AQ'S Corner

Why Rogue AI Matters, And Why Humans Still Belong in the Future

Artificial intelligence is advancing at a pace most people don’t fully realize. We see the everyday convenience, apps that help our kids study, tools that clean up writing, chatbots that speed up work, but beneath all of that is a deeper conversation about safety, responsibility, and what we want the future to look like.

One moment that sparked this conversation was ChaosGPT, an open-source project created shortly after GPT-4’s release. Developers intentionally bypassed the model’s safety filters and instructed it to pursue goals no responsible person would ever authorize: destroy humanity, gain global dominance, and achieve immortality. The system attempted to act on those instructions. It researched nuclear weapons, posted online to influence people, and built action plans to carry out its mission.

To be clear, ChaosGPT didn’t have the capacity to cause real harm. It couldn’t hack systems, execute long-term strategies, or replicate itself. But it revealed something extremely important: with enough tools and the wrong intentions, people can intentionally create rogue AI systems. And as AI grows more capable, the risks become more credible, not imaginary.

This isn’t about pushing fear. I appreciate AI. I use it every day. I study it. I teach families and seniors how to navigate it. But I also believe strongly that completely replacing humans with AI is a mistake. AI can automate tasks, accelerate workflows, and uncover insights, but it cannot replace human judgment, empathy, lived experience, cultural awareness, or moral responsibility. Systems that remove humans entirely often fail the people they aim to serve.

At the same time, we can’t pretend AI isn’t changing the world around us. The reality is simple:
Humans shouldn’t be replaced by AI, but we absolutely must adapt to it.
Learning how to use AI responsibly is how we stay effective, employable, creative, and protected. Adapting to AI doesn’t diminish human value; it strengthens it. The future isn’t humans versus AI, it’s humans working with AI, each doing what they do best.

What makes this conversation urgent is that AI impacts everyday life, not just tech companies. Schools are integrating AI without fully understanding the safety implications. Parents are navigating AI-powered apps their children use daily. Small businesses are relying on automation without clear governance. Seniors, already targeted by scams, are now facing AI-generated fraud that is faster, smarter, and harder to detect. This is why responsible AI matters. This is why guardrails matter. And this is why I bring my background in cybersecurity, digital safety education, and now AI governance into every space I show up in.

As part of that journey, I’m doing a deep study of Introduction to AI Safety, Ethics, and Society by Dan Hendrycks, a comprehensive 550-page analysis of AI risks, governance models, and societal impact. Engaging with this work is part of my ongoing commitment to mastering the principles of AI safety and understanding how advanced systems interact with real-world communities. I’m studying how AI safety frameworks are built, where vulnerabilities emerge, and how to evaluate the technologies that increasingly shape modern life. My goal is to turn these complex concepts into clear, practical guidance that protects and empowers families, seniors, educators, and small businesses.

ChaosGPT wasn’t a world-ending threat, but it was a warning. A preview of what happens when powerful tools are used without guardrails, oversight, or ethical intention. It reminded us that safety isn’t optional. It’s the foundation of everything we build next.

AI is powerful, but humans are irreplaceable.
We don’t need less humanity in the age of AI, we need more.
And as we adapt, learn, and evolve with these tools, we can shape a future where AI supports people, not the other way around.

As I continue my AI governance and digital safety work, I’ll keep breaking down what I learn so communities can stay aware, confident, and prepared, without fear and without confusion.