From the desk of Dr. James Norrie

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a future vision — it’s embedded in our daily lives. Thanks to the free and widespread availability of tools like ChatGPT, Generative AI has become mainstream almost overnight. That accessibility is deliberate: vendors want these tools to become universal.

The question is not whether AI will shape our future — it already is. The real challenge is how we, as individuals and organizations, can use AI safely, securely, and responsibly.

Calls for governments to regulate AI echo the early days of social media. Yet history shows us that meaningful regulation often lags behind innovation. Waiting for lawmakers or vendors to self-regulate is unrealistic. Both are motivated by profit and power, not protection.

That leaves the responsibility with us — everyday users, leaders, and educators. Fear is a natural response to disruptive technology, but blind adoption is just as dangerous. Responsible use requires understanding the risks and teaching ourselves, our employees, and our students to approach AI critically.

There is a crucial difference between experimenting with AI in personal contexts versus relying on it for professional or corporate use. In the workplace, the stakes are higher: privacy, security, and legal concerns cannot be ignored.

That’s why discernment is essential. Human intelligence must always prevail over artificial intelligence. We need bytes and brains to work together, not compete.