There are valid concerns about whether AI is rising too fast, leading to societal disruption and even a possible collapse. However, this powerful technology also offers unprecedented opportunities for improvement across various facets of life ...
Is AI rising too fast?, Minds and machines collide, Future's uncertainty
As the release of ChatGPT-5 captivates the world, some voices raise concerns about the pace of artificial intelligence. Is AI rising too fast? While these worries are not unfounded, it's crucial to explore the source of this apprehension and consider the transformative potential of AI technology.
Here are my top 10 reasons why people might feel afraid of AI:
Job Displacement: Many fear losing their jobs to AI systems, which can perform tasks faster and more efficiently than humans. Maybe they know someone who has lost their job to AI?
Lack of Understanding: The average person may not fully understand AI, leading to fear of the unknown and mistrust. Lack of knowledge about a subject is a core driver of fear.
Privacy Concerns: The ability of AI to process vast amounts of personal data raises concerns about surveillance and data breaches. That degree of privacy was lost years ago thanks to terrorism and knee-jerk reactions from governments around the world. AI simply makes it easier to monitor people ... and the state is already doing that.
Bias and Inequality: AI systems can perpetuate existing biases, leading to discrimination in crucial areas like hiring or law enforcement. It depends on the morals and values of those who create the AI model being used.
Existential Threats: Some worry about the potential for AI to exceed human intelligence, possibly leading to scenarios depicted in dystopian films. Terminator anyone? How about I, Robot with Will Smith? Movies can terrify us, but they are just movies.
Manipulation and Misinformation: AI can easily create convincing fake news or deepfakes, fuelling misinformation and eroding trust in media. Rogue state actors can cause significant economic damage or even instil fear in populations with the right message.
Conspiracy Theories: Some individuals believe in elaborate conspiracy theories that portray AI as a tool for controlling society. This is likely originating from China, where an individual's social rankings determine their eligibility for societal benefits.
Ethical Dilemmas: The decision-making of AI in sensitive situations raises moral questions that can provoke fear. Oh, the Trolley Problem thought experiment. What would AI do?
Autonomy Erosion: The idea that humans will relinquish decision-making power to machines can be unsettling. "We are the Borg! Resistance is futile!"
Rapid Change: The speed of AI development feels overwhelming, leaving society struggling to adapt. Technology has moved quickly since the development of the semiconductor, and it's only speeding up, leaving some behind.
Yet amidst these fears, I firmly believe that the rapid evolution of AI should be embraced rather than shunned. Here's why AI can enhance our lives and society:
Efficiency and Productivity: AI streamlines tasks, allowing businesses and individuals to focus on more creative and meaningful work. If AI can do all those things you don't want to do, isn't that a good thing?
Healthcare Improvements: AI can assist in diagnosing diseases earlier and with greater accuracy, vastly enhancing patient care. AI visual pattern matching is amazing, which improves diagnosis. What if AI even prescribed a personalised curative resolution for each patient?
Environmental Monitoring: AI technology can optimise resource usage and monitor climate change, helping us protect our planet. It may even come up with solutions to reverse the damage humans have done since the Industrial Revolution.
Education Access: AI-driven tools can personalise education, making it more accessible for diverse learning styles and abilities. If every child got a personalised education thanks to AI, wouldn't that be a good thing?
Enhanced Communication: AI can bridge language barriers, fostering understanding among global communities. The Babel fish is nearly here, and that's only going to bring diverse population groups closer together. Cultural nuances aside, that is.
I'm a true advocate for responsible AI development, and I believe that AI can be an incredible force for good in society. Through responsible design and implementation, I would argue that AI will augment our capabilities and lead to a more equitable future.
Take, for example, sBlogIt!, which is my done-for-you business blogging platform. I work for numerous business owners to promote them through blog posts generated by Artificial Intelligence. However, it is essential to note that I always oversee what the AI creates every step of the way.
I developed a button during the creation of my platform that generates the necessary content, including words, images, audio versions, FAQs, and structured data, and adds all the essential bells and whistles to complete the blog post.
Would I ever publish a blog post for a subscriber using my single-click creation button? Hell no! Because what it creates without my oversight is unmistakably AI and without refinement is, in my humble opinion, garbage. I want it to be truly representative of my subscribers, which is why I oversee it at all times and edit where necessary.
My work is driven by the vision that technology should empower, rather than overshadow, humanity!
I guess that while it's natural to question whether AI is rising too fast, I see it as an opportunity for growth and improvement. Rather than letting fear hold us back, we should approach this incredible technological evolution with optimism and a commitment to ethical development.
AI can be a powerful ally in addressing our most significant challenges, provided we navigate its complexities thoughtfully. Remember, AI is there to support us rather than replace us.
It's a simple premise we can all believe in.
Love, light & logic ...
STEFFI LEWIS Independent UK SaaS Developer - Creator of YourPCM & sBlogIt!
Would you like to know more?
If anything I've written in my blog post resonates with you and you'd like to discover more of my thoughts about AI and whether it is rising too fast, do feel free to connect with me on Linkedin as I love to meet like-minded individuals with similar passions to my own.
Based in the charming village of Hanslope in Buckinghamshire, UK, I bring over 30 years of experience in web development. From creating my first website for the Open University in 1993, through being part of the dot com boom, to my explorations in SaaS and AI over the last few years, my journey has been a rich tapestry of web projects, big and small, both funded and bootstrapped.
Originally developed during the pandemic, at the start of 2025, I released the next iteration of YourPCM, version 2, which is all about 'Easy Contact Management for Small Business Owners'. Is it a CRM? Yes, but I don't call it that because people glaze over at the mention of such things. CRMs are boring, difficult to get to grips with, and it's a nightmare to get help when you need it.
YourPCM is none of those things! It's simple to use, well-supported, feature rich and beautiful, right out of the box. It's available on a simple monthly subscription with no long-term tie-in. Book a demo or grab your own 14-working-day free trial and discover why YourPCM is all about easy contact management for small business owners.
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