AI's pervasive presence is unavoidable, leaving one to question why they even bothered taking a break. It's not just the abundance of chatbots and generative models available, but also the rapid growth and constant evolution of this technology that consumes everyday consumers. The impact of artificial intelligence is as catchy as Outkast's "Hey Ya, " perpetuating the belief that shaking a Polaroid picture helps develop it. AI, much like Polaroid photos, can transform from vague and blank to sharp, clear, and specific without any assistance. The rhythm of AI follows me everywhere. As a technology writer, everyone wants to engage in conversations about AI, both at work and in my personal life. Most recently, while gathering with old high school friends, one friend casually inquired about AI. Although she understood how AI is utilized in banking, she had concerns about its personal implications. We delved into a 30-minute discussion about when AI might take over, when we might become too attached, and when we might actually develop feelings for a robot. During the conversation, it became apparent that the road ahead for AI is difficult to assess. The development of AI models, particularly chatbots, has broken the traditional 18-month cycle, advancing at a rapid pace that often seems to exceed Moore's Law. My discomfort grew as we continued the conversation.

Typically, I am the one who rationalizes complex tech concepts, but AI's amorphous nature and endless possibilities made it challenging to find a clear beginning, middle, or end. What bothered me most was that I couldn't assure my friend that certain jobs would remain untouched by AI or that we would never develop emotional connections with AI. As I contemplated the latter issue, I considered the idea that humans are essentially complex biological machines, and the only difference between us and an AI-driven robot is the level of sophistication. While AI can currently mimic human emotions, who's to say it won't come close to the real thing in the next decade? In an effort to provide some reassurance, I mentioned the CEO of iRobot, who previously stated that C-3PO-like robots were still a long way off. However, with the advent of generative AI, I wondered if his perspective had changed. I brought up Future. AI and its Future 02 robot, which, albeit clumsy in its movements, displayed expressive gestures and a semblance of personality through OpenAI's large language models. The growing resemblance between AI chatbots and human interactions concerned both of us. What was once only possible with another person now seemed attainable through conversing with AI. We agreed that our worries were not necessarily for ourselves but for the future of our children. My friend recalled the time she jokingly told her child they could love anyone except a robot, realizing that what was once a joke may not be far from reality. Leaving the conversation feeling unsettled, my friend later recounted to another friend how we discussed AI, mentioning that I made her feel better about it. However, we both knew the truth—it was far from reassuring. In conclusion, the pervasiveness of AI continues to grow, raising questions about its impact on various aspects of our lives and our ability to fully comprehend its implications.