“First of all, it will be kind of a landslide. Advanced AI’s arrival is going to be a very overwhelming reality. Different from although somewhat the same as previous technological shifts, such as electricity, steam engines, industrialisation, and the internet and social media. In just three decades, the internet and social media quickly changed the definition of work, communication and relationships. You could suddenly connect to the knowledge of the world and access a global audience. Because of connectivity people came to rethink everything.
“Artificial intelligence will do something similar. Already, in very many ways it is disrupting our understanding of what things are. This will cause major shifts. Early players – those thinking deeply about the implications – are better positioned to predict anything, but I honestly think it will take about five years before most people really realise what is going on. There will be a lot of resistance, because people often reject what they don’t understand.
“There will be both individual and societal issues that require a reset. New policies will be defined. New expectations will be set about human interaction and what it means to have a third intelligence involved: there will be you, the other people or systems you were already familiar with and a third type of intelligence. That third factor is something we still don’t fully understand.
The grass may suffer as the elephants fight. … I expect an emotional rollercoaster. People will abuse the technology before they understand it … As humans, we are not wired to understand the impact of deep human-to-digital relationships. There is a real risk that these technologies further separate us from one another. … Awareness campaigns are very important to minimise damage.
“I believe the current hype is largely an early-adopter bubble. It may feel like the world has already changed, but most of society has not yet fully entered this reality. It will take time for the wider population to realise and adjust as AI tools and systems keep spreading and changing.
“Unfortunately, it will take more people falling victim to more problems before serious corrective action happens. Historically, societies often adjust only after problems emerge. Governments are then forced to introduce policies to guard against bad actors. Not to be pessimistic, but that’s how society has often worked. As we say in Africa, when two elephants fight, the grass suffers. There will be pushback, pain and correction before real stability emerges.
What cognitive, emotional, social and ethical capacities must we cultivate to ensure effective reliance?
“My main thought here is education, information and much broader awareness are necessary for effective resilience. Deep educational awareness must be developed at every level so people understand where we are and what this technology actually does and means. Governments and nations are racing to be first and best in AI; China, the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, everyone, and things are moving ahead quickly without fully considering guardrails for this new tech.
“Cognitive growth is not something you can switch on at a societal level. It takes time. Emotional and social maturity also take time. Unless something radical happens – like a pandemic-level disruption – societies rarely adjust intentionally and quickly. So again, unfortunately, the grass may suffer while the elephants fight.
“I expect an emotional rollercoaster. People will abuse the technology before they understand its limits – not necessarily because they want to, but because it is new and shiny. Everyone wants a lot of it until they realise too much of it is not healthy. This connects with what I’m currently writing about online, what I call the ‘Illusions of AI.’ I have written that the Illusion of Learning describes the fact that some people use AI to get information or produce work while not actually improving their cognitive abilities and depth. The Illusion of Connection describes the fact that some people are treating AIs like a therapists, friends or companions because there is no judgment, but they may not realise they are living in an echo chamber that slowly becomes their reality.
“Unfortunately, society often has to experience the extreme before retracing its steps. That is why awareness campaigns are very important to minimise damage, even if we cannot eliminate it completely.
What practices and resources will enable resilience in individuals and societies?
“I strongly believe in the effectiveness of major campaigns similar to those we have seen to combat AIDS, HIV, cancer and other global public health problems. There should be a deliberate global-awareness effort focused on AI. When people are well-informed, they can independently make better decisions and regulate their own behaviour more responsibly.
“Education should start from primary school. AI understanding should be part of curriculum thinking – not just technical training, but societal understanding.
“Policies also matter. Governments and institutions must engage seriously. And tech companies have a responsibility. They are very intentional about marketing their tools and showing what they can do. The same intentionality should be their mission: educating the public about healthy use and potential risks. Some organisations, Anthropic comes to mind, seem to focus more strongly than others on safety, but not all players do. All are competing for market share.
Coping will require that we practice more intentionality about being human. What makes us human is empathy, connection, imperfection – not efficiency. Mistakes help us learn and stay alive. If we only pursue efficiency, we may gain what appears to be perfection but lose our humanity in the process.
What new vulnerabilities might arise and what coping strategies should be nurtured?
“My biggest concern is emotional vulnerability. People may begin to see AI as something reliable enough to replace human relationships. Maybe it will become a new category of connection, who knows? Especially when AI becomes embodied and more humanoid. As humans, we are not wired to understand the impact of deep human-to-digital relationships. There is a real risk that these technologies further separate us from one another.
“Coping will require that we practice more intentionality about being human. What makes us human is empathy, connection, imperfection – not efficiency. Mistakes help us learn and stay alive. If we only pursue efficiency, we may gain what appears to be perfection but lose our humanity in the process.
“We must maintain balance and intentionally protect our human essence, our relationships and our quality of life. Even in medicine, discomfort is acceptable as long as the quality of life is preserved. But we still need to define what quality of life truly means in this new era.
“AI is questioning what we consider normal and what we consider reality.
“Overall, people must be taught clearly about what the technology is, what is good about it, what is ugly about it, what efforts were made to build it, how to use it to their benefit and what dangers exist. The same energy now used to promote AI adoption should be used to educate the public about the necessity to adapt to work well with an alien co-intelligence, with AI. Over time, people may then eventually be able to engage with the technology responsibly.”
This essay was written in January 2026 in reply to the question: “AI systems are likely to begin to play a much more significant role in shaping our decisions, work and daily lives. How might individuals and societies embrace, resist and/or struggle with such transformative change? As opportunities and challenges arise due to the positive, neutral and negative ripple effects of digital change, what cognitive, emotional, social and ethical capacities must we cultivate to ensure effective resilience? What practices and resources will enable resilience? What actions must we take right now to reinforce human and systems resilience? What new vulnerabilities might arise and what new coping strategies are important to teach and nurture?” This and 200-plus additional essay responses are included in the 2026 report “Building a Human Resilience Infrastructure for the AI Age.”