The lesson explores the use of the `bufio` package in Go for reading and counting words from files, streamlining previous code written using byte buffers and UTF-8 decoding. By implementing the `bufio.Reader` and utilizing the `ReadRune` method, developers can efficiently process runes without the complexity of earlier approaches, significantly simplifying the code. The `bufio.Scanner` further enhances this functionality by providing a convenient interface for scanning newline-delimited lines or custom tokens like words. With this scanner, developers can iterate through the words seamlessly, optimizing the word-counting algorithm and eliminating the need for manual space checks. This approach not only improves code efficiency but also sets the stage for future enhancements in word counting functionality.