I’ve lived through one digital revolution already.
In the early to mid-90s, I was leading a project at our school in Sweden that brought the Internet into our classrooms for the very first time. We installed new infrastructure, invested in laptops for our students, and gave the teachers something even more valuable—time and space to learn. It wasn’t just a tech upgrade. It was a shift in how we approached teaching, learning, and even thinking.
Back then, it felt like we were building something exciting and a little uncertain. We knew it would change things—we just didn’t know how much.
And now, here we are again.
Artificial intelligence is everywhere—not just in research labs or tech headlines, but in our daily tools, our writing apps, our search engines, and our inboxes. Once again, the way we live, think, and create is shifting. Only this time, it’s happening faster. Much faster.
How the Web Changed My Life—Slowly, and Deeply
Back then, discovering the Internet felt like stepping into a new world—one that unfolded slowly, with room to explore.
For me, it wasn’t just about using email or browsing static web pages. Early on, I found my way into IRC chat rooms, where conversations flowed in real time and strangers became familiar. One group I joined was called simply Love—a surprisingly warm and supportive space. I became one of several moderators, and over time, made real friendships there. Not just online connections, but people who truly mattered to me.
I even met my then-boyfriend through that group. We ended up moving in together, and one summer, we hosted a party at our home with friends from the chatroom—people from all over Sweden who had never met in person before.
These weren’t just digital tools. They were bridges.
Years later, in the early 2000s, I started using webcam chat rooms—something that felt both thrilling and strangely natural by that point. And it was through one of those conversations that I met the man who would become my husband. In 2003, I moved to the United States to be with him.
Those early days of the Internet didn’t just expand what I could do—they expanded who I could become.
How ChatGPT Changed My Channel in One Summer
With the rise of AI—especially tools like ChatGPT—the pace of change has felt… different.
Not gradual. Not exploratory. Instant.
I began using ChatGPT sometime in late 2022 or early 2023. At first, it was just a curiosity—something to test, play with, explore. But it didn’t stay on the sidelines for long.
By the end of that summer, I had completely shifted my YouTube channel to focus on AI.
That kind of pivot would’ve taken years in the early Internet era—just to learn the tools, find the audience, and figure out what to say. But with AI, the tools were ready. The ideas came quickly. And the transformation happened in what felt like a heartbeat.
Unlike the early Web, where you actively searched and built things from scratch, AI often comes to you. It’s built into platforms, baked into features, silently offering help before you even ask. It’s less about deciding to use it—and more about realizing it’s already shaping your world.
I’ve Seen This Pattern Before—But Now There’s Less Time
In many ways, the rise of AI feels like déjà vu.
There’s the buzz, the pushback, the creativity, the fear of being left behind. We’ve been here before.
But this time, there’s less time to pause.
I consider myself lucky. I’ve been a tech enthusiast for decades. My experience with the Web gives me a kind of grounding. I’m not overwhelmed, and I’m certainly not afraid. But I am watchful.
Because this time, the speed of change leaves less room for understanding. I see more misinformation, more assumptions, and more passive acceptance of tools people don’t fully understand.
And what concerns me most is the absence of critical thinking—especially in our schools. During the early Internet era, we had time to teach and question, to build digital literacy slowly. Now, we’re skipping the questions and jumping into the results.
We’re not just handing students a new tool. We’re handing them a new way of thinking—without showing them how to think about it.
We Can’t Slow Down the Train—But We Can Change the Track
This time around, I know I have to speak up.
In the past, gentle guidance was enough—showing people how to use a new browser, or how to write their first blog. But with AI, there’s no slow entry. The learning curve is steep, and the stakes feel higher.
That’s why I believe we need more voices—calm, curious, and grounded in experience—to step forward. Not to hype, not to scold, but to offer perspective. To help people reflect, not just react.
We can’t let fear or misunderstanding dictate how AI is used.
We can’t leave it to the loudest or the fastest to shape the future.
We can’t stay silent because it feels too big or too late.
No, we can’t slow down the train. But we can change how we ride it.
We can ask better questions, share what we learn, and remind each other that technology should serve people—not replace their agency, their imagination, or their voice.
This Revolution Is Personal
Looking back, I can trace the arc of my life through these digital revolutions.
I moved to the U.S. in 2003 after meeting my future husband in a webcam chat room. He was a videographer—a passion I didn’t share. At the time, I was focused on education, writing, and more traditional creative work.
He passed away unexpectedly in September 2011, and for a long time, I stayed away from the world he loved.
But when I turned 60 in 2018, I needed a new challenge—something bold, something meaningful. I returned to video. Not because it had been mine, but because it had been his. I started a YouTube channel. And though I often wished I’d paid more attention to what he used to do, I found my own way.
In 2023, I shifted again—this time into AI. A new frontier. A new way to create, question, and connect. And it’s been my focus ever since.
We often talk about revolutions in terms of tools and timelines. But for me, they’ve always been about transformation.
Each shift has brought both joy and loss.
Each tool has opened something unexpected.
And through it all, I’ve learned that we’re not just watching history—we’re living it.
And if we choose to, we can help shape what comes next.
