The other day, I was listening to a podcast about artificial intelligence. It’s a hot topic, to say the least, and we keep hearing about its benefits as well as its potential dangers. In this particular episode, Nicholas Thompson and Erik Brynjolfsson explored how rapid AI advancements are reshaping the workforce by shifting labor demands across industries. They concluded that while AI will displace certain roles, proactive adaptation and upskilling are essential to ensure technology augments—rather than replaces—human capability.
But in my humble, and very human opinion, if we simplify this conversation, the true power of AI will ultimately rest in the hands of those who control and regulate it. Another perspective to consider is that we may never fully predict the direction AI will take. The challenge with advanced technology lies in the speed of its development, while regulation always seems to lag behind. We’ve seen this pattern before—with the internet and other digital revolutions.
Later that week, I came across another podcast discussing a commencement speech by Denzel Washington. In his well-known 2011 address at the University of Pennsylvania, he encouraged graduates to “fall forward” instead of relying on a safety net. He emphasized that failure is inevitable when taking risks—and that if you never fail, you’re not truly trying.
That idea stayed with me. It made me wonder if there are things AI will never be able to do. Once you understand the power of failure, you learn and grow in ways no system can replicate. Failure may be the most human experience there is—whether in relationships, parenthood, careers, or sports. As Michael Jordan once said, he missed far more shots than he ever made.
There are countless experiences that AI will never truly grasp. Holding a baby for the first time. Loving another human being. Learning from a mentor. Carrying forward the lessons passed down from our parents. Every day, we grow through human interactions—with coworkers, family, and friends. And beyond that, there are the deeply human qualities of love, compassion, empathy, forgiveness, and kindness.
An algorithm can analyze data, but it will never understand the weight of heartbreak or the profound grief of losing someone you love. It cannot feel tears, nor comprehend the quiet courage it takes to heal, to gather the pieces, and to open your heart again. These valleys—deep and painful—are what define our humanity.
Our greatest defense against an uncertain future will always be our willingness to care for one another, to carry each other’s burdens, to stay close through pain, and to choose love through intentional, unconditional kindness.