August 14, 2025
“When I was a youngster, my family used to run outside whenever an airplane flew over. That’s how in awe we were of flying machines!” said a woman who’s now in her 90s.
While one might argue that it’s still pretty amazing that tons of steel can take off and soar thousands of feet above the ground, airplanes are now squarely in the realm of the commonplace. As are so many modern inventions, tools and services that we now take for granted.
A Horse of a Different Color?
But artificial intelligence? Now that just may just be “a horse of a different color,” to borrow a line from the The Wizard of Oz 86 years ago, when Technicolor film was a wonder of its own.
There’s no doubt that AI is here, and here to stay, though there’s plenty of doubt about it. Even Elon Musk (co-founder of OpenAI in 2015) said AI would be the destruction of civilization. Yikes.
So how should we feel about this branch of computer science that can perform tasks that normally require a human touch? Should we fear it? Embrace it?
Perhaps a little of both.
Survey Says…
Data from the Pew Research Center reports that over a two-year period of time (2021-2023), Americans were far more concerned than excited about AI. In fact, rather than abating, concern rose from 2021 to 2023 as AI infiltrated more of our lives.
Pew research from 2025 showed that the public at large is most concerned about loss of human connection (57%); however, only 37% of experts had this concern. Fifty-five percent of both experts and the public reported being highly concerned about decisions being made by AI.
Chief Concerns
While there are multiple concerns surrounding AI technology and the impact it could have on all facets of life, some worries loom larger than others:
- Job replacement. As AI takes on more and more roles that are normally accomplished by humans, many worry about job security. Rightfully so; by 2030, 30 percent of hours currently worked in the U.S. economy could be automated. Some might argue that job loss was also a concern during the Industrial Revolution, when new machines did the menial tasks people once did. However, there is a key difference – white collar professions are now most vulnerable, as AI “thinks” and “creates” like people can. This is no small problem for educators and others charged with assessing originality.
- Loss of privacy and data security. AI collects and processes massive amounts of information. This kind of power increases the risk of data breaches, unauthorized access to and misuse of personal information as well as unchecked surveillance, profiling and bias.
- Lack of transparency and explanation. Many AI systems act as “black boxes,” meaning they do not reveal or explain how they arrive at decisions. This fosters mistrust and misunderstanding as well as difficulty in identifying and addressing AI-based biases and errors.
- Misinformation and social manipulation. AI has the potential to spread misinformation and manipulate public opinion, threatening our democratic processes and further fracturing social solidarity.
- Autonomous weaponry. Like many groundbreaking technologies, artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the landscape of warfare. Despite growing resistance to the development of autonomous AI weapons, fears of a global AI arms race threaten to override even the strongest efforts to regulate or prohibit their use.
- Loss of human connection. The 2013 film Herfeatures a man in the not-so-distant future (read: now) who falls in love with his female-voiced operating system. At the time, the idea seemed preposterous, but 12 years later, it’s not so far-fetched. In fact, a growing number of people are developing relationships – some even romantic – with AI companions.
- Existential threats. Some, experts included, fear that advanced AI systems could become sentient, outsmarting human intelligence and rendering our influence less essential. There is worry, too, that the goals of AI will misalign with human values, creating a dystopian schism between man and technology.
What Good Is It?
With concerns about AI’s impact – including fears as dramatic as the end of civilization – it’s easy to overlook the many benefits it already brings. In fact, we’re likely enjoying many of these advantages on a daily basis. Here are a few everyday devices and services that use AI to make our lives easier:
- Smartphones and devices
- Voice assistants (e.g., Siri, Alexa)
- Autocorrect and predictive text
- Streaming services that use AI to recommend content based on listening/watching history
- Navigation apps (Google Maps, Waze)
- Ride sharing apps (Uber, Lyft)
- Robotic vacuums
- Fitness trackers
- Vehicle safety features; self-driving cars
AI’s ability to handle repetitive tasks quickly and without fatigue is undoubtedly a benefit. Here are some broader advantages of AI:
- Healthcare and medical research. AI can detect and understand disease processes, discover new treatments and drug therapies and assist surgeons with AI-guided robotics.
- Climate intervention. AI improves predictions of climate change impacts, extreme weather and ocean patterns. AI technology can also help reduce plastic pollution.
- Food production. AI-activated drones detect crop health and suggest precise interventions as well as optimize planting schedules, water usage and fertilizer application. AI also helps create resilient crop strains and optimize food distribution systems.
- National security and defense. AI enhances surveillance and reconnaissance by analyzing satellite images, drone footage and intercepted signals. It can also detect and block hacking attempts in real time. AI-powered weaponry is highly targeted, yet (as noted above) also highly controversial.
- Education. AI tutors personalize learning by adapting to each student’s pace and learning style, enhancing educational outcomes. For students with disabilities, AI also improves accessibility through real-time language translation, subtitles and assistive tools that support inclusive learning environments.
- Space exploration. AI plays a critical role in space exploration, from navigating distant planets to processing satellite imagery for monitoring Earth’s environment, such as tracking deforestation and natural disasters. It also helps predict and address technical issues during deep-space missions, improving both safety and efficiency.
The Power of People
Despite growing concerns that AI could replace human connection, no technology can truly replicate the depth and richness of real human interaction. Shared laughter, eye contact, body language and the simple presence of another person create bonds that machines cannot emulate. In a world increasingly shaped by digital tools, the value of face-to-face connection remains irreplaceable, reminding us that being human together is something no algorithm can substitute.
It is just this kind of irreplaceable community that Lathrop offers, now and always.
Discover all that’s humanly possible at Lathrop.