I know I’ve written about AI before, but things are changing SO quickly, it’s time for an update. The Docs use AI every day, mostly for marketing, advertising and social media (and some fun). It saves many hours and produces some pretty great stuff, even short video commercials for the business. So, let’s jump in:
There’s a small moment happening more and more these days. You might notice it when your phone finishes your sentence before you do. Or when you ask a question online and get a full answer in seconds. Maybe it’s when an email shows up that sounds like a real person wrote it… but no one actually did. That’s your first real experience with artificial intelligence, or AI. And like it or not, it’s already part of everyday life.
So what is AI? In simple terms, it’s computer software that learns from information and makes decisions. Instead of following a strict set of instructions, it studies patterns and figures things out. You can think of it like a super-fast learner with a great memory, but not much common sense. It can sound very smart, but it doesn’t truly understand things the way people do.
There are a lot of good things about AI. It’s already helping doctors find diseases earlier. It helps students when they get stuck on homework. For small businesses, it can save time and handle tasks that used to take hours. Even in daily life, it’s useful. It can help write emails, fix spelling, organize photos, and answer questions any time of day. It’s kind of like having a helper that never sleeps and never gets tired. And if it ever starts asking for a vacation, we might be in trouble.
But AI isn’t perfect. One big problem is that it doesn’t always know when it’s wrong. It can give answers that sound confident, even if they’re not true. That can be dangerous. There have been over 800 cases of lawyers using AI when filing briefs, citing completely made up cases! AI can also be used to create fake pictures, fake voices, and even fake news. The Docs USED to be able to tell the difference just a few months ago, but now, it’s almost impossible! It can make scams harder to spot. That means we have to be more careful than ever. Just because something looks real doesn’t mean it is. I have been in the habit of copying social media “news” posts, dropping into an AI and asking to “vet” the post for accuracy. OVER 90% OF WHAT I’VE CHECKED IN THE LAST 30 DAYS IS EITHER EXAGGERATED OR FALSE!!! This is a real problem.
A lot of people are also wondering about jobs. Will AI take them away? The answer is most likely yes and a little bit no. Some jobs will change, and some might disappear. But new jobs will be created too. This has happened before. When cars replaced horses, people found new kinds of work. When computers became common, jobs changed, but new ones appeared. AI is just the next step. But you can be sure this is as big a change as when everyone had access to the internet. My personal opinion is that it will be as impactful as the Industrial Revolution!
Jobs that are simple and repeat the same tasks are more likely to be done by machines. Jobs that involve creativity, helping people, and solving problems are more likely to grow. The people who do best won’t be the ones who avoid AI. They’ll be the ones who learn how to use it.
The biggest danger isn’t robots taking over. It’s people trusting AI too much without thinking. AI is a tool, and it works best when people are still in charge. It’s important to stop and ask, “Does this make sense?” or “Should I check this?” If we don’t, mistakes can happen.
So where does this leave us? Right where we’ve always been when something new comes along. Learning, adjusting, and figuring things out step by step. AI isn’t the end of jobs. It’s just a new way of working.
The good news is you don’t need to be an expert. You just need to stay curious. Try it out, especially if you’re a small business owner. Don’t be afraid. Let it help you. Just don’t stop thinking for yourself. That’s one thing AI can’t replace.
Until next time: it can be a little scary out there. Be safe!
Stephen Bach is the owner and chief of surgery at The Digital Docs.
