A major event is unfolding in AI, yet Matt Shumer only got that one thing right

Indeed, AI can execute time-consuming, complex tasks at record-breaking speeds. That’s the one point Matt Shumer got right in his . However, the tone, substance, and other conclusions presented in the piece are irresponsible and unproductive.

Shumer portrays AI as something that is happening to everyone under the exclusive guidance of shadowy Silicon Valley tech bros. He laments, “The future is being shaped by an exceptionally small group of people.” Yet, in the very next section, he states that he uses AI to create entire apps based on just a few sentences—directions that any individual could provide.

Ironically, Shumer somehow overlooked the evident contradiction between these two statements. Admittedly, a small number of labs are pushing the frontier of AI development. But the resulting product empowers everyone to accomplish feats that were unimaginable just a few years ago. AI is like a genius coder at the disposal of anyone with a smartphone, and they, just like Shumer, can now develop and use apps to solve problems, start businesses, and seek new information.

This could be the most significant democratizing event in history.

Never has it been so easy for individuals from diverse backgrounds to actively direct highly capable, sophisticated, and profoundly knowledgeable tools through plain English (or most other languages). There’s no degree requirement to use AI. There’s a very low financial barrier to accessing some of the most powerful AI models. And, for now, there are few government restrictions on the questions, tasks, and goals users can assign to AI. In short, AI is the technological equivalent of a ballot in democratic governance—it’s a tool of liberty, empowerment, agency, choice, self-expression, and self-direction.

This isn’t hyperbole. People worldwide are actively creating tools that are improving their lives and the well-being of their communities. Here are a few examples:

Thomas Wagner’s son, Max, was given a . Instead of accepting that prediction, Thomas made full use of Google’s Gemini tool to learn more about his son’s condition and advocate on his behalf. The research was life-saving. Thomas was able to communicate with experts and ensure his son received the necessary care.

An independent journalist, , turns to ChatGPT to format newsletters and edit social media videos. The ten hours of work she saves per week are dedicated to additional investigations that make her reporting richer and more informative.

Researchers at Dartmouth Health rely on AI to sift through thousands of patient messages and identify those in the most urgent need of care – .

created “Revoice,” which enables stroke survivors dealing with speech disorders to literally regain their voices.

The Oscar Mike Foundation, , is helping veterans and others affected by memory loss complete daily tasks with the company’s AI-equipped glasses.

I could go on, but the list would be extensive and never-ending because, as Shumer noted, everyone can build these tools.

Shumer briefly mentions the possibility that AI may allow more people to achieve their dreams. But for the average news consumer, this optimistic aspect is hard to hear amidst his suggestion that we’re in the midst of a COVID-like situation with many “threats,” to use Shumer’s own words. Drawing on other Chicken Little stories, Shumer suggests that people should assume their jobs will soon disappear, their savings are at risk, and that right now—this very instant—may be the last time any of us can exercise meaningful control over the future of our professional and personal lives. He seems to think that AI warrants a COVID-like level of protectionist, panicked behavior—behavior that in hindsight wasn’t even properly calibrated for a global pandemic.

Again, Shumer is correct that we’re experiencing a transformative technological era that requires adaptation and individual action. Americans are adaptable, creative, and driven; our eagerness to explore the frontier has made us the richest nation on the planet. But instead of highlighting the opportunity waiting to be seized, Shumer wraps his message in doomsday packaging that drains the innovative and optimistic energy that should characterize this moment. To his credit, he didn’t intend to scare people. To his discredit, he surely knows that starting an essay on a general-purpose technology with a reference to a pandemic that killed millions of people is bound to evoke fear.

The supposed good intentions of Shumer and others urging us to be preppers rather than creators can’t make up for the gloom they’ve cast over the AI ecosystem. Many people fear AI. As a result, legislators are under pressure to clamp down on its development and adoption. The much more productive approach at this moment is to celebrate AI as a tool available to all and to focus on the tangible, specific, and comprehensive ways we can help more Americans access and benefit from these tools.

A short list of things Shumer could have listed if his goal was truly to spur AI adoption:

1. Spreading . Montana led the nation in passing legislation that limits infringements on any resident’s ability to fully utilize AI and related technologies. Similar legislation is pending in states across the country. With these laws in place, Americans can more confidently invest in and use AI tools without fear of government interference.
2. Passing . This bipartisan measure would provide businesses with a significant tax credit for on-the-job AI training.
3. Celebrating school choice. Many public schools have taken . Families should be able to send their students to schools that recognize this moment and have the staff and resources needed to train young Americans to thrive.

Fear-based messages spread rapidly. They can drive people into defensive postures and cause them to miss out on great opportunities. AI isn’t a storm or an epidemic that we need to hunker down and wait out. It’s a massive opportunity for each of us to achieve our American Dream if we have the courage and determination to pursue it.