My Dinner Table Conversation
The other week, I found myself sitting around the dinner table with a handful of friends. It was a diverse crowd: a nutritionist, an events manager, a couple of sales professionals, two navy divers, and even a hypnotherapist. The mix of life experiences, career paths, and worldviews always makes for lively discussion. And inevitably, the question that seems to hover in the back of everyone’s mind these days surfaced:
“Are you scared of AI?”
The responses were as eclectic as the group itself. Some shrugged, unconcerned, as if AI was just another piece of technology that would come and go. Others shifted in their chairs, their laughter fading into uneasy smiles. For a few, the question seemed to flip a switch, what began as a casual dinner turned into a tense reflection on their personal fears.
When I asked why, I heard familiar refrains echoing the headlines:
“What if we lose our jobs?”
“What if it becomes so powerful we lose our humanity?”
“What if it all goes wrong?”
And my personal favourite came from my best friend, the same one who has been preparing for the zombie apocalypse since our teenage years:
“What if I actually have to roll out my zombie apocalypse playbook??”
Fair points, all of them. Some jobs will be disrupted. AI will change humanity in ways we cannot fully predict. And yes, there is always the possibility of unintended consequences. As for the zombie apocalypse? I will leave a very slim window of possibility open, just in case.
But despite the range of anxieties, my own response was surprisingly calm.
Why I’m Not Afraid
I do not believe AI will take my job. It might reshape it, redirect my career path, or transform the way I work. But outright replacement? I do not buy it. I have always found a way to adapt, and I trust I will continue to do so, no matter how the corporate landscape evolves over the next 30 plus years.
For me, the bigger truth is this: AI is not just about jobs. It is about how we think, how we operate, and how we interact with technology in ways we never imagined before.
Here is what I believe AI will do:
It will change the way we think. AI pushes us to question how we solve problems, how we approach creativity, and how we use data.
It will change the way we operate. From automating routine tasks to enabling new forms of productivity, AI will shift the gears of everyday work.
It will change the way we interact with technology. No longer just tools, our systems will become collaborators, shaping our choices and amplifying our ideas.
So, whether this is the beginning of a new chapter for humanity or simply the next phase of technological evolution, I welcome it.
Why This Excites Me
This perspective is not just abstract for me. It is part of why I am so excited to be joining Anthony Ferrier (CEO) and Stefan Dulman (Chief Architect) as the first recruit at Choir Digital, Australia’s newest AI and digital strategy firm.
At Choir Digital, our mission is to help organisations rapidly design and deliver high-quality AI and digital solutions, while building robust strategies and enhancing capability across the business. Our focus is on execution.
And that is where I see the opportunity. Instead of fearing what AI might take away, I am focused on what it can enable. Instead of bracing for the worst, I am leaning into building something that will help Australian organisations thrive in an AI-powered future.
Because at the end of the day, whether it is job loss, zombie apocalypses, or fear of the unknown, the best antidote is not panic. It is preparation, curiosity, and a willingness to build. And that is exactly what we are doing at Choir Digital.
Phoebe Keates