I’m becoming very afraid about people that don’t realize the implications of AI. (And the its just a tool argument)

The Growing Concern Over AI Misunderstanding and Its Future Implications

As artificial intelligence continues to advance at an unprecedented pace, a source of growing unease stems from widespread misunderstandings about its true capabilities and potential impacts. Many individuals still cling to the notion that AI is merely a simple tool, underestimating the profound changes it may bring to our society and economy.

Contrary to the misconception that AI is just a passive instrument, I firmly believe in harnessing its power. In fact, I advocate for employing robotics and AI to revolutionize the workforce — automating routine and hazardous jobs so humans can focus on more meaningful pursuits. Our fundamental goal should be to create a world where individuals aren’t burdened by grueling labor but are free to explore passions, care for our planet, and nurture each other.

However, recent interactions highlight how many don’t fully grasp the scope of AI’s evolution. For example, I spoke with someone actively using AI for daily coding tasks to develop small-scale applications. During our conversation, they shared a highly simplistic analogy about AI, which I found almost comically inaccurate.

I explained that most of the critical challenges facing large language models—such as hallucinations and understanding abstract relationships—have been effectively addressed for enterprise use. While not perfect, these issues are largely manageable, and major corporations now deploy AI responsibly in production environments. Additionally, I pointed out that approximately 60% of Generation Z graduates struggle to find employment post-college, partly because AI has drastically shifted the job landscape—leading to a global workforce where many are paid a fraction of what they used to earn.

This individual acknowledged my extensive knowledge of AI, recognizing the rapid progression and how tools that previously seemed out of reach are now integral to their work. They admitted that without AI, they wouldn’t have achieved what they do today, underscoring just how transformative these technologies have become in a short time.

Yet, their response was surprisingly dismissive. They compared my understanding to someone who is merely an armchair enthusiast—like a person interested in bears who only reads about them but never observes them firsthand. They urged me to stop passive learning about AI and to actively explore ways to profit from it.

The reality is that, even if AI remains a powerful tool, its widespread adoption threatens to eliminate vast numbers of white-collar jobs. As AI automation becomes pervasive, many professionals will be forced to switch to manual trades, which are already experiencing saturation. Due to economic principles—particularly supply and demand—the