Learning objectives
- Learn key vocabulary related to scientific and technological progress (innovation, breakthrough, artificial intelligence, automation, biotechnology, renewable energy, digitalization)
- Understand the main benefits of scientific and technological advances in medicine, communication and energy
- Understand the main concerns raised by automation, artificial intelligence and digital technology
- Use topic-specific vocabulary accurately and in the correct grammatical form
- Build a balanced opinion that acknowledges both the benefits and the risks of technological progress
- Use appropriate expressions to introduce and support an opinion on this topic
- Avoid common vocabulary errors related to this topic
Grammar & vocabulary
Key vocabulary: describing progress
innovation (n.) — a new idea, method or product, or the introduction of something new: "Renewable energy is one of the most promising innovations of this century." breakthrough (n.) — an important discovery or development, usually after a long period of effort: "Scientists have made a major breakthrough in cancer treatment." artificial intelligence / AI (n.) — the ability of a computer or machine to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as learning or decision-making: "Artificial intelligence is increasingly used in medical diagnosis." automation (n.) — the use of machines or technology to perform tasks without human involvement: "Automation has transformed the manufacturing industry." biotechnology (n.) — the use of living organisms or biological processes in technology, medicine and agriculture: "Biotechnology has made it possible to develop new vaccines much faster." digitalization (n.) — the process of converting information, services or processes into digital form: "The digitalization of public services has made administrative procedures faster." renewable energy (n.) — energy produced from natural sources that are not depleted when used, such as sunlight, wind or water: "Many countries are investing heavily in renewable energy to fight climate change." cutting-edge (adj.) — the most advanced and up to date: "This hospital uses cutting-edge equipment to treat patients." to revolutionize (v.) — to change something completely and dramatically: "Smartphones have revolutionized the way we communicate."
Benefits of scientific and technological progress
Medicine: AI-assisted diagnosis, new treatments and vaccines developed faster thanks to biotechnology, and remote medical consultations. Communication: instant contact across the world through video calls and messaging apps, and easier access to information and education. Efficiency: automation speeds up production and reduces human error in factories and offices. Environment: renewable energy technologies help reduce dependence on fossil fuels and fight climate change.
Concerns and challenges
Job displacement: automation can replace human workers in certain industries, raising concerns about unemployment. Privacy: the growing amount of personal data collected by digital technology raises serious privacy concerns. Ethical questions: artificial intelligence raises ethical questions about decision-making, responsibility and bias. Digital divide: not everyone has equal access to technology, which can widen the gap between different social groups and countries.
Useful expressions for a balanced opinion
On one hand, ... on the other hand, ... — "On one hand, artificial intelligence can save lives by improving medical diagnosis; on the other hand, it raises ethical questions about privacy and decision-making." While it is true that..., it is also true that... — "While it is true that automation increases efficiency, it is also true that it can lead to job losses in certain sectors." Although technology offers many benefits, it also raises serious concerns. Despite these risks, most experts agree that the advantages of scientific progress outweigh its dangers.
Common mistakes
Confusing 'invention' and 'innovation' — an invention is a completely new device or process created for the first time, while an innovation is a new idea, method or improvement, often based on something that already exists.
Using 'affect' and 'effect' interchangeably — 'affect' is a verb meaning to influence ('Technology affects the way we communicate'), while 'effect' is usually a noun meaning a result ('Technology has had a major effect on communication').
Saying 'make a research' instead of 'do research' or 'conduct research' — research is uncountable and is used with 'do' or 'conduct', not 'make'.
Using 'informations' as a plural — 'information' is uncountable in English and has no plural form; say 'a piece of information' or 'some information', not 'informations'.
Confusing 'raise' and 'rise' when talking about issues — technology 'raises concerns' (a transitive verb, needs an object), not 'rises concerns'; say 'This raises ethical questions,' not 'This rises ethical questions.'
Worked example — Artificial intelligence in education
Passage
"Artificial intelligence is bringing major changes to education. Thanks to recent breakthroughs, AI-powered tools can now adapt to each student's level and offer personalized exercises, which has revolutionized the way many students learn. This innovation clearly has advantages: it saves teachers time and helps students who are struggling to catch up. However, this progress also raises concerns. Some experts worry that overreliance on automation could reduce direct interaction between students and teachers, and the digital divide means that not all students have equal access to these tools. On balance, artificial intelligence offers real benefits for education, but it must be introduced carefully to avoid worsening existing inequalities."
Explanation
The paragraph uses topic vocabulary precisely: "breakthroughs", "revolutionized", "innovation" to describe the progress itself, and "automation" and "digital divide" to name the two concerns raised. The structure is balanced: it opens with the benefit (saving time, helping struggling students), then pivots with "However" to the concerns, and closes with "On balance", a phrase that signals a final, weighed conclusion rather than a one-sided opinion — exactly the kind of structure expected in a Bac essay on this topic.
3 practice exercises
Exercise 1
EasyMatch each term to its correct definition. Terms: 1) breakthrough 2) automation 3) renewable energy 4) digital divide 5) biotechnology. Definitions: a) energy from natural sources that don't run out, such as solar or wind power. b) the gap between people who have access to modern technology and those who don't. c) an important discovery made after a lot of effort. d) the use of machines to perform tasks without human involvement. e) the use of living organisms in technology, medicine and agriculture.
Show answer
1-c (breakthrough = an important discovery made after a lot of effort), 2-d (automation = the use of machines to perform tasks without human involvement), 3-a (renewable energy = energy from natural sources that don't run out), 4-b (digital divide = the gap between people who have access to technology and those who don't), 5-e (biotechnology = the use of living organisms in technology, medicine and agriculture).
Exercise 2
MediumFill in each blank with the correct word from this list: innovation, artificial intelligence, job displacement, ethical questions, digitalization. 1) The ___ of hospital records has made patient information much easier to access. 2) Many doctors now use ___ to help diagnose diseases faster. 3) One of the major benefits of this ___ is that it saves both time and money. 4) Automation in factories has raised concerns about ___. 5) Using AI in courtrooms raises serious ___ about fairness.
Show answer
1) digitalization 2) artificial intelligence 3) innovation 4) job displacement 5) ethical questions.
Exercise 3
HardWrite a short balanced paragraph (60–80 words) giving your opinion on whether artificial intelligence does more good than harm. Use at least three vocabulary items from this unit and one 'balanced opinion' expression (on one hand / on the other hand, while it is true that...).
Show answer
Model answer: "In my opinion, artificial intelligence does more good than harm. On one hand, it has led to real breakthroughs in medicine and has made communication much easier. On the other hand, it also raises concerns about job displacement and privacy. Although these risks are real, I believe that, with proper regulation, the benefits of this innovation outweigh its dangers for society as a whole." (Own answers will vary — the key requirement is correct vocabulary use and a balanced structure that presents both sides.)
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FAQ
What is the difference between an invention and an innovation?
An invention is a completely new device or process created for the first time, such as 'the invention of the telephone', while an innovation is a new idea, method or improvement, which is often based on something that already exists, such as 'a major innovation in smartphone design'.
What are the main benefits of scientific and technological progress?
The main benefits usually discussed are advances in medicine (faster diagnosis, new treatments and vaccines), easier communication across the world, greater efficiency thanks to automation, and the development of renewable energy to help fight climate change.
What are the main concerns associated with automation and artificial intelligence?
The main concerns are job displacement, since automation can replace human workers in certain industries, privacy issues linked to the large amount of personal data collected, ethical questions about decision-making, and the digital divide between people who have access to technology and those who don't.