Just lately, I requested synthetic intelligence to edit a 25,000-word story that took me nearly a yr to write down. It learn the entire thing in lower than three seconds. I felt a pang of inferiority as I watched the phrases generate themselves one after one other. I used to be devastated — it felt like AI had simply dismissed the undertaking I had labored on for therefore lengthy.
In 2025, synthetic intelligence is all I’ve been fascinated with as a 15-year-old highschool sophomore who goals of turning into a journalist. A sophomore who’s scared that regardless of which profession she would possibly choose, AI may do it higher.
Researchers who construct “synthetic basic intelligence” aren’t at all times fascinated with the issues that AI creates, however my technology is — as a result of we’ll be inheriting these issues. The youngsters who performed Minecraft or scrolled on Instagram this morning will someday face a difficulty that’s a lot larger than us.
ChatGPT, Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude know virtually every little thing on the web, extra information than any human will ever know. Nonetheless, AI hasn’t reached the pivotal level the place it’s able to authentic thought. It doesn’t but possess the creativeness that I need to use as a future author and thinker. However we’re actually shut.
It’s scary to see the potential impression of AI on journalism. I’d like to be an editor, however AI can already edit higher than I can. I’m all for podcasting, however Google recently released NotebookLM, which might make a sensible podcast about any subject. I like planning my life out in a bullet journal, however AI can generate an ideal schedule with tricks to get issues accomplished. Even reporting appears like a useless finish; whereas AI can’t exit into the sphere and report on a dwell information story, it may possibly write the article in case you feed it the knowledge. So, will there be any journalism job for me that may’t be accomplished by a pc?
Like several excessive schooler, I mirror on the which means of life rather a lot. In accordance with a Pew Analysis Heart study on what makes life meaningful, careers “are one of many high three sources of which means.” AI will change the work drive as we all know it, and meaning it is going to change our achievement, too.
The danger applies to our hobbies as nicely. I converse French and Mandarin as a result of I like languages. Are they even value studying if AI can translate conversations in actual time? I de-stress by drawing structure, however AI can already generate one thing rather more elaborate. My technology is called the one with the very best depression rates, and it’ll solely worsen if we now not discover which means in what we do. Why would we hassle residing if what we make is meaningless in comparison with the factitious model?
There isn’t any straightforward reply. We have to innovate whereas retaining our independence as people. Step one is for all of us is to take the issue critically. Even some tech leaders have acknowledged the necessity to decelerate. I’m begging AI researchers to think about my technology as they rush forward. The battle of people vs. computer systems is right here, and it’s totally different — and scarier — than we may have ever imagined.
It’s superb that an AI was capable of learn my story so quick. We’ve come to this point, so rapidly. Nonetheless, I don’t suppose I’m able to really feel my coronary heart drop as a pc outdoes me time and again.
Progress shouldn’t imply dropping ourselves. It ought to imply constructing a world the place people can thrive and discover which means whilst AI improves. A minimum of for now, AI can solely regurgitate what it learns from us. However every particular person has a inventive spark that may’t be present in coaching knowledge. If we neglect that spark, AI won’t keep in mind it for us.
