Will AI Take Over the World? Why Wisdom, not Worry, Should Guide Our Next Chapter With Technology
- Al Smith
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
Everywhere you turn these days, people are talking about artificial intelligence — or “AI.” It’s in our phones, our workplaces, and even in classrooms where students use it to write essays and create art. For some, it’s exciting. For others, it’s downright scary. The big question everyone keeps asking is: Will AI take over the world?
The short answer is no — at least, not the way we think.
Right now, AI is smart, but it’s not wise. It can find patterns in data, answer questions, and even write a song or two, but it doesn’t understand what it’s doing. It doesn’t feel joy, pain, or purpose. It doesn’t pray, hope, or dream. Everything AI “knows” comes from people — from the stories, ideas, and information we feed into it. In other words, it’s powerful, but it’s not alive.
What AI does best is help us do things faster. It can check spelling, help design a logo, plan a trip, or translate a document. That’s called narrow intelligence — meaning it’s good at one task at a time. But AI can’t make human choices. It doesn’t raise families, volunteer in the community, or comfort a friend in need. It lacks the heart and soul that give meaning to human life.
Now, that doesn’t mean we can ignore it. Like any tool, AI can be used for good or for harm. History teaches us that when new technology arrives — whether it was the printing press, the telephone, or the internet — some people are left behind if they don’t learn how it works. The same will be true for AI.
That’s why it’s so important for our communities, especially older adults, to stay informed and engaged. We need to understand how AI works, how it affects jobs, and how to use it safely and wisely. If we don’t, others will make the decisions for us.
Will AI take over the world? Probably not. But it is changing the world, right now, in ways both big and small. The real question isn’t whether AI will control us — it’s whether we’ll learn to guide it.
Let’s make sure the next generation doesn’t just use technology, but understands it. Let’s teach them that intelligence without wisdom can be dangerous, and that no machine can replace the creativity, compassion, and faith that come from the human spirit.
As the Bible reminds us, “Wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her” (Proverbs 3:15, NIV). That’s something no computer can ever compute.
About the Author:
Al Smith is the founder of AI Film Lab, helping students explore storytelling and creativity with AI. This article extends his lecture at the Alabama TRIO Conference. Watch the full presentation here: https://youtu.be/tgOLIO6bBo8?si=V-_6ADHMvh_ONADc