What are the pros and cons of using AI?

  Before talking about the pros and cons of artificial intelligence, it’s important to clear up a confusion I still see quite often: the difference between a programmed robot and true AI. I’ve been playing video games since I was a kid, and that experience helped me understand the distinction. A bot, for example, follows a pre-defined script. If it goes off script, it stops functioning properly. Artificial intelligence, on the other hand, adapts, understands context, and responds based on a vast knowledge base - like ChatGPT. I can ask it anything, on any topic, and I get a contextualized answer. That’s artificial intelligence, not just a simple program with fixed instructions.
  Another myth I’d like to debunk is the idea that AI is here to replace humans and steal jobs. We’ve heard that argument before - when industrial machines first appeared. And yes, some tasks stopped being done by humans, but many new ones emerged: operators, maintenance technicians, programmers, and so on. The same will happen with AI. While it’s true that some roles will disappear or change, it’s equally true that many others will be created - with the added benefit of easing the workload that previously fell entirely on people. AI is here, above all, to make our lives easier.
  I speak with some authority on the subject because I’ve been using ChatGPT since 2022, even before it went viral. What fascinated me most right from the start was how it revolutionized the way we search for information. Before, I used Google: I’d type in a question and get a list of links - many of which didn’t even directly answer what I wanted to know. With AI, I get a clear and direct answer, no fluff. It saves me time and frustration.
  Another use of AI that I find extremely helpful is in
supporting my studies. Although I finished school two years ago, I know that if I’d had access to this technology back then, it would have made a huge difference. AI doesn’t just give the right answer - it explains the reasoning, the steps to follow, and the why behind it all. It’s like having a personal tutor available at any time.
  In my case, as someone who writes books and articles for a blog, AI has also become a valuable ally. I was always an average student in Portuguese, and sometimes I struggle to find the right words or to write clearly. AI helps me make my texts more polished, better structured, and more effective. I bring the ideas, and it helps me communicate them better.
  That said, it’s not all advantages. One of the biggest issues isn’t AI itself, but how people - especially younger people - use it incorrectly. Some just copy work generated by AI without learning anything from it. And that’s worrying in the long run. Using AI like that is like using a calculator without knowing basic maths. It might help in the moment, but it weakens our knowledge. We need to teach young people to use these tools critically and responsibly.

Another downside relates to the creation of artistic content. I think it’s dangerous that companies are encouraging the use of AI to create videos, music, or works of art. It’s already becoming hard to tell what’s real and what’s been generated by a machine. If we keep going down that road, what’s left of us as human beings? If we stop being creative, what makes us unique?
  Artificial intelligence is, without a doubt, a powerful tool - perhaps one of the most powerful we’ve ever had. But like any tool, its impact depends on how it’s used. It can make things easier, teach, and inspire. Or it can replace, confuse, and impoverish. The choice is ours.
  And you - how have you been using artificial intelligence, and to what extent do you believe it’s an ally or a threat to our future?