AI transformation faced with fear or hope
As with most things in life, you can meet AI with fear or with hope. Neither exists; both are in the mind, and it is up to you to choose. I choose hope. Why? We have enormous problems to solve, and AI may be the most powerful tool we've ever had to solve them. The world is far from finished.
Growing up, I had no access to intellectual stimulation outside of school, which, honestly, I didn't enjoy, as I am the kind of person who learns better at my own pace. I didn't have access to libraries, computers, or other resources to help me learn. I remember teaching myself English with almost nothing in hand. It was hard and inefficient.
Imagine a child today in the same situation, trying to learn a new language or a new subject. She may not have a computer at home — but someone in her family almost certainly has a phone. And on that phone, she can download a free app, ask any question, and get answers.
Now imagine that experience ten to a hundred times better. That is AI. I could never afford tutors growing up. Actually, I worked as an advanced math tutor to pay my living expenses through college. I constantly had to refresh or extend my own knowledge. It was so hard to find the solution to a question I didn't know the answer to. I had to check books, ask around, guess, pray… Now, try this with AI. I am using Gemini to study with my daughter. I don't even need to type the questions; I send a screenshot of a question with graphs and get detailed explanations. AI is an equalizer, where, through hard work, an underprivileged and a privileged student can get the same results.
There are so many problems still waiting to be solved: cures for devastating diseases, access to basic human dignities, quality education for every child, human rights, the preservation of nature, thriving conditions for all species, and a more efficient use of the planet's resources. But when people have more access to knowledge, they can rise from poverty, raise their living standards, and reach for things that were once only available to the privileged few.
Yes, AI will disrupt jobs — yours, mine, everyone's. But it can also be a powerful accelerator for great causes. What matters now is who shapes it. We need people with big hearts, bold dreams, integrity, and the humility to keep learning — people who are committed to using AI as a force for good.