(Spoiler Alert: It depends.)

Are posts, emails and articles about AI flooding your devices? Me too.
I’m not opposed to AI; let’s say I’m cautiously optimistic.
AI is a lot like social media and fossil fuels.
All three are technologies that have the potential to change everything about how our world operates.
AI definitely as its place. It’s a little creepy, sure, but the potential is great. Just like social media and fossil fuels.
In both cases, the world discovered or developed a life-changing technology. Also in both cases, the potential to make money steam-rolled over any thoughts about guardrails or long-term effects.
Social Media and Fossil Fuels
Social media is a great way to connect, share information and learn new things. It’s also a great way to exploit vulnerabilities, spread lies and perpetuate injustices. With some regulation and consideration when it was in early development, we might have avoided (or at least mitigated) the teen mental health crisis, pervasive social isolation and rampant disinformation.
But those limits might also have limited profits.
Fossil fuels are so much more efficient that the fuels humans were using before their discovery. The discovery of oil deposits in the US opened up entire new industries and inventions. We built a thriving economy on oil-driven machines. Our world would not be the same without oil.
Also, as we know now, fossil fuels can destroy our atmosphere and perpetuate injustices.
But they’re oh so profitable.
AI has the same potential. The technology can exponentially improve accessibility, answer questions and share information. We can accomplish so much more with an assist from this emerging technology. It could be magic.
Or it could be a disaster. An all-consuming rush to incorporate it everywhere threatens our humanity.
People Over Profits
I don’t know the answer, but I know it involves regulation, popular education and leadership. Let’s start with the acknowledgement that profit is the priority.
Then reorder the priorities.
Let’s not let capitalism gone wild ruin a good thing. Again.
Oh and btw, can we please call AI “it,” and not she, he or they? Even if you give it a name.