While AI has mostly been a tool to amplify health concerns—especially for those under 35—it hasn’t played a significant role in my everyday activities.
Even though my job requires me to explore new technologies with enthusiasm, I generally view AI in a negative light.
My negative stance is a mix of several concerns: distaste for AI’s impact on creative fields, worries about its potential to disrupt jobs for people like myself, skepticism towards its leaders, particularly Mr. Altman, and fear of a dystopian future akin to Skynet.
Although my skeptical view hasn’t dramatically changed over the last week, it has shifted slightly.
A slippery slope
The shift began during a vacation in Spain, where I wanted not only to learn a phrase but also pronounce it accurately without resorting to a potentially embarrassing YouTube video. Gemini provided a phonetic guide for how to ask to take a pastry away (pah-rah yeh-bahr), which was quite useful.
Upon returning to work, I faced the task of confirming whether I had sent a review phone back to the manufacturer earlier in the year. Normally, this would involve a frustrating search through emails on MacOS. However, still in holiday mode, I decided to try a different approach.
Using the Gemini section in the Gmail web app, I typed: “Is there any indication that I’ve sent the [REDACTED] back?” Gemini quickly responded that there was no record of it, and even highlighted that the PR had mentioned I could keep it longer for an upcoming feature.
Shortly after, Gemini informed me that Motorola hadn’t launched a tablet in the UK or US for nearly 15 years. As a professional, I verified this the traditional way, and it turned out to be accurate.
For those who are already AI enthusiasts, my use of the technology might seem basic and limited. I’m not planning on increasing my reliance on AI anytime soon.
However, I am wary that I might be on a path towards broader AI acceptance. This technology truly works. Who would have thought?
