Mankind has been developing ways to work smarter for millennia. The Industrial Age saw the development, not only of mechanized processes but the rapid development of control systems to accomplish what was either dangerous, impractical, or even impossible for a human operator.
Pneumatic controls gave way to relay control.
Relay logic was replaced by electronic controls.
Electronic control systems have advanced from hard-coded chips to ‘artificial intelligence’ as one barrier after another is conquered.
This often leaves the home or business owner in fear of technology, rather than eager to embrace it.