By now, most of us have heard about, read about, and even witnessed the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on our world. We’ve likely formed our own opinions on the matter. Is it beneficial, harmful, or perhaps a double-edged sword?

The bright side of AI is that it is revolutionizing healthcare by improving diagnostics, personalizing treatments, and even predicting diseases. AI helps the environment by optimizing energy use, predicting natural disasters, and even aiding in wildlife conservation. From smart home devices that manage your household chores to personalized shopping experiences online, AI makes our daily lives smoother and more convenient.  (And, yep, an AI model, ChatGPT, gave me that sentence when I asked it to describe the bright side of Artificial Intelligence).

In the world of digital scrapbooking, some designers are utilizing AI to enhance and streamline their creative process, resulting in stunning products. However, opinions in the creative community are divided: some view AI as a valuable tool, while others resist its use, believing it doesn’t represent true creation.

On the other hand, one of the biggest concerns about AI is that it could replace many jobs. There are also privacy issues and ethical dilemmas to consider. (The ChatGPT told me that too.)

Like with many things, there are both positive and negative aspects to AI. It depends on how something is utilized and the ultimate purpose it serves, whether it can be classified as “good” or “bad.”

Recently, though, with more and more people using AI, I’ve become a bit skeptical of some things I see online.

For example, this week, I saw numerous Facebook posts featuring breathtaking photos of the Northern Lights. I’m sure that many, or even most, of them were true photos taken by someone just like me who marveled at the majesty of this phenomenon.  But one image, in particular, stood out. It was a photo of the Northern Lights shining over Bass Lake, with a sign for the town of Oakhurst prominently in the picture. The little town of Oakhurst is about 15 minutes away from Bass Lake. So had the image been Photoshopped? Perhaps. Or maybe it was created with AI. After all, I couldn’t find the Facebook post with the said photo when I started to write this post, so I just created my own using Midjourney, an AI model for images.

Despite my growing skepticism toward what I see online now, this week I found myself irresistibly drawn to the remarkable side of AI. It happened while watching a Sunday Morning segment on Randy Travis, the country music legend. In recent years, he has faced a series of health challenges, including a heart condition, stroke, and aphasia. He had to learn to walk again and needs to rely on others to help him communicate effectively. For fans like me, the loss of his ability to sing was an additional heartbreak.

But with the help of AI Randy Travis, this incredible artist, can produce music again.

I hope you will take 8 minutes to watch this segment: Sunday Morning, Randy Travis Sings Again, Courtesy of AI. I promise you, it will be the most heartwarming 8 minutes of your day.

So, is AI good or bad? The answer isn’t black or white. It holds the potential for both negative and positive, as I saw this week. We, as viewers of this world, just need to be aware of what AI is capable of, be vigilant about checking sources when we have doubts about something we see, but also be open to how AI can help us all in so many ways.

And here’s another example:  I asked Chat GPT to rewrite the few sentences I wrote directly above this paragraph and make it flow easier, and this was the result:

So, is AI good or bad? The answer isn’t straightforward. AI has the potential for both positive and negative impacts, as I’ve seen firsthand this week. As we navigate this rapidly evolving landscape, it’s crucial to stay informed about AI’s capabilities, remain vigilant in verifying information when we’re uncertain, and stay open to the many ways AI can enhance our lives.

What are your thoughts about AI?  Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments below!