AI is short for Artificial Intelligence: machines that work together to do what a human mind would normally do. It is a spreading phenomenon taking over the world as we know it, from simple tasks such as search algorithms to smart technology to those robots in Japan learning emotion. There are many questions and concerns surrounding this new emerging technology and its effects on the job market and our future. Below are the accounts of three aspiring health professionals: a psychologist and two physicians, and a fourth who is a dance major, and their takes on how they believe AI will affect their future jobs and how they hope to see it used in their futures.

My name is Shayla Babcock, and I will be graduating high school in the spring with an AA focused on math and science needed for Pre-Med. Technology is something that is here to stay, and avoiding AI is a war not worth fighting. I believe that AI could be utilized greatly in the initial processing of patients within offices or even the ER and even basic things such as taking temperature and scanning for any symptoms that may be useful in determining what is wrong with a patient. While I am hopeful AI will advance to aid humans in things such as looking at X-rays or even assisting in surgery, the human touch is irreplaceable, and some decision-making needed in high-stress situations may be beyond AI’s capabilities for now.

My name is Lillian Johnson, and I am a freshman at the University of North Florida studying psychology. With all these new things being introduced through social media platforms, it is a real and definitive concern that people will attain a daily dose of social interaction that’s needed through an AI friend. An example of this is a new Snapchat update where each user has their own personal AI buddy where they can ask advice from things as small as what color they should wear to a life-altering decision that could impact their future greatly. Having that daily in-person interaction is crucial to our mental health as well as physical health, and over the past few years, the importance of that has been really brought to light. With that being said, I do think that these AI friends are not all bad. AI can be a great resource in times of need, such as when we need an ear to listen, especially with our generation being one that silently struggles. They can also help those who are struggling socially to develop skills with an intelligence that can be programmed with patience and understanding. I am excited for the future of AI and the possibilities that it possesses to bring our future generations to the next level.

My name is Larissa Kushner, and I am a dual-enrolled student at Atlantic High School and Daytona State College. After I graduate, I will study ballet or modern dance at the university level. As a dancer, I can see AI helping choreographers in the future by generating new ideas for dance pieces or helping to select song choices. This could potentially be extremely beneficial for those in the dance world because it will allow new ideas to be explored because of the suggestions made by AI. However, this could possibly lead to a lack of creativity in the human race as a whole. We are already seeing people turn to AI to help them make decisions; if this continues, people could have an even harder time making decisions for themselves. This could be dangerous for dancers because if people stop using their own creative freedom and rely solely on the responses of AI, the art form could cease to exist. As society becomes more digitized, it loses some things, such as art, that were once valuable. AI is a helpful tool when used in moderation, but heavily relying on technology could lead to a future lacking human innovation.

My name is Andrew Haynes and I am a dual-enrolled student at Atlantic High School and Daytona State College. My plan for after I graduate is to study emergency medicine. I believe that AI can be a valuable tool to help in certain circumstances in emergency medicine, such as needing a quick diagnosis and treatment in order to save a life. However, I believe that if AI is overused, it will lead to more human errors by those who choose to ask AI instead of using what they learned in school. I also believe that AI should not be used alone, and everything that comes from AI should be checked by a medical professional.

While the future of AI remains unknown, its development and implementation into society is inevitable. It is up to us, the people who came before us, and the generations after us to make sure we are creating a society that not only advances technology and opportunities but also safeguards the health and wellness of those in it.