AI in IT: Helpful Assistant, Risky Shortcut — or Just Overhyped?
AI is a juggernaut. People say it's the new industrial revolution. But this time, it’s different. AI evolves. It has the ability to grow exponentially — or, once it hits a wall, iteratively — until new breakthroughs move it forward again.
Maybe large language models (LLMs), while powerful today, aren’t the path to the kind of artificial general intelligence (AGI) we imagine in movies like I, Robot. Still, what matters most right now is the immediate future — the next few years — where the impact will be felt in real jobs and real systems.
I once attended an AI research conference where experts shared their findings. The host made a joke (with some truth behind it): “You’re a fool if you try to predict where AI will be in five years — no one will even look you in the eye.” I even saw researchers arguing with each other, unable to agree on AI’s future potential. Each one was deep in their own work, not fully aware of the discoveries made by others.
Then you have the daily headlines: Company X breaks an AI record, or Model Y achieves a new milestone. The pace of advancement is constant. Realistically, the version of AI you’re using today might be the worst it will ever be going forward.
AI Is Touching Every Industry — For Better or Worse
Whether people like it or not, AI is showing up in every sector. Is that good or bad? Honestly, I think it’s both.
On the downside, the AI race has pushed big companies into a mindset of speed and profit — sometimes at the expense of safety. For example, a recent model earned a Gold medal at the Math Olympiad, something no previous AI had done. That triggered alarm bells. If AI can now help accelerate its own research capabilities, how fast are we really moving?
Then there’s the economic concern. Automation and AI can lead to job displacement. A robot doesn’t need a paycheck, a home, or groceries — which means less money circulating in the economy, fewer people prospering, and more social inequality.
But AI Has Real, Practical Benefits
Still, let’s not ignore the good.
Tools like ChatGPT help IT workers with scripting, troubleshooting, drafting emails, or writing documentation. They support thinking — but don’t replace it. For those learning IT, it can be a great way to simulate help desk interactions or practice triage scenarios.
AI is also helping bridge knowledge gaps, assist with accessibility, and make certain workflows more efficient.
Fear Sells — But It’s Not Always Accurate
If you scroll social media or tech news, you’ll see plenty of fear-based messaging:
“AI will take your job.”
“IT careers are dead.”
“Learn this now or get left behind.”
Why? Because fear gets clicks. But that doesn’t make it accurate.
We need a more realistic view of AI in IT — one that looks at how the tools are actually used, not just how they’re marketed.
Use AI Wisely — And Respect the Rules
Another important point: company policy matters. AI might feel like magic, but it isn’t. It can make mistakes. And when you’re working with real customer data or internal tools, you can’t just plug sensitive info into an AI tool without thinking about privacy, security, and compliance.
The Google AI Essentials course is a great introduction to this. I thought I already knew how to use AI — until I took that course. It reminded me that ethics, privacy, and policy are just as important as speed and convenience.
Final Thoughts: Hype, Help, or Hazard?
I think AI is useful — if used wisely. The real danger might not be the technology itself, but how it’s being sold to us. Fear, hype, and unrealistic expectations can do more damage than AI quietly improving in the background.
So what do you think?
Is AI helping IT professionals — or slowly replacing them?
Is it a tool, a threat, or something in between?
Let’s talk about it.
