When I first discovered ChatGPT in early 2025, I was genuinely amazed by what it could do with minimal instruction. What fascinated me most was its ability to generate coherent and useful responses even when fed incomplete thoughts or seemingly nonsensical prompts. It felt almost unnatural. Then the technology became even smarter, and like many others, I began to worry.
Within a remarkably short period, tasks that people had spent years mastering suddenly appeared replicable by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Writing, research, data analysis, presentations, coding, summarisation and even creative work could now be generated within seconds. With each new update, AI systems seemed to narrow the gap between machine capability and human expertise.
Naturally, questions emerged. What would become of careers that millions had spent years studying, building and refining? Would expertise still matter? Would judgement still matter? Most importantly, would people still matter?
Over time, however, my perspective has evolved.
While AI undoubtedly presents significant challenges, I no longer believe its impact on humanity will be as absolute or devastating as many initially feared. Like every transformative technology before it, AI will disrupt industries and reshape the way we work. Yet history teaches us that disruption rarely signals the end of human relevance. More often, it demands adaptation.
The dot-com era of the early 2000s offers an important lesson. The internet transformed nearly every aspect of life and business. For a time, it seemed as though entire industries would disappear overnight. In some cases, they did. Film rental stores vanished, postal services faced major disruption, and traditional media business models were fundamentally altered by digital platforms.
Amid the excitement, millions rushed online in search of opportunity, convinced that websites represented the future of everything. Then the bubble burst, forcing businesses and consumers alike to recalibrate. Eventually, society learned to coexist with the technology rather than be replaced by it.
I see a similar pattern unfolding with AI today.
We are currently in the midst of a period of intense excitement. Suddenly, everyone appears to be a writer, strategist, analyst, designer, philosopher or consultant simply because they have access to AI tools. While these technologies are undeniably impressive, signs are already emerging that the novelty may be wearing off. AI-generated content has become so widespread that audiences can often recognise it immediately. In many cases, it feels repetitive, formulaic and lacking in originality.
Ironically, the more AI-generated content floods the market, the more valuable authentic human perspectives become.
This is why I firmly believe that while AI will simplify many tasks and dramatically improve efficiency, it will not replace human authority in most fields. If anything, the AI era may increase the value of uniquely human capabilities such as critical thinking, emotional intelligence, ethical judgement, creativity, relationship management, contextual understanding and trust.
These qualities remain particularly important in industries such as insurance and risk advisory, where decisions often carry significant personal and financial consequences.
At Minet Kenya, we recognise the immense value technology brings in helping us serve clients more effectively. AI can analyse vast amounts of data in seconds, identify patterns and improve operational efficiency in ways that organisations should embrace. Used responsibly, it has the potential to enhance decision-making and significantly improve customer experience.
However, data alone cannot replace human judgement.
When clients face a medical emergency, a business interruption or a major risk decision, they are not merely seeking information. They are looking for reassurance, accountability and guidance from someone who understands the weight of the situation and can help them navigate uncertainty with confidence. That human element remains irreplaceable.
For this reason, I am convinced that the future belongs to individuals and organisations that successfully combine technological capability with human insight. AI will undoubtedly change how we work, but it is unlikely to replace the human role at the centre of decision-making, particularly in industries built on relationships, trust and accountability.
Perhaps that is the most important distinction of all: the future of AI is not about replacing people. It is about empowering people to do what humans do best.
(The writer, Carolyne Nekesa is the General Manager, Marketing at Minet Kenya).
