I'm tired of hearing people panic about AI without understanding what they're even talking about.

Recently, I saw on social media, "ChatGPT is going to take everyone's jobs." When I asked what they thought ChatGPT actually does, they couldn't explain it. This is the same conversation we've had about every new technology -- calculators, computers, the internet. It gets old.

AI isn't some sci-fi robot plotting to replace us. It's software that's good at specific tasks -- sorting data, spotting patterns, drafting basic text. Yes, some jobs will change. That's been true since the printing press. But we're not headed for mass unemployment any more than we were when ATMs showed up and everyone predicted bank tellers would disappear.

What bothers me most is how confidently people declare doom without doing basic research. AI tools are already being used in Louisiana oil fields to predict equipment problems and in schools to help teachers customize lessons. These aren't job-killers -- they're tools that let people focus on work that actually requires human judgment.

I'm not saying AI is perfect or that we shouldn't think carefully about how we use it. But the reflexive "this will destroy everything" response isn't thinking -- it's just fear. And it makes us sound ignorant.

ADAM TOUCHET

St. Martinville