Some thoughts on how AI slipped into my daily life, and what I think it means for the rest of us.
I can still remember when artificial intelligence felt like something out of a film. Distant, a little ominous, and certainly nothing to do with me. Then one day I realised it was already part of my ordinary life: the films it nudges me towards, the voice that sets my reminders, the way my phone seems to know what I want before I do.
AI in the Home
Smart speakers, robot vacuums, thermostats that learn your habits. These are only the beginning. What strikes me most is how little fuss these devices make about it. They study our preferences and reshape our homes around us without ever announcing themselves. I find that both wonderful and slightly unsettling.
AI at Work
At work I have watched AI take over the repetitive jobs, sift through data at a scale no person could manage, and even lend a hand with creative work. My own conclusion is simple. There is little point fearing these changes; the real task is learning to work alongside them.
The best way to predict the future is to create it.
What This Means for Us
The more capable these machines become, the more I notice what they still cannot do. They do not create the way we do, or feel what we feel, or weigh a hard decision with any real judgement. Those qualities are ours. Our part, I think, is to stay curious and keep adapting.