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Why We Need to Stop Treating AI Like Thanos

Remember that chilling moment in "Avengers: Endgame" when Thanos declared, "I am inevitable"? It wasn't just his plan to wipe out half of all life that was terrifying—it was the certainty with which he said it. That unshakeable belief that his actions were unavoidable, no matter what Earth's mightiest heroes did to stop him.

Sound familiar? It should be because we're falling into the same trap with artificial intelligence.

The AI Inevitability Trap

There's a sneaky little mind trick called the "fallacy of technological inevitability" that's got us all twisted up when it comes to AI. We've become so caught up in debating whether AI will exist and how it'll change the world that we've started to believe we have no control over how it's used.

It's like we're all collectively throwing up our hands and saying, "Well, I guess the robots are taking over. Might as well get used to it!"

But here's the thing: Just because a technology exists doesn't mean we have to use it in ways that make us uncomfortable or go against our values.

Breaking Free from the AI Hype Cycle

The powers that be—tech giants, futurists, and even some well-meaning experts—have been pushing this narrative of AI inevitability. They tell us it's only a matter of time before AI is:

• - Checking our biometrics 👁️ 

• - Taking over human jobs 🧑‍🦰 

• - Running every aspect of our businesses 🤖 

And sure, some of that might happen. But that doesn't mean we have to passively accept every AI application that comes our way.

Your Personal AI Ethics Compass

While the big conversations about AI's impact on society are important, it's equally crucial to develop your own ethical compass when it comes to this technology.

Here's how to start:

Question everything: Just because an AI solution exists doesn't mean you have to use it. Ask yourself if it aligns with your values.

Educate yourself: Learn about AI's potential benefits and risks in different contexts (key word context) and support ethical AI initiatives. I am allocating a portion of my resources to ongoing AI education, not just for myself but also for my team and community. That means looking for companies and organizations prioritizing responsible AI development, particularly those led by underrepresented (most negatively impacted) groups in tech.

Set boundaries: Decide what you're comfortable with and stick to it, even if it means going against the trend.

I have made two tough decisions about the use of AI in my business:

🛑 No AI-generated BIPOC images for marketing.  We're already seeing AI reinforce harmful stereotypes (like associating youth in house arrest solely with Black kids) and companies using AI to fake diversity. I'm drawing the line as a small agency: no AI-recreated BIPOC images to sell or market products. Real representation matters.

🛑 Introducing 'AI Dark Hours': As a founder with ADHD, AI has revolutionized my approach to tackling the blank page problem. However, I cannot overlook the environmental consequences. Climate change will disproportionately affect marginalized communities, and as a Caribbean daughter, the threat of rising sea levels is deeply personal. To mitigate my carbon footprint, I am dedicating specific AI-free work hours.

Remember, we're not facing an all-powerful, universe-altering villain like Thanos. AI is a tool created by humans, and we have the power to shape how it's used.

 🌈 Links to Weird Up Your Day 🌈

We just added some new Work Stories to the site.

Centering Caregiver Voices

We recently partnered with a major Caregiving company to revolutionize support for the unseen heroes of healthcare. You can read about the research process and the project's highlights here. Our goal is to center the wisdom of caregivers, especially those pushed to the margins.