Articles, Opinion pieces
From Price Hikes to Smart Choices: AI as Your Consumer Edge
Over the past 30 years, we’ve seen the rise of countless innovations and technologies. Whether in products or services, innovation has accelerated at a rapid pace. Like any major change — especially Artificial Intelligence (AI) — it has often been met with resistance. AI is frequently explained with technical jargon, leaving many everyday consumers wondering: How do I actually use this? The truth is, embracing AI becomes much easier once you see its value through simple, practical examples. In an economy facing unprecedented price increases, consumers are understandably worried about how to cope financially. Yet, there are smart ways to empower yourself by using AI wisely. How to Use AI as a Consumer 1.Don’t treat AI like a search engine. It’s not. Think of it as your assistant. 2.Be specific in your prompts. Instead of asking for “cars,” specify your price range, type (SUV), fuel preference (petrol or diesel), and transmission (manual or automatic). AI can then narrow your options to three strong matches, saving you time and effort before you test drive. Utilise AI to Your Benefit 1.Save money. AI can compare the price of a specific product across multiple retailers, sparing you the hassle of chasing deals in person. For example, you can enter your shopping list and ask AI to compare pricing across your preferred stores. It will highlight which retailer doesn’t stock certain items and even total the basket cost — giving you a clear picture of where to shop. 2.Save time. By cutting down tedious tasks, you free up hours for what matters — like spending time with family. 3.Learn and improve. Used correctly, AI can broaden your horizons. Writers, for instance, can draft an article and ask AI for feedback. It’s still your work, but AI helps refine your skills. You can also ask self improvement questions and receive step by step guidance tailored to your situation. Finally, remember — you don’t have to say “please” every time you “talk to” AI. 😊
28 May 2026
The Coming AI Tipping Point: Why Humans Will Push Back
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant concept. It’s here, shaping industries, influencing hiring decisions, and creeping into our personal lives. Yet, despite the excitement, there’s growing unease. There are many advantages which I will cover in other articles. The ethical questions are urgent: Who controls AI? Will it replace jobs? And if machines do everything, what’s left for us as humans? 1. Professional Reality: When AI Shapes Careers In 2024, I interviewed for a senior role. The CEO gave me two reasons for not appointing me: One, I had been out of the industry too long. 2, my views on ChatGPT were “wrong.” I had argued that outsourcing content creation to ChatGPT was unethical. It risks making people lazy and eroding our ability to think and write independently. Months later, this became a corporate concern for another business I was working with. Executives began restricting employees from using the free version of ChatGPT, citing compromised business intelligence. What was once dismissed as “wrong” became a mainstream debate. 2. Corporate Governance: Guardrails for AI In 2025, a Cisco event reframed my perspective. Their message was clear: AI adoption must be strategic. Two lessons stood out: One, free, non-secure platforms should be avoided. Businesses must protect private information by using secure, specialised tools. Two: AI tools should not be freely available to all employees without governance. The takeaway? AI is powerful, but without boundaries, it becomes a liability. 3. Parenting in the Digital Age Parents face an even deeper challenge. Social media and gaming have already shown us the dangers of unchecked technology. Too often, parents wake up too late to the responsibility of managing their children’s digital footprint. With AI now embedded in apps, games, and learning platforms, the question is whether these innovations truly serve the well-being of our children - or simply the profits of tech companies. 4. Who Really Benefits? The financial question is often overlooked: who profits from AI? Too often, innovations are driven by commercial gain rather than the well-being of humanity. If profit remains the primary motive, the human experience risks being sidelined. 5. The Human Experience and the Pushback Nothing can replace the human experience. I believe a tipping point is inevitable - not when machines surpass us, but when humans decide enough is enough. Just as society is now questioning the impact of social media, we will demand boundaries for AI. 6. Technology should serve humanity, not replace it. Governance must move beyond boardrooms into everyday life. The tipping point will come when progress without purpose is no longer tolerated. Final Word AI is not destiny. It is a tool. And when its use threatens creativity, independence, and human connection, society will resist. The real tipping point will be defined not by machines, but by people - choosing to protect what makes us human.