The Rise of Artificial Intelligence

The Rise of Artificial Intelligence
By Brian Keith Shrewsbury
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     The rise of artificial intelligence, smartphones, and digital media is rapidly reshaping daily life-and not always for the better. Even before AI reaches its full potential, we’re already seeing major changes in our communities, families, and especially in our children. The signs are everywhere: people walking through public spaces, eyes glued to screens, disconnected from the real world and one another. Our posture suffers, real conversations fade, and the art of genuine human connection is slipping away.

     As a gymnastics coach, I see this shift firsthand. Kids who once loved movement and play now ask, “When are we done?” or beg for my phone, craving iPads and screen time. This isn’t just nostalgia-it’s a measurable change. In the 1980s, television and video games competed for our attention, but today, screens follow us everywhere: on the couch, at the dinner table, in the car, even in the bathroom. The line between work and home life has blurred, and our “magic glowing boxes” are constant companions, often harming our physical and mental health.

     The consequences for families are stark. Nearly half of U.S. smartphone users admit to being addicted, and this addiction is eroding family bonds. Parents and children alike are absorbed in their screens, and real communication is replaced by silence or shallow exchanges. Research links excessive screen time to developmental delays, behavioral problems, and reduced social skills in children, especially preschoolers and boys. The constant presence of technology-called “technoference”-disrupts parent-child interactions, undermining attachment, empathy, and healthy development.

     The digital age also brings instant access to harmful content like pornography, posing serious risks to children and teens, including negative impacts on mental health, social integration, and relationships. The anonymity and ubiquity of smartphones make it hard for parents to know what their kids are exposed to, even at home.

     Artificial intelligence is set to accelerate these trends. Experts warn that AI will bring “deep and meaningful” changes to essential human traits-diminishing our social and emotional intelligence, deep thinking, and even our sense of identity and purpose. As AI-generated content floods our screens, our attention spans shrink, and our ability to engage with the real world erodes. Technology addiction affects our brains in ways similar to substance abuse.

T.    his is not just a technological issue-it’s a cultural and existential one. If we don’t act intentionally, we risk “sleepwalking into an AI future we never intended.” The challenge is urgent: to reclaim our time, relationships, and humanity from screens and algorithms. We must set boundaries, model healthy behavior for our children, and prioritize face-to-face connections. Only then can we preserve the empathy, creativity, and community that make us truly human.
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