Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom (And Whimsy)

Posted on April 8, 2026 under Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom with one comment

A1 or AI?

“Well, I’ve been afraid of changing,

‘Cause I built my life around you,

But time makes you bolder,

Even children get older,

And I’m getting older, too.

Landslide – Fleetwood Mac

Time makes you bolder?

Nope. Time makes you older!

In my exhaustive study of the human race, I have determined that just about all old people are resistant to change. Actually, we hate change. After 70 or more years kicking around this earth, we like the predictable. The “comfortable pew”. We prefer “the good old days” when life was simple and gas was cheap. We don’t like speed bumps and U-turns. We want a road trip without surprises.

I had a nice visit with one of my daughters recently. Our children have busy lives. It’s hard for them to find the time to just sit down and chat. It reminds me a lot of the Harry Chapin song, Cats in the Cradle. We talked about her work, music and politics. I have been disengaged from news in recent years in an attempt to remain sane. The judges are still tabulating the results!

I was fascinated as she explained to me how Artificial Intelligence was changing the work that she is doing.

While I have stopped consuming news, I haven’t completely buried my head in the sand. I still read news headlines and occasionally I’ll flip on the television when a major event is happening.

While I can quickly churn out 1000 words of gobblygook without much thought (to wit- the piece you’re now reading), I would be hard pressed to explain AI to someone from another planet.

“Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a broad branch of computer science that is focused on a machine’s capability to produce rational behaviors from external inputs.” Dr.Google

I don’t pretend for a nanosecond to understand AI. The first time that I saw the acronym, I thought it was a plug for A1 sauce, that popular tangy, savoury condiment used on burgers and steak.

It is obvious that AI is and will be, a dominant force in our lives. In the field of medicine, I am told that AI can review millions of X-rays in seconds and come up with a more accurate assessment than a radiologist. Lesson planning in schools may become obsolete for teachers when AI can do the job instantaneously. Will teachers become obsolete? AI is making big waves in sports. Baseball umpires are becoming an endangered species with the news ABS Challenge system where machines determine questionable balls and strikes calls by the umpire.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking for a new General Manager. One of the prerequisites outlined by the president of MLSE is that the successful applicant be a “data centric” leader. I don’t know about you but listening to a sports program these days makes me want to gag with the constant stream of statistics and data.

And, of course, AI has been a boon to musicians. Simply put the words “my truck broke down; my dog died and my wife left me” and Chat GPT will pump out a gut wrenching, authentic hurtin’ country and western song.

Yes, it’s a brave new world and AI is here to stay.

But where does that leave “Actual Intelligence”?

You know the old adage: “Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater”. The expression is fundamentally a reminder to be discerning during times of change.

Must we eliminate all those common sense things that still have value?

Don’t spend more than you earn.

Exercise regularly.

Eat and drink in moderation.

Don’t cross a street unless you look both ways.

Pay off debt and try and save a little for retirement.

Don’t put your hand on a hot stove element.

Treat people with dignity and respect even when they don’t look like you or speak your language.

Laugh at least once a day.

I would like to believe that I am not “afraid of changing”.

You were right, Bobby, boy. “The times they are a changin’”.

And I’m not crazy about “getting older” until I ponder the alternative!