AI

AI will transform every aspect of our lives, and the urgency to prepare has never been greater.

We have a cognitive bias to be blind to the exponential growth of technology, including AI, and this means that most of us won’t see the effects of the AI revolution coming until it’s too late. We are on the brink of an unprecedented technological revolution, and this revolution will cause huge disruptive change. Education, employment, and the economy—every sector will undergo dramatic shifts, and we must be proactive to prevent the widespread societal and economic fallout.

To navigate these transformative changes and the impact they will have on us (uncertainty and anxiety), we must adopt a coordinated, multi-disciplinary human response rooted in rigorous science. We urgently need human-centric change-management plans to equip our population for the transformational decade ahead. Adaptability and resilience will be key to navigating these changes effectively. Without decisive action, we risk societal collapse, economic depression, and a mental health crisis that could reverberate for generations.

We need to mobilise significant financial and human resources now to prepare our citizens for the sweeping changes AI will bring, both positive and negative.

We must learn from recent history. Over the past decade, we have seen a 140% increase in youth mental health issues, largely attributed to the effects of social media. If we extend this trajectory to the broader population facing the challenges brought by AI-induced unemployment and the stress of uncertainty, the projected cost of mental health support could skyrocket.

Corporate studies have shown that effective change management increases the likelihood of achieving positive outcomes by 600%. By implementing change management plan, we can dramatically improve the economic, social and mental health state of the near future. It is not a matter of whether AI’s impact will be positive or negative—both require comprehensive, strategic change management to ensure we thrive through the AI revolution.

By fostering adaptability and psychological resilience, we can empower individuals to embrace this change with confidence. By acting now, we can turn technological disruption into an opportunity for growth, resilience, and prosperity. By proactively embracing AI, we can foster an economy that not only survives disruption but thrives on it—an economy that leads the world in AI application, adaptability consulting, and workforce transformation. We need to invest in human readiness now.

The success of an AI-Ready Change Management program would mean a balanced and thriving society, seamlessly integrating AI into every facet of life. The workforce would transition successfully, enjoying financial security. Our education system would be reimagined to prepare future generations, and mental health support would ensure resilience throughout society.

We must be AI-ready, with a focus not just on technological advancements, but on the human impact—on society, economic stability, and mental health. As a professor of neuroscience and psychology and its application to improve life, I have spent my career studying how people respond to transformative change and uncertainty. My background uniquely positions me to lead this conversation, integrating psychological resilience, mental health strategies, and a deep understanding of the human condition into our national AI strategy.

The time to act is now, and the stakes are too high to delay. By taking decisive action today, we can harness AI's immense benefits while safeguarding our citizens' well-being and the strength of our economy for generations to come.