Educators, techies and leaders all need to reboot for AI

On 30 November 2022, technology started talking back. It was the day when OpenAI unleashed ChatGPT into the wild. It wasn't just another tech launch—it was a cultural mic drop. The buzz spread faster than a meme, and before long, millions were typing their first 'prompts,' marvelling at this new digital oracle. It was as if the internet collectively leaned in and said, 'Wait, it can do that?'

- PARTHO DASGUPTA

Unlike the slow burn of past innovations, artificial intelligence (AI) didn't tiptoe onto the scene; it cannonballed into the deep end of human curiosity. Within five days, ChatGPT had a million users. By the end of December 2022, it had racked up 266 million visits.

More than two years later, where has AI taken us? From reshaping industries to redefining how we live, work and even think, AI has become the invisible architect of our daily lives. But what does this mean for the future? What opportunities and challenges lie ahead as we embrace this revolution?

AI isn't just a tech milestone; it is a paradigm shift. Much like the transition from bullock carts to automobiles or typewriters to personal computers, AI marks a leap in how humans interact with machines.

The implications were immediate and profound. AI democratized skills like coding and creative writing, while sparking debates about its impact on jobs and creativity itself. It challenged Google's long-standing dominance of web-search and information retrieval, and ignited an AI arms race among tech giants like Microsoft and Google. In short, it didn't just disrupt the tech industry, it has redefined it.

But let's not forget: every revolution comes with its share of chaos. Critics worry about job displacement and ethical concerns around bias and misinformation. In many ways, AI is both a tool of empowerment and a lightning rod for controversy.