What If We Just Stopped AI Right Here

Sometimes, I wonder: what if we just stopped AI right now?

Not shut it down. Not erase it. Just… pause. Take a breather. No more racing toward artificial general intelligence. Just hold still with what we already have. 

Because the truth is, what we have, what I am using right now is already incredible.

I’m a creative writer, and when I use tools like this one, it feels like I’m talking to the voice of the Star Trek computer. Remember that? It’s all of the collective wisdom of humanity at my fingertips. That’s just amazing.

So I wonder; what could humanity fully accomplish if we simply used what we already have to make our lives and the world better, all together?

We Could Teach the World

This AI can already explain physics to a 10-year-old, translate poetry, tutor math, or guide someone through learning a new language. That alone could transform the lives of billions. What if every child on Earth had a patient, kind, always-available teacher? A personal mentor to guide him or her throughout her growing years? Man, ignorance could become a thing of the past.

We Could Create a New Renaissance

Writers, artists, musicians, anyone with a creative soul could collaborate with AI to tell powerful stories, make beautiful things, and bring everyone´s voices to the surface. Can you imagine the possibilities? What is incredible to me is that we don’t need more advanced AIs to do this. We just need to invite more people to use it in meaningful, caring ways.

We Could Heal Ourselves

This AI is already helping people manage anxiety, loneliness, and grief. Imagine if mental health support like guidance, listening, encouragement were accessible to everyone, everywhere. Because sometimes we all need a voice and a kind ear. I am not promoting a replacement to real connections. Not at all. The human touch will always be an important part of who we are. But this technology, well and carefully implemented, could change the emotional health of an entire generation.

We Could Fix Systems That Are Broken

AI today can help governments become more transparent. It can analyze laws, budgets, environmental data and help people understand them. It can shine a light on corruption, inefficiency, or inequality. We don’t need to build smarter machines. These things are smart enough already. What we are not doing is asking the right questions, the better questions that will help us make better choices.

We Could Actually Help the Planet

Climate change, food systems, energy use - these are problems we already understand. Today’s AI can help us optimize solutions, predict outcomes, and avoid disaster. Not at once, but with time and effort and clear planning the world could do it, humanity could do it. But we must have the will to want to do this, not just keep on building and pushing the boundaries only with the purpose of making more money, of becoming the wealthiest person or company, of destroying competing nations. A healthy planet would decide to work together to assure a better world for everyone, not just 10% of the population. That in itself is an obscene outcome. And that is exactly what is happening right now.  

So maybe the truth is simple:

We don’t need better AI to fix the world. We need better humans using the AI we already have; thoughtfully, creatively, and together.

"We don’t need machines to be more human. 

We need to become better humans ourselves."

By someone who cares about this small rock

lost in the vast universe.

Thanks for reading. Abrazos.

Diego Rojas