The room was silent. Audience members held their breath as the Chief Innovation Officer of the city of Riverside, George Khalil, discussed the current state of artificial intelligence (AI) and forecasted the road ahead. A quick scan of the room revealed immense curiosity in the eyes of some and subtle fear in the eyes of others, reflecting society's current divide on the issue. However, the message was undeniably clear: these are the conversations we must be having to better understand what lies ahead.
It seems as though the one headline news broadcasts cannot get enough of is AI, and justifiably so. The exponential rise of this new technology has already transformed our lives on both an individual and global scale. In fact, according to Stanford University's Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, AI is poised to become "the most transformative technology of the 21st century."
With an emerging technology spreading into nearly every corner of society, countless questions arise: What will the future look like? How will we be affected? Most importantly, where are we even going?
These are the very questions Khalil set out to explore during his presentation "The Fifth Spark: AI and the Next Chapter of Human Evolution" at the Riverside Main Library on Thursday, June 25. Turning the community room into a metaphorical time machine, he guided the audience from the dawn of human civilization through the progression of technology, from language and writing to steam and electricity, then computing and the internet. When the room finally returned to the present day, one new technology stood awaiting: AI.
Khalil illustrated the next Space Race unfolding before the world. Only this time, humanity is not racing toward the moon, but toward artificial general intelligence (AGI).
Throughout the presentation, he examined both the promises and challenges of AI. Even so, his outlook remained optimistic.
"I see AI as a way to help people do more within our finite time," Khalil said. "For example, if a writer takes years to articulate a book, AI can help bring that same vision to life in months instead. That creates more value and allows us to live richer lives."
Additionally, Khalil predicts AI will have its greatest impact in the biological sciences.
"I think biological sciences will see the biggest impact—particularly in addressing diseases and advancing treatments for conditions like cancer and infectious diseases," Khalil said. "We are already seeing potential in areas like gene editing and medical research that could significantly improve human life."
One of the biggest concerns surrounding AI is its effect on the labor market. With layoffs in certain industries making headlines, it is natural for people to wonder whether they will be next, especially amid so much uncertainty about the skills future jobs will require.
Although many view AI as a threat to their jobs, it is also important to consider the broader pattern of history. With every major technological breakthrough, some jobs disappear while many new ones emerge. Ultimately, it boils down to whether individuals are willing to embrace change and adapt to it. As the old saying goes, the only constant in life is change.
After the presentation concluded, audience members left with different takeaways. One recurring theme among several attendees was the enormous amounts of energy AI infrastructure requires.
"The future is scary," Riverside resident Pamela Dogan said. "It made me think more about data centers—especially the amount of energy it will take to build them in cities, and whether we will prioritize them over people or the environment. That's concerning to me."
Conversations like these, however, can help ease many of the concerns surrounding AI by encouraging discussion and understanding.
"I would definitely recommend this event to others," Dogan said. "I think it's something everyone should be aware of—this is the future we are moving toward, and people should be prepared to the best of their ability."
At a time when uncertainty often seems to be the only answer, it is up to us to decide whether the room will remain silent, or whether we will openly engage in the conversations that shape our future.
By Erik Chen
