workplace.