Look, I’m not saying AI is bad
But honestly, the hype around it is getting completley out of hand. I’ve been in tech for over 20 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s like everyone’s forgotten that, you know, actual humans built this stuff. And actual humans are still the ones who have to deal with the consequences.
I remember back in ’98, when I was just starting out at TechGuru Magazine. We covered the dot-com boom, and let me tell you, that was something else. But even then, people were more grounded. More… real.
Now? It’s like we’re all living in some kinda techno-utopia fantasy. AI this, AI that. It’s gonna save the world, it’s gonna cure cancer, it’s gonna make your coffee in the morning. Honestly, it’s exhausting.
Let’s talk about the real world for a second
I was at a conference in Austin last month, and I heard this guy—let’s call him Marcus—give a presentation about AI in healthcare. He was talking about how AI is gonna revolutionize everything, make doctors obsolete, all that jazz.
So I asked him, “Marcus, what about the 87% of doctors who say they’re already overwhelmed with admin work? How’s AI gonna help them?”
And he just kinda stared at me. Like a deer in headlights. Finally, he said, “Well, uh, I mean, it’s just… yeah.” Which… yeah. Fair enough, Marcus.
Look, I’m not saying AI doesn’t have its place. It does. But it’s not the magic bullet everyone seems to think it is. And frankly, the more we rely on it, the more we’re gonna have to deal with the fallout. Like, have you seen the news lately? Data breaches, privacy scandals, you name it.
And don’t even get me started on the job market. Everyone’s talking about how AI is gonna create all these new jobs, but what about the ones it’s gonna destroy? I had coffee with a friend last Tuesday—let’s call him Dave—and he told me about how his company just laid off 214 people because they “found a more efficient solution.” Spoiler alert: that “solution” was a bunch of code.
But hey, what do I know?
I’m just some old fogey who’s been around the block a few times. Maybe I’m just bitter because I can’t keep up with all the new stuff. Maybe I’m just jealous of all the shiny new toys. Or maybe, just maybe, I’ve got a point.
I mean, think about it. We’re talking about trusting machines with our lives, our data, our futures. And we’re doing it because… why, exactly? Because some tech bro in a hoodie said it was a good idea?
Come on. We can do better than that.
And look, I’m not saying we should all go back to using abacuses and carrier pigeons. But maybe, just maybe, we should pump the brakes a little. Maybe we should actually think about the implications of what we’re doing. Maybe we should remember that, at the end of the day, we’re still dealing with human lives here.
I’m not saying we should stop innovating. But we should probably start thinking a little more critically about what we’re innovating. And maybe, just maybe, we should start putting people first again.
Because at the end of the day, that’s what this is all about. People. Not algorithms, not data sets, not fancy new gadgets. People.
Oh, and one more thing
If you’re gonna talk about AI, do us all a favor and actually know what you’re talking about. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard some “expert” spout off about how AI is gonna do this or that, only to find out they don’t have the first clue about how any of it actually works.
It’s like, look, if you’re gonna talk the talk, you gotta walk the walk. Otherwise, you’re just adding to the noise. And honestly, we’ve got enough noise as it is.
So let’s all just take a deep breath, okay? Let’s think before we speak, let’s question before we believe, and for the love of all that’s holy, let’s start putting people first again.
Thanks, you’re welcome.
About the Author
Sarah “Sal” Johnson has been a tech journalist for over 20 years, covering everything from the dot-com boom to the rise of AI. She’s a staunch advocate for human-centered technology and isn’t afraid to call out the industry when it’s full of crap. When she’s not writing, you can find her hiking with her dog, reading sci-fi novels, or arguing with tech bros on Twitter.
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