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IMAGINE this: waking up one morning in 2035. Your home is already warm, and the lighting is perfectly adjusted to your mood. Your digital assistant has not on- ly made your coffee just how you like it, but it's picked your clothes, scheduled your meetings, and even rearranged your weekend plans with a few polite messag- es to friends you haven't spoken to in weeks. All of this before you've even said a word to another living person. Sounds convenient. But here's the question: if life becomes this easy, this automat- ed — what happens to everything that makes us human? It's not science fiction anymore. We're well on our way into a future where machines can think, create, and em- pathise. In many ways, this could be a tremendous help — saving time, solving problems, and opening doors to knowl- edge and creativity like never before. But many thinkers, psychologists, and scientists are starting to worry. Not be- cause technology is bad but because it may change us in ways we don't fully see. Take relationships, for example. Real friendships and family bonds are com- plicated. They involve patience, com- promise, forgiveness — and, let's be honest, the occasional argument. But what happens when we can choose per- fectly programmed companions who never argue, always listen, and say just the right thing? Many people may find these digital re- lationships easier than human ones. It sounds ideal for virtual pets who never fall ill, AI children who never cry, and romantic partners who are always avail- able and in a good mood. But these are relationships without vulnerabilities. Without the raw edges that make love real. Then there's decision-making. Picture a teenager who asks their AI whether to apply to university or take a job instead of turning to a parent or teacher. On the surface, this might seem smart. After all, machines can access vast amounts of data. But relying on them too much could mean we start second-guessing our- selves. People might stop learning to weigh options, take risks, and live with consequences. These are not just helpful life skills — they're essential to growing up. It's not only our brains that are at risk of softening. Our hearts might be, too. Empathy — the ability to feel for oth- ers — isn't something you learn from a screen. And yet, if we spend more time talk- ing to digital companions and less time navigating genuine relationships, we might forget how to read a friend's fa- cial expression or notice when someone in the room feels left out. Children who grow up being comforted by AI soft toys might struggle later on with messy, un- predictable human emotions. Adults, too, may avoid tough conversations or complex relationships because their de- vices offer simpler forms of connection. AI will handle more and more of the creative and intellectual load at work. While that can free us to focus on meaningful tasks, it also raises a di- lemma: what happens when machines start doing the things that gave our lives meaning? If a machine can do your job, your writing, your art, or your teaching fast- er and more efficiently, where does that leave your sense of purpose? Even our sense of identity could begin to unravel. When you can create mul- tiple digital versions of yourself — one for work, one for social media, one for your dating profile — it gets harder to know which one is "really" you. And if AI can make you look and sound smart- er, wittier, or more beautiful than you feel inside, will you start to believe the illusion more than the truth? This all sounds quite bleak. But it doesn't have to be. The good news is that we're not helpless passengers on this ride. We can still shape the road ahead. It starts with awareness. We need to understand how these tools work and think carefully about when, where, and why we use them. Not everything needs to be automated. Not every task needs to be made easier. Sometimes, the struggle is the point. It's where we learn, grow, and connect. Schools can play a role by teaching children how to use technology and question it. Ask whether the answer a machine gives them is the only one or the best one. To build resilience, curiosity, and crit- ical thinking — the very skills that help us remain fully human. We also need to talk more about emo- tional literacy. How to listen. How to sit with discomfort. How to be bored. These are fading skills in a world of end- less entertainment and instant respons- es, but they're vital to our well-being. Just like physical health needs exercise, mental and emotional health needs reg- ular attention and practice. Finally, we must remember what makes life worth living. AI might help us write a book or paint a picture. But only humans can find meaning in those things. Only we can tell stories that make oth- ers cry, laugh, or think. Only we can build communities, care for the vulner- able, and stand up for what's right. Ma- chines might be able to mimic empathy, but they will never know what it feels like to hold a grieving friend's hand, fall in love, or hear a child say their first words. The challenge of 2035 isn't just about keeping up with technology. It's about staying true to ourselves as it evolves. That means choosing when to let ma- chines help — and when to switch them off, look someone in the eye, and be glo- riously, imperfectly human. Are we ready for what's coming? Professor of Artificial Intelligence Alexiei Dingli 10 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 13 AUGUST 2025 OPINION