Is AI Exciting, Scary, or Both?

Who would have ever thought that a tech could replace 8-10 hours of work with a few minutes, unless it's a sci-fi movie?  Today, this imagination has become a reality. Technology, especially AI, and its subfield, Generative AI, is replacing hours of mundane work via automation. 

This fascinating AI capability has captured the attention of businesses worldwide. I am a firm believer that with time, things must change, but the AI-led revolution is reshaping every quarter. 

While this speed and efficiency feel revolutionary, they also raise uncomfortable questions. If AI can replace hours of work today, what would it replace tomorrow? And more importantly, who? 

Is this the most exciting breakthrough of our time, or the beginning of something we may not fully understand?

Why AI is Exciting?

You must have seen Iron Man and his conversation with J.A.R.V.I.S. I know you may want to figure out how the intelligent system responds to the command and provides information to Tony Stark. Well, that's a movie, but today it is gradually becoming a reality. 

Artificial Intelligence is not just another technology trend; it's a productivity revolution. Here is how this technology is incredibly exciting:

It Multiplies Human Efficiency

ChatGPT is one of the foremost examples of this. OpenAI has created a  Generative AI system that has revolutionized the industry with its intelligence and efficiency. 

Not only that, Midjourney has led this revolution to different aspects by allowing users to create designer-ready images with just /imagine prompt. 

Midjourney 

Image generation or content curation, which required specialized skills and long hours, is now accessible instantly. That's not just convenience, that's transformation. 

Reshaping Industries

Artificial Intelligence is making a transformative impact on every industry, from healthcare to e-commerce. Hours of document scanning, analysis, and output generation are quick today. It is reshaping industries by:

• Analyzing historical and real-time data to predict failures or needs
• AI allows industries to treat every individual unit as a unique market of one without losing efficiency
• Today, an agentic multi-step workflow is autonomously executing complex tasks with human-like precision.

Creates New Opportunities

According to the World Economic Forum, it is expected that automation can create new tech-focused jobs. 

If you know about the Industrial revoluion than you surely understand that history supports this pattern. So, what happened back then, this revolution has eliminated manual labor jobs but has also created entirely new industries. 

Also, the Internet has replaced some businesses, but built others that are worth billions today. 

If we see it this way, then AI feels less like a destroyer and more like an evolution. 

Why is AI also Scary?

Let's be honest. Excitement doesn't erase risk. With the over-reliance on AI, this is actually true. 

Lack of Cognitive Intelligence

I have seen many people (especially those who call themselves ingenious) taking assistance from Generative Pre-trained Transformers about everything. From writing an email to commenting on one's post, LLMs are their favorite mode of interaction. 

This heavy reliance on technology is making us, as humans, less aware of the facts and contexts. Killing intelligence. Lower thinking power. This directly impacts decision-making ability and self-confidence.

Overdependence is dangerous. 

Fear of Job Displacement

While AI created automation, this doesn't mean that it would have zero impact on jobs. It surely eats them. Today, various companies like PayTM or Wallmart has been using AI for completing mundane jobs. This subtle change has increased job displacement fear. Automation is already replacing roles in:

• Customer support
• Data entry
• Manufacturing 
• Basic content creation

However, the concern here is to upgrade because high-skill workers may thrive where others struggle to adapt. 

Misinformation & Deepfake

Growing reliance on AI is accumulating misinformation on or outside the web. AI (especially Generative AI, I am talking about) is trained in a way that it looks for answers even though it has no access. The result is the fabricated information with shallow to no facts. 

Also, AI has become so smart that it can generate hyper-realistic images, videos, and audio. This raises serious concerns about misinformation. AI Influencers are one of the common examples these days. 

If we can no longer distinguish what is real and what's not, then trust becomes fragile. 

It's Not Just About Technology

You must have heard this proverb from Peter's Uncle Ben in Spiderman:

With great powers comes great responsibilities

This exactly applies to Artificial Intelligence. 

AI is powerful. And, power always demands responsibility. 

The invention of Electricity has changed the world. The Internet has changed how we perceive information. AI is doing the same. But just faster, which is challenging social readiness and ethics. 

Is AI Exciting or Scary?

The simple answer is, it's both. 

• Exciting because it amplifies human capability 
• Scary because it can outpace human control
• Promising because it creates opportunities
• Risky because it widens gaps

So, Artificial Intelligence is not itself a villain, nor a hero. The determining factor is us. 

Final Thoughts

The way we use AI will make it scary or exciting. The most important question is not whether AI will shape the future. 

Because it already is. The real question is whether we are prepared to shape it in return. 

Think before you leave.