” Predicting the future of AI has never really interested me. Understanding how humans react to the future when it arrives is much more entertaining.”
J. Michael Dennis ll.l., ll.m.
AI Foresight Strategic Advisor
I am often asked:
“What is the future of AI?”
My answer is always the same: I have absolutely no idea. I do not own a crystal ball and predicting the future of AI has never really been my priority number one. Understanding how humans react to the future when it arrives is much more entertaining.
I always answered the question using the same story:
Many years ago, an old man and his wife were standing outside a railway station, on the train station platform, watching one of the first steam locomotives prepare to leave.
The old man is deeply suspicious.
The locomotive shudders.
PUFF……………. PUFF……………. PUFF…………….
Nothing much happens.
PUFF……………. PUFF……………. PUFF…………….
It moves forward perhaps three feet.
The old man looks at his wife. She looks at the locomotive.
The locomotive produces an impressive quantity of smoke, noise, steam and mechanical drama while achieving approximately the speed of an elderly duck.
The old man folds his arms triumphantly. He has seen enough.
He announces: “This thing will NEVER work!”
His wife says nothing.
The locomotive continues.
PUFF……….. PUFF……….. PUFF………..
A little faster now.
The old man watches carefully.
PUFF…… PUFF…… PUFF…… PUFF……
Faster.
The old man’s confidence begins to weaken.
PUFF… PUFF… PUFF… PUFF…
The locomotive passes the end of the platform. The old man takes a few steps forward.
PUFF-PUFF-PUFF-PUFF-PUFF-PUFF…
Now it is really moving.
His wife looks at him. He looks at his wife. They both look at the locomotive disappearing down the track.
There is a long silence.
The old man suddenly becomes alarmed. His entire theory of transportation has collapsed in approximately forty-five seconds.
He grabs his wife’s arm and shouts: “THIS THING WILL NEVER STOP!”
And there we are. In two sentences, we have summarized much of humanity’s relationship with technological innovation. First: “It will never work.” Then: “It will never stop.”
We did it with the steam locomotive. We did it with electricity. We did it with automobiles. We did it with computers. We did it with the Internet. And now we are doing it with artificial intelligence. A few years ago: “AI will never be able to do that.” Today: “MY GOD! AI IS GOING TO DO EVERYTHING!”
Same railway platform. Same old man. Different machine. That is why I do not spend much time predicting the future of AI. The more useful question is: What should organizations do while the locomotive is accelerating?
Because standing on the platform shouting either “It will never work!” or “It will never stop!” is not a strategy.
The train has left the station.
Our responsibility is to understand where it is going, what it can actually do, where the tracks lead—and who should be driving it.
J. Michael Dennis
A constitution for Organizational Judgement
The AI Clarity Doctrine
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J. Michael Dennis ll.l., ll.m.
AI Foresight Strategic Advisor
Based in Kingston Ontario, J. Michael Dennis is a former barrister and solicitor, a Crisis & Reputation Management Expert, a Public Affairs & Corporate Communications Specialist, a Warrior for Common Sense and Free Speech. Today, J. Michael Dennis advise executives, boards, and organizations navigating the strategic uncertainty created by artificial intelligence. J. Michael Dennis’s work focuses on separating real AI capability from hype, identifying long-term risks and opportunities, and helping leaders make clear, responsible decisions in an uncertain technological future.
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