AI and the Fear of Change: My Thoughts as a Tech Optimist

AI is moving fast. So fast that it makes people uneasy. I get it. It feels like everything is changing overnight, and it’s hard to keep up. But I don’t see AI as something to fear. I see it as another step in how we evolve, just like every other big shift in technology that’s come before it. This is just some random thoughts I have on the present day scenario.

The Pace of Change is Scary, But That’s What Innovation Has Always Been

I won’t deny it — things are moving at an insane speed. It’s overwhelming at times. But isn’t that what progress looks like? The internet changed everything in just a couple of decades. Our parents didn’t grow up with Google, but we did. Did that make us lazy? No. It made us more informed, more connected, and more capable.

AI is just the next big shift, and a faster one. We’re figuring it out as we go, just like we did with the internet, smartphones, and social media. Every new technology brings uncertainty, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad.

AI is Just Another Tool

I hear people say AI is doing all the work now and deserves all the credit, and the person giving prompt has no skill. But isn’t that how it’s always been with technology? If you make a great design, do you credit Photoshop? If you write great code, do you credit the programming language? The IDE you used? Or your laptop? No, because the tool isn’t what makes something great — it’s the person using it. From early man to now, it is the norm.

AI is no different. It helps us create, think, and explore ideas faster. But at the end of the day, the direction, the intent, and the creativity still come from us. It’s a tool, not a replacement for human ingenuity.

The Concerns Are Real

I won’t pretend AI is perfect. There are real concerns — job displacement, biases in AI systems, over-reliance on automation, misinformation. These are things that need to be addressed.

But I don’t think fear should be the only response. Instead, we need to ask: How do we adapt? How do we make sure AI is used responsibly? How do we keep ourselves in control of the technology instead of letting it control us?

Is AI Making Us Lazy?

This is where I have mixed feelings. I don’t think AI makes everyone lazy, but I do think it will make some people put in even less effort. There will always be those who take shortcuts, relying entirely on AI without trying to think critically or improve their own skills.

But at the same time, AI has the potential to make the right people more efficient. The ones who put in effort will use AI to accelerate their work, not replace their thinking. Like any tool, AI can either be a crutch or a catalyst — it depends on how we choose to use it

If AI helps us automate the repetitive stuff, that’s not laziness — that’s efficiency. The real question is: What do we do with the time it frees up for us? Do we use it to be more creative, to explore new ideas, to push boundaries? Or do we just waste it? That’s up to us, not AI.

How AI and Humans Shape Each Other

Humans have always used tools to enhance their thinking. Writing helped us store knowledge. The printing press made it widely accessible. The internet connected us instantly. AI is just the next evolution of this cycle, but unlike other tools, AI doesn’t just store or distribute knowledge, it helps us generate new ideas.

Humans are naturally curious and adaptable. We are problem solvers, storytellers, and creators. AI enhances these abilities by handling repetitive tasks, organizing massive amounts of data, and even offering new perspectives we might not have considered. It doesn’t replace our thinking, it challenges it.

The fear that AI will make us less thoughtful assumes that people will stop questioning, stop exploring, and stop creating. But history tells us otherwise. Every major advancement has led to new ways of thinking, new industries, and new forms of human expression. AI will do the same, pushing us toward areas where human intuition, empathy, and creativity still shine, but in a different form and function.

How AI Will Change the Thinking of Future Generations

For us, AI feels like a massive jump because we know how much effort it used to take to write code, design a webpage, or even compose an essay. Things that once required hours of work can now be done in seconds, which feels almost like magic. We have a reference point — we know what it means to do these tasks manually, so AI’s efficiency feels revolutionary.

But for the next generation, it might not feel like such a dramatic shift. In five years, kids learning to code, design, and write will do so with AI as part of their process from the very beginning. They won’t experience the same leap in efficiency because they won’t have the same “before and after” perspective that we do. To them, AI-assisted creativity and problem-solving will just be the norm.

This doesn’t mean they will be less skilled or creative, but they may think differently about work and effort. Instead of focusing on the mechanics of writing code or designing, they may prioritize problem-solving and strategic thinking, using AI as an extension of their capabilities rather than a disruptive force. It’s similar to how we use Google today without thinking twice, whereas earlier generations had to manually search through books for answers.

My Own Experience with AI

I make a conscious effort every day, every weekend, to learn about new tools, new innovations, and try to incorporate them into my personal and professional life. AI isn’t something I just observe from the sidelines — I engage with it actively, exploring how it can enhance my workflow and thinking.

At the same time, I make sure I’m not just using AI to make things easier, but to make myself more productive. If that makes sense. I see AI as a way to amplify my work, not replace the effort I put into it. It helps me streamline processes, discover new ways of doing things, and push my own creativity further. But at the core, it’s still me doing the thinking, making the decisions, and shaping the final output. AI assists, but I drive.

That being said, I also think it’s okay not to know every single AI tool out there. For most people, something like ChatGPT is more than enough. You don’t have to chase every new innovation. But it helps to keep an eye on tools that genuinely enhance your work, ones that make you think differently or help you do things better. AI should be something that complements our abilities, not something we feel pressured to master at every turn.

The real question is: Will this shift make future generations more capable, or will it make them less inclined to put in effort? If AI takes care of the technical parts, will creativity and innovation thrive even more, or will convenience lead to complacency? The answer, like with all technology, will depend on how we choose to use it.

AI is Changing Things, But That’s Not a Bad Thing

I see AI as something that’s here to stay. It’s already making a difference in healthcare, education, creativity, and problem-solving. It’s not about whether we like it or not — it’s about how we use it.

I don’t think AI is taking away our ability to think. If anything, it’s pushing us to think in new ways. Instead of fearing what’s changing, I’d rather focus on how we can make the most of it. But I also know that if we’re not careful, AI can make some of us complacent. That’s why the responsibility to use it wisely is on us.

PS: All the images are generated using MidJourney