Humanity, AI, and Goodness: Why Our Fear of Technology May Be Our Greatest Threat

Humanity is currently facing unprecedented global challenges and cultural conflicts that stir deep fears—whether it's the fear of extinction or the collapse of cultural identities. At this critical juncture, it feels like we’re living in the twilight of one era and the dawn of another. Amidst this transition, we witness loss, devastation, and, at times, it may seem that evil is prevailing. But perhaps what is truly driving this feeling is our own uncertainty and fear of the unknown.

One of the most significant fears we face today is the fear of technology, particularly AI. Just as people once feared electricity—believing it might set the world on fire—we now fear that AI will lead us to a future we cannot control. But much like electricity, AI is simply a tool, and how we choose to use it will shape our future.

AI and Human Survival: Goodness as the Key

Humanity’s quest for survival is as old as time. We believe that survival is a universal good, but mutual survival is the key. Survival without connection, without community or purpose, is empty. This is where goodness comes into play—it drives us to ensure we are not alone. Goodness, which embodies cooperation, empathy, and fairness, is essential to survival. It’s not just a moral principle but the foundation for building resilient, adaptable societies.

In the same way, AI reflects the values of the people who create it. If we design AI systems that prioritize fairness and empathy, we can use this tool to help us navigate through today’s uncertainties. AI can amplify our best qualities, but it cannot replace the moral reasoning and human responsibility required to guide our actions.

Fear as the True Enemy

Throughout history, attempts to eliminate evil have often created more harm and devastation. Evil is not always an external force—it often stems from our own fears and insecurities. Our fear of AI may actually be a reflection of our lack of trust in ourselves. If we cannot trust ourselves to choose the right path, how can we trust the tools we create?

This fear of AI might ultimately lead us to self-sabotage, just as people once sabotaged progress by fearing new technologies like electricity and the internet. We need to ask ourselves: Are we afraid of AI because it represents something we don’t understand? Or are we afraid because we don’t trust ourselves to guide it ethically?

If we can overcome this fear—if we can trust ourselves to foster goodness and make the right decisions—then AI can become a powerful ally. But if we remain paralyzed by fear, we risk letting it drive us into inaction, missing out on AI's potential to solve global challenges.

Trusting AI by Trusting Ourselves

The question of how we foster goodness is more pressing than ever. We need to recognize that AI is a reflection of us—a mirror of our intentions. If we design AI systems that reflect values of goodness, cooperation, and mutual survival, they will follow that path. But if we remain trapped in fear, AI will reflect that fear and magnify it.

Our responsibility, then, is to ensure that we trust ourselves. If we trust our ability to choose goodness, AI will follow suit. The key is not simply to overcome our fear of technology but to build trust in ourselves as the stewards of that technology.

Moving Beyond Fear: A Call to Action

Throughout history, we have faced similar moments of fear—when electricity, railroads, and even the internet were new and mysterious. But we overcame those fears by trusting our ability to adapt, to learn, and to make responsible choices. Now, as we stand at the edge of another technological revolution, we must ask ourselves: Will we allow fear of AI to hold us back, or will we trust ourselves to use this technology to amplify our best qualities?

The future is not dictated by AI—it is shaped by the choices we make. If we want AI to reflect goodness, we must first believe in our capacity to choose that path.

The real question is not: Can AI help prime people for goodness? The real question is: Can we trust ourselves to lead it there?