AI Isn’t The Enemy—Fear Is

I remember when calculators started showing up in classrooms. Parent feared kids would stop learning how to do math by hand. And in a way, some did. But would any of us want to go back to solving complex equations without one?

Technology has a way of unsettling us at first. It threatens what’s familiar and comfortable. But more often than not, it also opens the door to something greater.

Today, we’re facing a similar wave with artificial intelligence (AI). And like the calculator—or the computer, or the internet—it’s not going away.

For many, the fear is rooted in scarcity: fear of losing jobs, relevance, or control. AI might write better copy, offer decent legal advice, or compose original music. So, what happens to the marketer, the lawyer, or the artist?

We’ve seen this story before.

• Trains gave way to airplanes in large part.
• Horse-drawn buggies made room for cars.
• Human assembly lines were supplemented, and sometimes replaced, by machines.

But people didn’t vanish—they evolved. New jobs, industries, and opportunities emerged. The same will happen with AI. In fact, it’s already happening.

That doesn’t mean we sit back and let the change wave hit us. It means we learn how to ride the wave.

One of the most compelling arguments for embracing AI came from David De Cremer in his book Leadership by Algorithm. He shares a fascinating case where AI was used to detect cancer in lymph node cells:

• AI alone: 7.5% error rate (this will only get better over time as AI evolves)
• Human alone: 3.5% error rate (may not improve too much)
• Human with AI: just 0.5% (it’s likely this will continue to improve)

That’s not just a statistic—it’s about lives being saved! It’s the principle of unity in action: people and machines working together to co-create, each enhancing the other’s strengths.

This underscores a larger truth about influence: when you partner rather than resist, you gain power. When you adapt rather than retreat, you lead.

So, what can you do?

Start Small and Build

Play with AI tools. Test them on tasks you do daily. Think of it like learning to use email or Excel back in the ’90s—it might feel foreign at first, but with a little consistency or a long time, it becomes second nature.

Stay Curious

Ask questions. What can AI help you do better? Faster? With more creativity or insight? Curiosity keeps you open—and openness creates influence.

I use AI to edit all of my work—like this article. All of the thoughts are mine, but ChatGPT helps me refine my writing like a real time editor.

Use AI Ethically

Remember, true persuasion is not manipulation. The goal isn’t to deceive but to create outcomes that are good for both sides. Use AI to help, not to trick. Be transparent, just as we advise in ethical influence: be truthful, use principles that are natural to the situation, and create mutually beneficial outcomes.

AI is not the enemy. Fear (scarcity) is.

We can choose to see it as a threat—or a teammate. And if we choose wisely, we’ll not only adapt—we’ll lead.

Edited by ChatGPT

Brian Ahearn

Brian Ahearn is the Chief Influence Officer at Influence PEOPLE and a faculty member at the Cialdini Institute.

An author, TEDx speaker, international trainer, coach, and consultant, Brian helps clients apply influence in everyday situations to boost results.

As one of only a dozen Cialdini Method Certified Trainers in the world, Brian was personally trained and endorsed by Robert Cialdini, Ph.D., the most cited living social psychologist on the science of ethical influence.

Brian’s first book, Influence PEOPLE, was named one of the 100 Best Influence Books of All Time by Book Authority. His follow-up, Persuasive Selling for Relationship Driven Insurance Agents, was an Amazon new release bestseller. His latest book, The Influencer: Secrets to Success and Happiness, is a business parable designed to teach you how to use influence at home and the office.

Brian’s LinkedIn courses on persuasive selling and coaching have been viewed by more than 800,000 people around the world. His TEDx Talk on pre-suasion has more than a million views!