2026: The Year of AI (Artificial Intelligence)

As we get ready to start another year, we need to face the reality that the world is changing rapidly. The year 2026, in my opinion, will be when we face the reality of AI. It is something you may have ignored or thought you knew about, but get ready for AI to reshape our world as we know it.

We have published quite a bit about AI, but are you really paying attention to what changes in society worldwide will be taking place? This is something we have very little control over in terms of its implementation. The wealthiest people and countries are pushing for its implementation and will eventually control the outcome.

We have all been exposed to AI a little at a time, from automated text correction to a simple internet search. The difference is now the scale; not just information gathering, but taking on complex roles that humans have historically done. The reality is that jobs will be eliminated, are being eliminated, and no amount of AI technology will offset those jobs.

Simple tasks like customer service—AI now can answer your call, solve your problem, and do it without the stress of a customer service person who just got told off by the previous customer. My personal experience is that the level of support and efficiency has increased, and while I enjoy talking to a person, I don’t like waiting on hold.

Try calling Social Security; I spent hours waiting for someone to answer, then had to leave a message for a callback. The reality is that AI will answer my future calls, resolve my concerns, and only a small percentage of real human interaction will be needed.

This is one quick example. Anyone trying to call Manatee County Utilities has probably experienced a similar call that was on hold for a really long time. Unfortunately, the customer service person gets a customer who is already irritated from waiting so long. Also, try to hire someone willing to work in this stressful situation. Add AI, and the call gets answered quickly, with no attitude, and over 90 percent of the issues can be resolved without a human.

This is the reality of AI, and most of us have already experienced it and accepted its use. Here at The Bradenton Times, we have started using AI to fact-check what we publish and to obtain information quickly, without the awkward searches we had to do before by searching one item at a time. For legal work, it provides an amazing amount of information. AI is like having a whole lot of people able to do tasks while paying, at this time, only about $20 a month.

The disclaimer: AI is not perfect. It does provide incorrect information, and any results should be checked for accuracy. However, not all AI is the same. Some companies are creating their own AI system that are specific to that operation. OpenAI is also subject to bias and obtains information from a series of quick internet searches. If the internet sources are not accurate, then don’t expect your results to be accurate.

As we head into 2026, there is no doubt that AI will be a hot topic. Some want to regulate it; some want it never to be regulated. Fears of data center impacts deserve attention. Florida is not a great location for any of these data centers, as cooler locations would be a better choice. These data centers generate a massive amount of heat and require an enormous amount of water to stay operational—one large facility can consume up to 5 million gallons a day.

The biggest threat from AI is the loss of jobs—jobs that will never be replaced. Maybe you have not focused on Elon Musk’s recent comments that AI will enable such efficiency that people will no longer have to work. Musk envisions a future of "Universal High Income," where AI and robots produce so much wealth that poverty is eliminated, and everyone can live in luxury. While this sounds like a dream, I wonder if universal health plans are also included. This scares me the most when the wealthiest man sees this as the vision for society: no work because of computers, and you get a paycheck to live in luxury. People who don’t work usually create issues for society. Maybe that will change with some luxury pay for everyone.

Musk even claims this surge in AI productivity is the only way to solve the $38 trillion U.S. debt crisis, arguing that technology-led growth will eventually outpace our national debt. Yet, the new reality is affordability. People are having a harder time making ends meet. How do we make healthcare affordable? How do we make housing affordable? How do we give hope to a future generation that they can afford to have children, a house, and a stable job? How do we afford to take care of our elderly population?

To some, it is constantly removing regulations, lowering taxes, and blaming the rich. However, the simple fix is simply allowing people to make more money. Income has not kept up with inflation. So we look for blame elsewhere. The reality is that wages are too low and overall taxation is not high enough at the federal level. At the federal level, we spend more than we get from revenue. This deficit spending not only has to stop, but we need to reduce the over $38 trillion debt.

Take all the affordability issues, add the impacts of AI, and we have created a perfect storm. I can only hope our society will be better at the end of the day. In Manatee County, we are less affected by these economic impacts because we have so much wealth. It is a good thing, but with wealth comes responsibility and the need to dissect facts and make good decisions.

Are we ready for a world where our value isn’t tied to our jobs? We want to hear your thoughts on how AI is already changing your workplace or your daily interactions in Manatee County. Email us your thoughts to publisher@thebradentontimes.com.

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