Facing the AI wave, ask yourself: Are you a speculator, a casual player, an industry insider, or a true expert?

For the past six months, dozens of people have asked me the same loop of questions: "How bad is the AI impact? Why bother learning creative skills now? Will AI take my job? If I know AI, do other skills even matter?" Answering this over and over has become exhausting. More than that, I feel deeply helpless against the hyped-up trends and warped values poisoning our society. If every Hongkonger keeps this mindset, our next generation is finished. I need to leave a message on my platform to correct the mindset of young people who still genuinely want to level up. I want to protect them from being misled by societal noise, so they don’t lose their way or mistake the tool for the true core value.

1. As technology continuously advances, it is only natural for AI to develop at an accelerating pace. It brings varying degrees of convenience to both our work and daily lives. In the workplace, AI helps companies achieve greater cost-effectiveness; from an employer's perspective, it streamlines resources to maximize profits. This is undoubtedly a correct and positive direction for social development, and it will inevitably birth new professions and job roles.
   

2. "No matter your profession or position—whether it was the internet 20 years ago or AI today—you will inevitably face the exact same truth: "If you do not upgrade yourself to keep pace with the times, you will definitely be left behind." Instead, we need to ask ourselves a crucial question: "Am I just running away from new transitions? Am I simply too afraid to embrace new things and make a change?" From my past experience observing and analyzing students and industry professionals around me, I noticed that those who feel anxious about AI—or those who constantly obsess over what AI can or cannot do—are mostly individuals who lack solid professional competence. They possess a mere "employee mindset," blindly following instructions without ever driving their own learning and development. With or without AI, these people rarely last long in any industry, and they have a notoriously high turnover and abandonment rate across all sectors. Conversely, those who truly love their profession find that the arrival of AI brings unprecedented excitement and fresh imagination. They recognize that these tools can empower them to achieve what was once impossible, or execute their visions with far fewer resources. Therefore, we must ask ourselves with absolute clarity: What kind of mindset do you hold right now? Are you the former, or the latter?
   

3. When utilizing AI, you must be absolutely clear about which category of people you belong to. At what level are those people in society speaking, and what exactly is their purpose?

   
   

   • Speculators represent one of the most common categories in Hong Kong. They deeply understand that whether it was NFTs, the metaverse, or AI, these are all defining trends of the era, and they see them as opportunities to capture advantageous resources and benefits for their own gain. While they may lack sufficiently deep knowledge of AI, they know that by being the fastest to grab a piece of the pie and securing the maximum amount of resources before the market matures, they will emerge as winners. You can easily spot their behavior and information across social media platforms, educational institutions, or public service organizations, where they continuously fuel the hype to extract maximum profit. If these individuals happen to be within government departments or influential companies and organizations, their impact on society is incredibly far-reaching.
     

   • Casual Players, as the name implies, are followers of trends. Driven by societal hype, they chase the latest and fastest tech solely for the gratification of keeping up with the times. However, whether their engagement is merely skimming the surface—acting as a jack-of-all-trades but master of none—remains to be seen. When faced with real situations, the issue becomes blindingly obvious. This group makes up the vast majority of society.
     

   • Industry Insiders have built foundational analytical skills and experience with AI, deeply understanding how to apply various tools across different workflows. They seamlessly blend traditional expertise with new technology, leveraging AI data analytics and AI Agents to boost work efficiency and make more accurate decisions. Individuals in this category must already possess sufficient professional knowledge, skills, and real-world combat experience—assets that newcomers cannot easily acquire.
     

   • True Experts are the developers of AI and the creators of AI systems. They are the group that secures the most resources in society, possessing skills and professional knowledge at the absolute pinnacle, making them the elite who guide global transformation.

   There is one crucial point everyone must pay special attention to: whether you are a speculator, a casual player, or an industry insider, no matter how powerful or skilled you are at using these AI tools, you are still merely a consumer. While enjoying the convenience brought by these consumer products, you are endlessly pouring money into the experts' pockets. You continue to let the experts lead you by the nose and control you, sinking deeper and deeper into consumerism, which unconsciously turns you into a slave of these businesses.

"You must understand that AI is merely a tool, not some terrifying beast. As long as you do not become overly dependent on it, AI can empower you to leverage your strengths far more effectively." What truly deserves your fear and anxiety is not the technology, but human thoughts and actions! If you do not want to be plundered by those with vested interests, or if you wish to reclaim autonomy over your life and work, you must seriously reflect on the points above, seize the present moment, and fully prepare yourself.

To recognize what truly matters—whether you want to be led by the nose by a tool or possess the professional competence to master the tool and advance with the times—it all depends on how you prepare yourself right now. Sunny Written on July 11, 2026