Have your say: How do you feel about the rise of AI?
Wednesday, 20 May 2026
Artificial intelligence, or AI, has fast become part of our everyday lives, often working quietly in the background.
AI has been introduced across the board, from healthcare and education, to entertainment and admin. Some may use it for drafting emails or editing photos, or you may have come across it in customer service chatbots.
In simple terms, courtesy of ChatGPT, “AI helps computers learn patterns, make predictions, and automate tasks — making many everyday services faster, more personalised, and more convenient”.
If you’re not using it, it’s hard to miss, with AI featuring regularly in the news.
A jury in the US just ruled in favour of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, concluding a long and bitter legal battle against the world’s richest person Elon Musk. OpenAI, who developed ChatGPT, is valued at US$852 billion (NZ$1451b) and the ruling clears the way for the company to pursue going public.
On Tuesday, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced that AI would be used more to drive efficiencies in the public service and cost-cutting measures would also see thousands of jobs go from the public sector. With just under half of the public sector based in Wellington, people in the capital aren’t feeling great.
While there are many who can cite the clear benefits of AI, there are risks and trade-offs too.
AI systems can make errors, have biases and can be prone to repeating misinformation or “hallucinating” (when an AI system confidently produces information that is false or completely made up). They also require a lot of energy to function and many need to collect personal data directly from users to work properly.
Do you see AI as a friend or a foe, a useful tool or an untrustworthy authority?
Are you concerned about AI, or do you see it as a useful tool? Is it something you use it in your everyday life - and what’s the best use you’ve found for it? Share your thoughts in the comments. If you’re using the Stuff app on iOS you’ll need to view Stuff.co.nz on a browser to view and post comments.