Recent layoffs at Microsoft and Amazon leave many in our community apprehensive about artificial intelligence’s impact on our futures. I fear the impacts if we don’t embrace and shape AI to broaden human access to knowledge, tools and engagement. Democratizing technologies — from the printing press to the internet — empower people and communities. Neither artificial nor intelligent, AI carries more transformative potential for humanity than any of our fears.
Twenty-five years ago, I worked with the Encarta team to bring encyclopedia content online. Wikipedia now has over 100 times as many articles, and the internet embodies a content explosion. AI democratizes information access at a whole new level.
AI is not artificial — it is the vastest collection of human accomplishments and knowledge ever assembled. AI is not “intelligent” like humans — large language models that drive AI do not understand and are not aware of the content they output. AI generates content using statistical patterns in human-generated content. Yet AI facilitates great human potential.
In advancing education, I’ve found success in meeting people where they are. AI is among the most democratizing information-based enablers — not just posting information, but making it contextually searchable. Beyond information access, AI lowers barriers to tools and technologies, helping users write apps, create websites, consume long messages, and more without requiring expensive software and training.
The “echo chambers” of social media helped us navigate overwhelming internet content, but narrowed our exposure to different perspectives. These bubbles are reinforced when people in them are shown alternate viewpoints. AI has shown potential to break that cycle via individual conversations that have reduced beliefs in conspiracy theories and demonstrated greater success than human experts at persuading changes to polarized political beliefs. However, Johns Hopkins researchers reported that AI can also reinforce our narrow beliefs.
Similarly, AI has demonstrated promise in improving health diagnoses. AI has improved physician accuracy in complex cases, and sometimes outperformed physicians. Yet in other cases, AI did not improve diagnoses, suggesting that both AI and the doctors can refine their approach. Meanwhile, individuals can access information about health conditions, at their level and in their language, empowering informed participation in their health care, though increased patient education about AI is critical.
Emerging research shows potential for AI to increase individualization, engagement and learning outcomes for students, particularly when integrated with classroom activities (e.g., secondary STEM, medical school). Teachers can focus on more individualized and relevant interactions with students. AI also poses risks — from academic integrity to overreliance to bias and privacy — which educators, regulators and AI developers need to proactively manage.
AI is not all about layoffs, fake videos and images or unauthorized use of creative works. We can and must address those issues. Courts have begun applying existing intellectual property laws to AI fair use, some finding AI agents violating fair use (e.g., Ross Intelligence) and others complying with it (e.g., Anthropic). Image and video generation tools have unlocked creative expression, and researchers and regulators are working to address deepfakes and deception. Though AI is cited for recent layoffs, experts argue they are correcting pandemic-era overhiring as companies restructure for AI. Layoffs will happen from AI, but AI, like most disruptive technologies, over time will also drive demand for new skills and create new jobs.
AI can make humans more intelligent, empathetic and connected, or arguably, less so. If we resist AI, we restrict our ability to shape its course and impacts. We should focus energy on how we share, access, apply and regulate AI. Beyond elite billionaires, we can all influence the course of AI. We can engage as discerning consumers, altruistic developers, prudent legislators, compassionate employers and proactive educators. Research a question with a chatbot, ask for help with a task, improve a photo — become familiar so you can engage with the how, not debate the inevitable whether. AI is here to stay — whether we actively participate in guiding its humane and democratizing progress is up to us.
