I remember when AI was nothing more than an '80s sci-fi fantasy. Back then, it was easy to imagine AI as some distant, futuristic concept—a trope more than a reality. But today, AI is no longer a distant dream; it’s an integral part of our daily lives, embedded in everything from word processors to web browsers and digital assistants. AI is everywhere, and it’s being embraced by almost every company at an astonishing rate. Over the past year, I’ve been deeply immersed in this AI-driven world, exploring everything from image generators to voice clones and chatbots that can mimic lost loved ones. I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the downright bizarre. While I’m not a doomsayer predicting AI’s downfall, I can’t help but feel that much of its potential is being wasted on solving the wrong problems. The Promise of AI We’re living in the age of AI, a time when this technology has the power to simplify our lives, make work easier, and revolutionize the way we interact with computers. And to be fair, AI does deliver on some of that promise. I use generative AI every day, whether it's interacting with Meta AI through my Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses or consulting ChatGPT for recipe ideas and movie suggestions. Virtual assistants have been transformed by AI, reaching levels of performance that were once the stuff of Hollywood movies. This technology is poised to change how we interact with our devices in ways we can barely imagine. Instead of thinking of computers as mere boxes with screens, AI could lead to a seismic shift in our relationship with technology—something not seen since the invention of the mouse. That’s exciting. It’s the kind of innovation that should make us all eager to embrace AI. But after spending so much time with various AI tools and services, I find myself questioning whether we’re really using this technology in the best way possible. The Pitfalls of AI The advancements in virtual assistants are just a small slice of the AI pie—one of the least controversial aspects of it, in fact. As AI continues to evolve, it’s being used to create all sorts of content, leading to some highly divisive outcomes. AI can generate almost anything, and that’s where the problem lies. Creating is a deeply human trait, one we shouldn’t so readily hand over to machines. As concerns about disinformation, defamation, and the misuse of deepfake technology grow, we need to ask ourselves: Can we trust what we see and hear? Was that article really written by a human? Is that incriminating image real? As AI models become more sophisticated, distinguishing between real and fake becomes increasingly difficult. Even worse, AI is eroding our human connections. Who thought it was a good idea to let AI handle our communication with others? From summarizing emails to replying to texts from loved ones, AI is being used to distance us from human interaction. This trend is not just misguided; it’s downright depressing. A recent ad by Google perfectly encapsulates this bleak reality. In it, a father talks about his daughter’s admiration for track star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. She wants to write a letter to her idol, but instead of doing it herself, she outsources the task to her dad, who in turn outsources it to Google’s AI. The result is a lifeless, AI-generated letter—hardly the heartfelt message it was meant to be. This ad, intended to be uplifting, instead highlights the disconnect between the creators of these AI tools and the people they’re meant to serve. https://github.com/teteusAraujo/products-service/issues/12 https://github.com/hubgit/hubgit.github.io/issues/9 https://github.com/hkusu/github_document_demo/issues/2 https://github.com/Yezz123-Archive/github/issues/2 https://github.com/Keenjin/Keenjin.github.io/issues/10 https://github.com/hollowtree/hollowtree.github.io/issues/3 https://pastelink.net/crs8w4zz