AI and the escalator: a journey of adaptation

In 1898, Harrods in London introduced an astonishing new invention: the moving staircase, or what we now call an escalator. It was such an unfamiliar and nerve-racking experience that store employees had to offer brandy to shaken riders at the top to help them recover from the ordeal. Today, artificial intelligence (AI) is going through a similar phase—exciting yet unsettling for many. Much like those early escalator riders, people today approach AI with a mix of fascination and fear. Some worry about job displacement, ethical concerns, or simply the unknown. But history shows that we adapt. Just as escalators became an everyday convenience, AI will seamlessly integrate into our lives, making tasks easier, businesses more efficient, and opportunities greater. The good news? Unlike those Harrods customers, we won’t need brandy to adjust. With time, experience, and understanding, AI will become just another tool we use without a second thought—just like stepping onto an escalator.