World Renown Advocate Donna J. Jodhan asks – Are we ready to accept artificial intelligence?

Hey everyone and welcome to August.
Ah yes! August! A cup of sunshine and a glass of lemonade!
Today, pleased to share our president’s very insightful editorial with you.
Jump aboard and read on.
Send your feedback to Donna Jodhan at donnajodhan@sterlingcreations.ca
I’m Scott Savoy wishing you a great weekend.

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Are we ready to accept artificial intelligence?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant concept found only in science fiction novels or tech think tanks. It is woven into the fabric of daily life — from the personalized ads on our screens to the virtual assistants in our homes. Yet, the question remains: are we, as a global society, truly ready to accept AI and all the transformations it brings?

The Benefits: Efficiency, Insight, and Innovation
AI’s most celebrated virtue lies in its ability to process data and automate tasks with a speed and accuracy no human can match. From improving healthcare diagnoses to optimizing supply chains, AI has the potential to unlock unprecedented levels of productivity. In education, adaptive learning tools tailor experiences to individual students. In science, AI accelerates drug discovery, predicts natural disasters, and deciphers genetic codes.

On a personal level, AI enhances convenience: smart homes adjust lighting and temperature automatically; recommendation engines serve us relevant entertainment; language models help us write, translate, and communicate across borders.

For businesses and governments, AI means better decision-making. It can sift through massive datasets, spot patterns invisible to the human eye, and offer insights that can guide policies, marketing strategies, and public health responses.

The Drawbacks: Bias, Control, and Displacement
But AI’s rise is not without peril. These systems reflect the biases in their training data, which means they can perpetuate inequality, especially in areas like criminal justice, hiring, and lending. The lack of transparency — often called the “black box” problem — raises concerns about accountability and trust.
Perhaps the most immediate and pressing fear is economic displacement. As AI automates not only manual labor but also cognitive work, millions of jobs across sectors such as transportation, customer service, finance, and journalism are at risk. While new jobs may emerge, there is no guarantee they will replace those lost, nor that workers will be able to transition easily.

There’s also the issue of control. As AI systems grow more powerful and independent, the potential for misuse increases — whether through autonomous weapons, deepfakes, or surveillance tools. Who gets to decide how AI is developed and deployed? What happens when the technology outpaces the law?

The Future: Integration or Disruption?
The future of AI depends heavily on the choices we make today. If approached responsibly, AI could be an extraordinary partner in solving some of humanity’s most complex problems — climate change, disease, poverty. Regulation, transparency, and public engagement are essential in shaping AI’s development toward inclusive and ethical outcomes.
However, if AI is left in the hands of a few powerful corporations or governments without oversight, it risks deepening existing inequalities and eroding democratic norms. Technological literacy and public debate must become part of the AI equation, not just technical excellence.

I would like to leave you with this for your consideration.
Scene Description:
A futuristic doorway stands between two distinct worlds:

On the left side, a familiar human world — people working, chatting, using phones and computers, some looking cautiously toward the doorway.

On the right side, a sleek, glowing landscape of AI-driven life — robots assisting humans, floating data streams, holographic assistants, and cities run by intelligent systems. Everything is efficient, clean, but a little uncanny.
At the doorway:

A human figure stands hesitantly, one foot in the human world, one reaching toward the AI world.

Their face shows a mix of curiosity and concern.

A humanoid AI stands on the other side, extending a hand — not threatening, but inviting.

Hovering above the doorway: a large, semi-transparent question mark shaped from neural network lines and circuit patterns.
Details to include:

Subtle reflections of ethical dilemmas in the background: A judge’s gavel, a privacy lock, a glowing brain vs a silicon chip, etc.

A digital clock reading “2025” blinking above the scene, symbolizing the present moment.

Image = A digital illustration is split diagonally into warm orange and cool blue tones, where a silhouetted man in casual clothes stands on the orange office side and shakes hands across a glowing doorway with a sleek white-and-grey humanoid robot on the blue tech side; above them the year 2025 and a large circuitry-patterned question mark suggest an uncertain future, while faint icons of gavels, scales, locks, brains, and human or robot profiles float in their respective halves to represent legal, security, and ethical considerations.

To learn more about me as an award winning sight loss coach and advocate visit www.donnajodhan.com

 

About Donna Jodhan

Donna Jodhan is an award winning blind author, advocate, sight loss coach, blogger, podcast commentator, and accessibility specialist.
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