OMG, I know. Yet another post about AI. It’s so annoying, isn’t it?

I know it’s annoying to a lot of you because I’m seeing so many LinkedIn and Threads posts complaining about how AI is taking over. There’s a growing number of people out there proudly proclaiming the fact that they have never used AI and it’s going to stay that way.

I get it. I think AI has a lot of issues, too. There’s evidence that it erodes critical thinking skills. Use of AI puts a massive strain on the environment, driving immense energy consumption, severe water depletion, and heavy carbon emissions. And then there’s the intellectual property theft that has already cost one AI provider a hefty settlement – and that provider is considered the “good guy.”

Underpinning these arguments is a general humanistic sense of existential dread. I think there there is general feeling that AI is stealing our souls – that the unique elements that make us us are too easily reproduced, at least superficially. We can no longer immediately believe a video clip of animals doing something cute. Even if it’s real, we assume it’s AI. LinkedIn posts are all starting to look alike. We are starting to point to proper grammar as an AI “tell,” even though there are a whole bunch of us who actually paid attention in English class and like our em-dashes and Oxford commas, thank you very much.

I don’t think AI is evil. It can’t be – it has no point of view. It is a tool. The point of view is provided by its creators.

I’m not here to rehash the pros and cons of AI. I’ve been doing that for a few years now. (You can read my perspective from 2023 here, and a follow up here.) What has caught my fancy about the recent discourse is the growing divide between AI champions and AI deniers. It’s getting incredibly antagonistic. And I get it, I really do.

I think both groups are wrong.

I don’t think we can ignore AI. The genie is out of the bottle, the toothpaste is out of the tube, and the horse has left the barn. It’s out in the world and unless we pull a Silicon Valley-style caper and kill off Son of Anton, I don’t think we can ever go back to the pre-AI days. And anyone claiming they will never use AI may need to add a disclaimer: you may never proactively use AI, but you’re probably using AI all the time. If you use GPS, you’re using AI.

I also don’t think AI is going to solve all our troubles. If we can leverage it to handle automation of tedious, repetitive activities with lower stakes, I love it. If it can be a way to rapidly test a theory or create multiple prototypes, let’s give it a shot. But all too often, I see AI being leveraged to do the things that make us uniquely human – creating art, writing stories, working through complex emotions. And ask any lawyer what they think about using it to handle legal issues (SPOILER: They hate it and will probably drop you as a client. Top tip: any chats in AI about your case are discoverable.)

All that being said, I believe you put yourself at risk if you get “left behind” on AI. I don’t think you need to embrace everything AI has to offer. I don’t think you need a paid prescription or that you need use AI to help you pack for your next vacation. You do yourself a grave disservice if you don’t keep up to date on the advances happening in AI, as well as the ripple effects it has on society, of which you are a member. It’s shaping the future of children, impacting the livelihood of thousands, and determining the content we consume.

Therefore, my advice to you is to learn about AI. Understand its capabilities and keep an eye on how others are using it. This is especially vital for those in the business world. AI providers are making all sorts of promises without fully knowing how to price what you might be buying, but some of those promises are being fulfilled. There may be some elements of AI that make sense for your business to adopt. Just do so with open eyes and questioning minds.

AI is a tool like any other, albeit a highly powerful and seductive tool. And like all tools, its impact is determined by those who wield it.

Maybe it’s time to make sure you’re one of those people.