By Nia Leanne — Food for Thought with Nia Leanne

Has AI gone too far, or is it us?

For most of us the answer is obvious, but why is it so hard for us to accept the truth that we are the problem? Everyone’s panicking about AI, but isn’t this just another example of us giving something too much power, then acting shocked when it bites us in the ass?

Take social media, for example. It started innocent: sharing moments through photos and videos, keeping in touch with friends and family. Now? It’s a mini-celebrity, delusional, narcissistic factory. For some, social media has boosted careers and personal branding, but for others, it’s wrecked their sense of self. There’s literally a lawsuit against Instagram right now over mental health, self-esteem, and body image. Is it that some of us just can’t handle it? Can’t handle social media pressures and standards? Can’t handle this newfound power in AI?

And just like social media, AI shows us that giving power without understanding the consequences always comes back to us. For me, everything always comes back to knowing and working on yourself. We have to understand what is good for us as individuals and what can be detrimental. Don’t follow the crowd! Follow who you are and what you can manage, based on the season of your life. Anyway, I digress…

My question is: why do we give something power and then blame it instead of ourselves? Humans love to deflect, maybe it’s just our design. And yes, I’m going to bring up God, because this is why Jesus died for us… so redemption could be possible. Accountability is the ultimate power, but it doesn’t work alone. Repentance and change are part of the process, and only then can we truly grow. Until then, how long will our struggles with taking accountability last?

Monitoring "the Monster"

Since we’re so far from ending this whole no-accountability era we’re living in, someone has to monitor AI, right? By default, that responsibility should fall on the government, though maybe not this administration. But if not them, then who? And why does it feel like nobody is paying attention to this very obvious issue?

Is AI just a tool, or is it slowly becoming a way to distract and confuse the public? That’s a conversation for another day. What is clear, though, is that AI needs limits, laws, regulation, oversight, something. And since no one seems to be doing it, the responsibility falls back on us. Yet we’ve already proven we’re not exactly the best at holding ourselves accountable.

What makes it even funnier, and a little scary, is that we are the ones educating the robots. We teach them patterns, behaviors, and responses, and now those same creations are being turned back on us. Maybe AI is just a reflection of us, magnified and automated. It isn’t inherently evil; it can’t feel, it can’t want anything, it’s just a machine. The danger has always been us.

AI and Jobs: Are We Shooting Ourselves in the Foot?

Did we give AI so much power that it’s coming for our jobs too? It already took Siri’s. Remember when you could ask her anything and she’d actually answer? Now she just sends me to Google, well, mine does, and low-key I gotta respect it sometimes. Meanwhile, ChatGPT writes essays, generates code, gives advice, basically does everything except tuck you in and give you a kiss at night.

And honestly? I can’t even lie, it’s impressive. I use ChatGPT all the time. Sometimes for legal advice, sometimes just to validate my ideas, which is kind of silly when you think about it. I’m literally asking a robot if my thoughts make sense. I’m working on it!

And then there’s the rise of AI trainer jobs, and they are advertising some decent pay, but isn’t that basically selling your soul? You’re helping build the very thing that could replace you. It’s all fun and games until the robot becomes the receptionist, the wedding planner, the artist, the artiste, the HR department.

Oh wait… that’s already happening.

The Hidden Cost of AI

But here’s something most people aren’t thinking about while we’re busy being entertained: the overuse, honestly the abuse, of AI and the price tag that comes with it. Forbes recently reported that OpenAI could be burning up $15 million per day on Sora, the AI tool that makes those silly videos everyone laughs at and reposts, yeah…

Fifteen million dollars a day on videos that are sometimes literally just vibes. And I mean, if you’re an AI expert or you’re using it for actual work or something, then okay, go off. But the average person? The “I just wanted to see myself as a mermaid in Paris at sunset” people — yeah, you. You do not need to be playing around with AI like that. It’s just not worth it.

Have we become so self-absorbed and mesmerized by technology that we stopped questioning its effects? Do we just not care anymore? What’s that saying, “Ignorance is bliss”? Yeah, y’all be having a ball with no cares in the world.

AI doesn’t live in the air. It lives in massive data centers that eat electricity for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Training and running these models requires insane amounts of power, heavy cooling systems to combat the heat that power produces, and millions of gallons of water. So yes, your favorite AI-generated video has a carbon footprint, a water footprint, a literal physical cost on the planet.

And the environmental price isn’t the only one, obviously. There’s the financial cost, and it’s just as crazy. Training an AI model can cost tens to hundreds of millions of dollars before it even sees the light of day. After that, every time someone uses it, every query, every video, every image, there’s a recurring per-use cost.

This ish ain’t cheap, baby. It’s not even medium-priced. For many companies, just maintaining and hosting one model can mean hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars per year, and that’s before new updates or additions. So when you hear $15 million per day on Sora, that number isn’t exaggerated. That’s the real price of the “AI magic” we scroll past like it’s nothing.

Which raises the real question: are silly videos worth that cost? Let’s be rational. Is it worth the water, the electricity, the infrastructure, the money, all so we can generate a little clip for Instagram and TikTok?

Yes, it’s nice to have something made for you with zero effort, but is it really worth it? And can you even be proud of it? Let’s be honest, you didn’t make it. I’m not judging, but I’m judging.

Because the more we use AI without thinking, the more those costs grow, environmentally and economically. Pretending it’s all harmless innovation is exactly how we end up sleepwalking into a world we didn’t choose.

So let’s start being more mindful, especially with those silly videos and photos. Think about the future instead of just the now. Living in the moment is cute and all, but thinking ahead and seeing the bigger picture is vital to our survival. Stop giving ChatGPT every creative job and seek out your local artists. Support your community so your community can support you. I won’t be a hypocrite, because I too use AI. Like I said, it’s great, but let’s keep it at a level, at a limit. Everything in moderation.

Final Thoughts

Let’s use with a conscience, not abuse with ignorance. Let’s not give up on our own brains and talents, and let’s start holding ourselves accountable. Truth is, the robot didn’t make itself — we did. And time and time again, it’s always been us against ourselves if you really think about it. We create, we give power, and then we curse the very things we allowed to control us, or we abuse them as a way to escape reality.

God made us in charge of this earth. Dominion over the animals, the plants, the resources — everything. So why do we give up that power so easily? To fulfill selfish desires? To chase convenience or fleeting validation? History shows us the consequences of handing over control without accountability, and honestly, is it ever worth it?

AI, social media, and every other tool we’ve created are mirrors reflecting humanity’s flaws. We panic at the machine, but maybe we should start by looking at ourselves. Accountability isn’t just a buzzword; it’s the ultimate power. Own your actions, recognize where you’ve given away your control, and take it back. Repent where necessary, change where you can, and remember: power only becomes dangerous when we surrender it blindly.

Pro Tip: Start small. Take one area of your life where you’ve handed over control — social media, habits, relationships — and reclaim it intentionally. You’ll be surprised how much more clarity, confidence, and peace come from taking your God-given dominion seriously.