AI and technology today provide the greatest access to information and educational resources that were unfathomable even a few years ago. I think back to growing up in Michigan. I went each week to Farmer Jack’s supermarket to buy a volume of Funk & Wagnall’s A-Z encyclopedia set. I bought the first book “A” for 1 penny and then each week the next volume for $2.99 with groceries. This set of shiny encyclopedias became my world for school projects and reports. If it was not in the set of Funk & Wagnall’s, it did not exist in the world for me. It seems crazy today to think that there was a world before laptops, cell phones, internet, Wi-Fi, and AI.
But I would never want to turn back the hands of time with technology today. Tremendous good and positive progress has been made across practically every field imaginable. I believe that we are standing on the edge of the most exciting era of human progress, a rebirth of what we know as the limits of possibility and a time when we will see breakthroughs and solve problems that have eluded us for generations. AI is already accelerating drug discovery from decades down to years and even months as global research and previous studies can be mined for insights. People now turn to Gemini, Claude, ChatGPT and other GenAI platforms to research medical conditions or look up medical terms that they do not understand. AI and technology are enabling more expert medical advice to reach rural and low-income areas.
Change is uncomfortable, and we are in the midst of the most rapid and impactful technological change that our world has ever seen. AI presents an incredible learning opportunity and a way to bring every conceivable topic to an individual to learn about with a device and an internet connection. AI will not replace workers at small businesses, but act to augment existing skills of employees and provide assistance to navigate the multi-tasking, and multi-hat-wearing reality of running a successful small business. AI will prevent burnout and give employees assistance to remove friction points and stress in their day-to-day tasks. AI will give lean teams the ability to compete with much larger companies. Like David and Goliath, you can never underestimate your opponent sheerly on size. Small businesses compete with their hearts, their brains and their grit.
Every major technological shift felt terrifying at the start, but each one ultimately raised global standards of living, cured diseases, created entirely new industries, and gave people more control over their lives. The AI era won't be effortless, but the potential upside can be a world where human health, education, and productivity are dramatically higher than they are today.
Positivity is powerful and never underestimate the power of hope, and the belief in technology for good to overcome the doomsday apocalypse.