AI is Here—What Should You Do About It?

by John Truscott

As artist Refik Anadol creates new forms of art using Artificial Intelligence to “hallucinate” through unsupervised learning, he is opening a world of visual beauty we’ve never imagined. He is creating visual art and motion that has infinite iterations and will never be identical to a previous iteration—never, ever—on in to infinity. This is simply mind-blowing. 

But it’s also the reality of our world today. As technological innovation hits hyper-speed in terms of development, our society will benefit from discoveries and medical advances not even imagined in science fiction movies. Our economies and societies are about to undergo changes that the human experience cannot comprehend in the short term. 

We are at the beginning of the biggest disruption and transformation in the history of mankind, according to Salim Ismail, who recently spoke to the Economic Club of Grand Rapids. His talk revealed a vision of incredible opportunity and abundance, while also acknowledging the reality that humans are not equipped for this kind of rapid transformation. Our institutions are built to resist change, and our minds just can’t comprehend what’s about to come at us faster than any change or transformation in human history. 

For example, extending life well beyond 100 years is within just a few years. In fact, living to a few hundred years old is closer than anyone can imagine. 

This brings up a lot of really difficult questions for society, for governments, and for economies. And policymakers don’t have the ability to make rules or adapt that quickly. This will create pure chaos in some cases. 

So, what are we to do?  

This is coming at us whether we accept it as reality or not. We cannot stop it. In my experience as an executive, I’ve learned that it’s best to assume you’ll be disrupted. That should be your starting point; you won’t see disruption coming. Basically, if you hear about it in the news, it’s already passed you by. 

So how do you adapt?  

Well, first of all, recognize that the next 10-15 years will be very turbulent. Our politics will likely get even uglier than today as people express frustration and anger at what’s happening to them. Businesses will face very difficult decisions on how to manage their customers, who will be angrier and more frustrated than ever before. Much of our society could likely be looking at a survival of the fittest model, and not everyone will survive. 

So you can bury your head in the sand and hope it all goes away, but that would be like wishing for sunny, dry weather while your home is being carried away by a flood. There are facts we just cannot ignore. 

While we don’t know exactly how this is going to happen or what challenges we’re likely to face, one thing we can do is prepare for change. Be open to new opportunities and ideas, and adapt to new technologies as soon as they roll out. Artificial Intelligence is here, so harness the possibilities. 

Realize that every institution you interact with will be radically different in a few years. From your bank to schools to your government, the change will be rapid and profound. The way we operate today will seem ancient in just a few short years. 

While it’s ok to be afraid, don’t let it paralyze you. Look for the opportunities these changes will bring and plot your course. 

At Truscott Rossman, we’ve embraced the change. While nobody has all the answers, we’re helping clients navigate these treacherous waters. People still want to feel valued, be informed, and have some input into their future path. While this situation may not accommodate every human instinct, it’s still valuable to try to alleviate some of the apprehension. I’ll have more on this in the future. 

On the bright side, we’re likely to have a cure for most cancers within a few years. Our agriculture will produce enough to feed everyone. We’ll be able to clean our air and water relatively inexpensively, and our quality of life and health will be dramatically improved. 

It’s natural to complain about change. Everyone does it, and it has occurred throughout history. But we also know change is inevitable, it’s coming, and you can’t hide from it. So, take that first step, recognize the change, and get ready for all the benefits it will bring to humankind. At the same time, prepare yourself for the turbulence it will cause. 

I can almost hear Gloria Gaynor belting out “I Will Survive.” But if that song helps, turn up the volume and sing along unapologetically.