Raising Resilience: Why I Talk to My Kids About AI With Hope, Not Fear
As a parent and a professional immersed in artificial intelligence, I often find myself standing at the intersection of innovation and uncertainty. Like many, I think about the future of work: what it means for my children, my colleagues, and future generations. But unlike the growing narrative of fear, my perspective is rooted in optimism.
I understand the concern. AI is accelerating change across industries, and it is easy to fall into the trap of imagining a world where humans are slowly edged out, task by task, bit by bit. Especially when listening to Main Street media and news pundits. I have heard it from professionals, friends, and family alike. The quiet erosion of traditional roles feels unsettling. But I do not believe the future is being written without us. Quite the opposite; I think it is being written through us.
The Role of Perspective
In my role as a project manager and AI business strategist, I help organizations navigate complex transformations. I have seen firsthand how AI does not just automate; it augments. When deployed responsibly, it frees humans from repetitive work and empowers them to focus on what we do best: solve problems creatively, lead with empathy, and adapt to new environments.
As a PhD candidate studying the integration of AI in leadership and decision-making, I am also examining how executives perceive these changes. What I have learned is that successful leaders do not resist the future. They shape it through governance, ethical alignment, and human-centric adoption strategies. They learn to move while everyone else stands frozen in fear.
What I Tell My Kids
When my kids ask about what they should be when they grow up, I do not give them a job title. I give them principles.
Be curious. Stay adaptable. Think critically. Learn how to work with machines, not against them. Be the person who understands the tools and the people they are meant to serve. This mindset is backed by psychology. According to work on the growth mindset, individuals who view intelligence and ability as flexible are more resilient and motivated to tackle challenges. That is the mindset I want to instill in my children and in the teams I work with.
I also reflect on self-determination theory, which emphasizes three human needs: competence, autonomy, and relatedness. If AI is going to change the work we do, then we should focus on building systems and careers that continue to meet those needs. Not only will people remain engaged and fulfilled, but they will also drive better outcomes for themselves and their organizations.
Redefining What Matters
AI is not the end of human value. It is a mirror, reflecting what we choose to amplify. If we prioritize efficiency above all else, we lose the nuance of what makes us human. But if we design our future around empathy, creativity, and responsible innovation, we gain something far more valuable. We gain a workforce that is not only future-ready but future-defining. In my opinion, we are not being replaced; we are being redefined. And that is something worth teaching, not just to our kids but to ourselves