A Mystic Journey

For this article about AI in education, I discuss “Something Big Is Happening in AI — and Most People Will Be Blindsided,” by Matt Shumer, tech CEO of OthersideAI (Forbes, Feb12, 2026).  I decided to use the tool I am writing about. Most of what is in this blog post is from ChatGPT. I was amazed and impressed with the depth and accuracy, especially since I requested not just a review, but one that would help students, parents and educators.

In his essay on artificial intelligence, Shumer claims that the world is on the cusp of an AI transformation that many people still don’t fully grasp. He argues that the change under way is not distant or speculative, but already unfolding in workplaces and classrooms alike. 

Shumer begins with a comparison: think back to February 2020, just before COVID-19 disrupted life globally. Back then, most people had no idea what was about to strike. Shumer suggests that AI is at a comparable inflection point — while things seem “normal” today, the pace of change has already accelerated beyond what everyday users experience. 

By the time most people notice the effects in their jobs and in their kids’ education, the transformation will be well underway. He claims that AI is no longer just a tool that suggests words or summarizes text. It’s becoming a collaborator that can perform complex professional work. 

Shumer says the current generation of AI models is more accurate, more autonomous, and increasingly able to think through tasks in ways that resemble human judgment. He cites predictions from industry leaders that a large portion of entry-level white-collar jobs could be affected within one to five years. 

For parents and teachers, this raises big questions about what skills will matter most in coming decades. If AI becomes capable of doing tasks like research, writing, design, and data analysis, then traditional career pathways will disappear. Occupations that many adults grew up believing would be secure will be far less stable. Shumer’s stark takeaway: if your work happens on a screen, it’s at risk of significant change. 

People will need to cultivate adaptability, curiosity, and a deep understanding of how to work with AI, not just to compete with it.

Shumer does not give a purely doom-and-gloom prognosis. He also emphasizes that these technologies open doors. Tasks once limited by technical skill or expense — like app development, writing, tutoring, or entrepreneurial projects — are now far more accessible. Someone with a good idea but no coding background can use AI to bring that idea to life. 

For families and teachers, this dual perspective is valuable. It highlights that while some traditional jobs may shrink, new avenues for creativity and skill building are also emerging. 

The key for future generations, according to Sumer, won’t be memorizing facts or chasing a specific diploma. It will be learning how to think, to solve problems, and to use AI as a partner in learning 

This means:

• Teaching students to collaborate with AI, not just avoid it.
  
• Encouraging skills that AI can’t easily replicate, including creativity, judgment, .ethical reasoning, and emotional intelligence.
  
• Helping children develop cognitive learning skills: how to learn, how to adapt, how to ask meaningful questions.
  
• Supporting digital literacy that includes understanding AI’s limits, risks, and biases.

The future is not somewhere far off. It’s already here. Preparing kids means rethinking education in a world where the tools of work and creativity have fundamentally shifted. 

I find Shumer’s comments fairly comprehensive in helping us understand AI. My limited experience has also shown me some obvious concerns, such as the potential lack of necessary and valid information on a researched topic.

We need to educate our kids about the strengths and the weaknesses of AI. We need to accept this technology as a new future in helping our kids learn.