John Hope Bryant
Rather than getting left behind on the old horse, I want you to learn to ride the new horse of artificial intelligence (AI) in the near future. Let me explain the revolutionary changes that are coming to our lives.
Sam Altman, who I consider to be the Steve Jobs of this generation, called me 18 months ago. He had met with President Biden about AI and now he called me to help him organize a meeting of key community leaders in Atlanta. Three days later, with the help of Clark Atlanta University President George French, we pulled it off. What I learned there was shocking, exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. One thing was clear: everything was about to change.
We stand on the brink of an AI-powered technological revolution on a scale not seen since America moved from horse-drawn carriages to automobiles in the early 20th century. As with that moment in history, AI is generating both excitement and fear — concerns about job loss, social upheaval, and ethical dilemmas.
To navigate this new territory, we need to look back at history, specifically the transition from horse-drawn carriages to automobiles between 1850 and 1910. This analogy offers valuable lessons for managing the challenges and seizing the opportunities of AI.
When the automobile first came along, the world faced great disruption. People feared the loss of jobs associated with horses, stables, and carriages. However, the automobile brought new industries, jobs, and growth. Developments in oil and gas, auto repair, and road infrastructure transformed society. Despite initial fears, the automobile sparked economic expansion.
Today, AI is raising similar fears of job loss. Automation and AI are restructuring industries and replacing workers. According to McKinsey, up to 375 million workers worldwide may need to change occupations by 2030. Changes that once took 50 years are now happening in five or six years. But as with automobiles, AI brings enormous opportunities for new jobs and industries.
We must approach AI the same way we do automobiles and recognize its potential to transform industries and create opportunities. AI is a tool and is not inherently good or bad. Its impact will be determined by how we use it. With a focus on enhancing human capabilities, we can turn uncertainty into opportunity.
Read more: The promise and perils of AI
New industries are already emerging around AI ethics, AI-driven healthcare, and environmental sustainability. Like automotive, these sectors will create jobs we haven’t even imagined yet. But to realize this potential, we need to equip people with new skills through education and training.
AI also has the power to democratize access to information, education, and economic opportunity. For underserved communities, AI can be transformative. Personalized education powered by AI can adapt to individual learning needs and break down barriers to quality education. In healthcare, AI can fill gaps by enabling remote diagnosis and treatment, improving access to healthcare for traditionally under-resourced communities.
But to realize AI’s full potential, we need to take a thoughtful and comprehensive approach. Education and training must go beyond traditional STEM fields to encompass digital literacy, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. We also need to ensure that AI development is ethical and prioritizes fairness, transparency and accountability.
As co-chair of the new AI Ethics Committee with Sam Altman and founder of Operation HOPE, I believe it is our responsibility to ensure that the benefits of AI are distributed fairly. We need to prevent power and wealth from concentrating in the hands of a few tech giants. Instead, we need to foster a diverse and inclusive AI ecosystem. To do this, we need to promote digital inclusion policies that give underserved communities the tools and resources to participate in the AI economy.
Just as horses were a family’s most valuable asset in the 19th century but became economically obsolete in the 20th century, we must embrace a new AI-driven economy. “99% of black people and 99% of white people have no idea what AI is,” said Van Jones, a member of the AI Ethics Committee. This is an opportunity to level the playing field and potentially bring about social justice through economic change.
Public-private partnerships are essential to realizing this vision. Governments, businesses, and civil society must work together to build regulatory frameworks that foster innovation while preventing risks. This means setting standards on data privacy, AI transparency, and accountability. And we must invest in research to understand the ethical implications of AI.
Just as the transition from horse-drawn carriages to automobiles was difficult but ultimately led to a richer, more connected world, AI brings risks but also great opportunities.
AI and robotics will virtually eliminate jobs requiring a high school education in basic retail customer service, such as fast food restaurants, convenience stores, gas stations, and grocery stores. People with higher education in subjects like accounting and law will also be susceptible to the power of automation and general AI. We can see many of these changes happening right before our eyes.
Similarly, AI and robotics will enable a village doctor in rural Kenya, Africa, to become a superstar lifesaver equipped with the same life-saving tools, knowledge, and real-time problem-solving and applications as a cutting-edge team at Emory University in Atlanta.
What’s more, entirely new fields of jobs and skills will emerge, from AI maintenance and oversight roles to AI-assisted content creators and fashion and experience designers, as human creativity flourishes alongside high-tech and hi-tech AI tools.
By learning from history and approaching AI with inclusivity and responsibility, we can create jobs, uplift disadvantaged communities, and build a future that benefits all of humanity.
While concerns about AI are real, we must not lose sight of its enormous potential. Like the automotive revolution, AI has the power to drive economic growth and societal progress. But it will require optimism, foresight, and a determination to ensure that its benefits are shared by all. Let’s seize this moment to shape a future where technology is a force for good, empowering individuals and creating new opportunity.
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