𝗜𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗜, 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲?

In office suites, in drawing applications, in editing applications, and even in music player applications—AI is there. AI is everywhere.

You might not even be aware that you’re utilizing AI, as smartphones have seamlessly integrated it in their systems without everyone’s knowledge. Even the most widely used search engine, Google, incorporates AI to generate results for your queries. Students use AI, especially ChatGPT, for assistance or even to write their papers entirely, while professors utilize it to check the authenticity of their students’ work. And now we have AI filters which have gained popularity among Gen Z and many millennials as a trendy source of entertainment. A current popular example of this is the viral Studio Ghibli-style images created by ChatGPT.

Now, though, the pressing question is: Will Artificial Intelligence take over human jobs? And how will we—myself included—progress toward a future where the potential for being replaced by AI exists?

𝗘𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀
The idea of my job being overtaken by Artificial Intelligence is no longer a myth but rather a reality that I, as some people insist, need to accept. As a graphic designer who employs various software in creating designs, I have witnessed the emergence of AI tools in these applications I once loved—and accepting them has become normalized. It would be hypocritical of me to say that I hate AI when, in fact, I also utilize it…well, in some cases, not as a primary tool. Even the funny videos and sounds that humor me are unfortunately generated using AI. My friends who oppose AI also enjoy using the AI filters on popular platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

AI, they claim, is unavoidable. It is, once again, a reality we must live with.

However, another thing that we’re being urged to embrace is the incorporation of AI into everything. “It’s merely an assistant,” some people claim. “Using it will make your jobs easier,” others imply. Yet these people fail to recognize that, just like in a typical office environment, an assistant can take over the role of the boss.

Advocates and enthusiasts of AI often overlook the truth that, in the near future, humans might be replaced by an inanimate object claimed to possess greater intelligence than us due to the way they promote, enjoy, and normalize it.

𝗔𝗯𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗱 𝗨𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗲𝗿
Numerous news outlets, including Forbes, have already identified jobs that can potentially be superseded by AI. The roles highlighted, such as proofreading, translating, basic analytical roles, and even customer service, were already undergoing replacement, and next is graphic design. As Forbes states, “Graphic design is not immune to the AI revolution.”

The presence of AI is so pervasive in our lives that it raises the question: will the future still need us? For instance, major shopping centers like SM, which could easily hire a graphic designer, are opting to use AI to create their promotional materials. Musicians are turning to AI to design their album artwork instead of collaborating with real artists. Even human artists who have honed their skills are submitting to AI to generate more “lifelike” illustrations that sometimes deceive the eyes of the younger audiences they once inspired. And to me, they are not that different from non-artists who produce AI-generated “art” merely to label themselves as artists.

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻
At this point, it’s likely that everyone is aware of the trajectory of AI, and its rise cannot simply be attributed to regular people who find it enjoyable, but rather to corporations that continue to endorse and popularize it. And the big news is: it is harming our planet. Everyday users may not be directly at fault, but they do play a role as accomplices.

It doesn’t require extensive research to understand how Artificial Intelligence and platforms like ChatGPT, which seem harmless, impact our environment. It’s contradictory to complain about climate change when your single ChatGPT query emits 4.5 grams of carbon, which is already equivalent to the carbon output of 21 Google searches.

It is not just about the amusing face filters or the silly conversations with Meta AI; I don’t want to be a party pooper, but it is already harming our planet and taking jobs away from real individuals.

Many are already referring to it as the “future”, but can we really envision a future alongside AI when our own is already seeming less hopeful because of its existence?