I recently attended the 50th anniversary of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention in Cleveland, Ohio, expecting to engage in vibrant discussions about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on journalism. While the hallways were indeed buzzing, the conversations took a turn I had not anticipated. Over the first two days, the predominant sentiment among my fellow journalists was one of caution, encapsulated in the phrase, “we must protect ourselves.” There was a clear consensus: AI is perceived as a danger, a looming threat, and an adversary poised to replace human jobs.
My perspective began to shift during a breakfast at Betts, the restaurant in my hotel, where a conversation with my waiter, Kevin Knestrick, 49, opened my eyes to a different side of the AI narrative. When I inquired whether he used AI in his work, I anticipated a defensive response, given the fearful rhetoric surrounding AI at the convention. Instead, Kevin revealed a pragmatic application of AI. “Not really,” he began cautiously, and then added, “Actually, I used it for the first time when we changed the menu. I uploaded a picture to ChatGPT and asked it to help draft a message for a colleague. It saved me so much time.”
As Kevin relaxed, he introduced me to two younger colleagues, Jamie Sargent, 31, and Dawud Hamzah, 37. “You should talk to these guys,” he suggested, recognizing their more frequent use of AI tools. It soon became evident that for Hamzah and Sargent, ChatGPT and similar AI applications are integral to their daily lives. Unlike the fearful outlook of many at the convention, they do not perceive AI as a threat.
For Dawud Hamzah, who works as a bartender and youth motivational speaker, ChatGPT has effectively supplanted Google in many aspects of his life. “I use it to create well-structured PowerPoint presentations for my speaking engagements,” he explained. Beyond work, he relies on AI for personal management, using it to plan trips and even health-related advice. “I just used it for my lady’s birthday,” he said. “I wanted something relaxing with vegan-friendly foods, and it provided an entire itinerary—phenomenal!” Additionally, when facing health issues, he turned to AI for tailored workout routines. “I asked for specific home workouts to relieve pressure from a degenerating disc in my back. And it worked!”
Jamie Sargent, a former special education teacher, has utilized ChatGPT since its launch in late 2022. He found it invaluable for generating lesson plans, saving him considerable time that he could then devote to customizing content for his students. “I saved about an hour on each lesson plan,” he shared. When asked if he felt using AI was akin to cheating, he dismissed the notion: “No, because I would have done the same thing, just faster.” Sargent emphasizes the importance of utilizing AI to enhance efficiency, saying, “If we can make it faster, that’s better for everyone.”
Both Hamzah and Sargent maintain a balanced view of AI's implications for the workforce. They acknowledge that while some jobs may be lost, adaptability is crucial for survival in an evolving job market. “If you don’t learn, develop, and adjust, you’ll fail,” Hamzah asserted. Sargent echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the focus should be on the unique human experiences that AI cannot replicate. “I’m part of the experience, whereas AI is not. Find a way to differentiate yourself from AI and make yourself valuable.”
Kevin Knestrick’s journey into using AI reflects a more cautious approach. His initial interaction with AI was driven by necessity: “I was in a time crunch to get this menu to the printer,” he recounted. This experience transformed him from a skeptic into a curious convert. “Now I’m more open to seeking help from AI for any problem I face,” he said. His reflections on missed opportunities in investment, particularly regarding Bitcoin, have made him wonder how AI could empower individuals like him to leverage financial tools effectively.
Kevin’s manager, Curtis Helser, 56, also embraces AI, having been introduced to ChatGPT by his wife. He uses AI to refine important work emails, appreciating it as a tool that can either aid or hinder, much like a car. “You have to be in the building,” he joked, emphasizing the importance of human interaction in his role. “Kissing babies, shaking hands, that kind of stuff.”
In the restaurant setting, AI did not manifest as a terrifying adversary; rather, it emerged as a useful, albeit imperfect, assistant. The younger employees had fully embraced AI, while the older generation navigated its integration at a more measured pace. They viewed the current panic surrounding AI as reminiscent of past technological fears, recalling the anxieties that accompanied the rise of personal computers.
The contrast with the apprehensive attitudes observed at the journalism convention was striking. It appears that those of us whose careers revolve around creating and controlling information tend to see AI as an existential threat. In contrast, those working in service-oriented roles view it as a practical tool to enhance productivity. Ultimately, I realized that the true AI revolution is not taking place in the headlines or at panicked conventions. Instead, it is unfolding quietly in everyday conversations, solving practical problems one interaction at a time.
