AI: The Cure For or the Cancer Of Communication?

“Don’t be afraid of technology but be afraid of the people who control the technology. “ – Shawn Kunogo, NACM Key Note Speaker and best selling author of “The Bold Ones”.

I’m at a NACM conference this week in Las Vegas for my day job, YES, I do have one of those, I know, shocking…..  While here for the conference, I’ve been privelaged to listen to many speakers in various courses.  Thus far, two full days in, none have been better or even come close to keynote speaker Shawn Kunogo who opened up my ears and eyes to the joys but also deadly pratfalls of AI.

People have fallen in love with AI, sadly, it may become every bit as dangerous as it has been helpful.  In the business world, technology development makes it go around, but again, in everyday life, AI has suddenly taken over in many areas you never realized it would, and in some cases regarding your children, this can become dangerous, if not deadly. Allow me to explain….

At first glance, Siri, Alexa and any form of Google search you do on your phone or tablet that speaks back to you, that is all well and great, a tremendous help.  I mean, none of us miss trying to look at a paper map while driving, but what happens when your child doesn’t realize that humans are behind all of that, created that, and make it work?  Instead, a child is going to think that machines, robots, their tablets, etc are smarter than humans, thus, losing respect for their parents, teachers, and even religious leaders.  Scary thought, isn’t it?

If you’re in a spot where a computer is about to take your job, you have one option left to combat, be creative, use your brain in a way no one has before.  Most of all, be original, show your organic side that you can think for yourself and create idea’s that can help all involved.  This is a way to make things more effective, without causing people to become lazy or less driven.  Challenge them!

There a few pratfalls that AI has enhanced, or should I say, “brought light upon”.  The worst of all, being social media and the insane amount of depression caused by it.  Too many women, and even some men, look at social media and try to compare their lives to others that aren’t’ even real-life friends, thus causing anxiety and depression.

You don’t need to keep up with people, if you are truly happy with what you have. People alter pictures, and just flat out lie.  Little of what you see on social media is genuine or original.  It is sad, I have stuck to the concept of “true posting” when it comes to social media. If it isn’t real, if it isn’t genuine, I’m not posting it.  The second people starting using not only AI, but editors or anything that is fabricated, you are trying to become someone you are not.  We’re not talking about editing out shadows in a wedding photo either. Embrace who you are instead of competition with a photo of someone you barely know.

Now, while I can go on about the evils of social media for the next 3,000 words, I will spare everyone from that diatribe. The largest pratfalls of AI are this,

Taking away jobs

Large amount of scams

The end of trust

Mainstream media lies

Kids having no idea how to talk with adults, and even other kids.

I will take a moment to expound on that. The breakdown of society is so bad right now that people have stopped talking to people.  Even worse, unless the parents are going out of their way to teach their children the right way to communicate, so many kids have become robotic duds.  They cannot communicate because they are used to doing it behind a screen.  When did this happen?

The bottom line is this, the base line expectations for personal behavior and responsibility has plummeted since COVID.  Parents and adults without kids even, have used it as an excuse to be lazy.  Meanwhile companies such as Amazon, Door Dash, Uber Eats and any company that delivers to your door, have profited in record numbers.

The breakdown of human communication is real, it’s sad, and AI is only going to make it worse. So, I will leave you with these thoughts.

Do you want your child or spouse having a closer relationship with you or a machine?  Because when that child gets into the adult world one day, they will be lost on how to communicate and quite frankly, have genuine emotion.  AI is a great thing, but it doesn’t have to be…