Innovation is scary. It always has been, and it always will be.
But there are those that stare fear in the eyes and see opportunity, or those that wallow in the uncertainty. The key to the coming days ahead is asking yourself - where do I sit?
This tale is old as time:
Plato and Socrates believed that written language was a big mistake and everything should be oral - now almost all learning is done via books and other written mediums. Books have impacted millions throughout history, whereas voices only impact those that can hear you.
Everyone thought the Walkman was going to destroy society because everyone would walk around listening to their own music. Now nearly everyone holds access to millions of songs and podcasts in their pocket - and we're still speaking to each other (believe it or not).
Critics once feared calculators would trigger a societal collapse by eroding basic math skills; instead, they acted as a springboard, catapulting STEM fields to heights we couldn't have reached manually.
In the 80s people feared computers because they thought they'd replace their jobs - now every job has a computer.
And when bicycles were created, people feared they'd get "Bicycle face" (Look it up, real story - update: no one has gotten bicycle face except for my mother-in-law ... sorry, another joke - I'm not married yet)
History shows that these 'tech-pessimist' narratives are often exaggerated by the media to capitalize on fear and drive engagement. Don't believe me? There are tons of these in the Pessimists Archive (Thanks Marc Andreessen for highlighting this).
I hear this fear throughout my industry everyday. My opinion: will some jobs be replaced? Absolutely. But with that loss, it will create thousands of better opportunities for new innovation and democratization. It breeds more competition - with competition, comes access for underserved populations. Within pharma, this has direct implications on the opportunity for additional lives to be impacted, populations to be served, and affordability in the treatments we can provide.
Phones were a novelty at first, only for the rich - now they're in nearly everyone's pockets.
The auto industry taught us that competition is a win for the consumer; it systematically lowers prices while sharpening operational excellence.
Artificial intelligence will have the same impact for humanity.
Software is no longer the hurdle — reputation and brand is. While over 60% of the world currently views AI with skepticism, that perspective will shift the moment the technology moves from a 'concept' to a 'time-saver'. It will handle our housework and meal prep, finally allowing us to prioritize our well-being and loved ones. This productivity allows us to shift our focus from needs to fulfillments, constraints to freedom, dreams to reality, and create an overall increase in the quality of life for those that embrace it.
But that's the kicker - "to those that embrace it". Embracing this change requires optimism, an understanding that this technology will leave us in a better place overall and propel humanity forward.
So we'll go back to the question in the beginning. Ask yourself:
"Where do I sit in this world?"
We already know where Prognosis sits.