Dear Readers,

I hope this letter finds you in high spirits. As the publisher of Seattle magazine, it is my absolute delight to address a topic that has sparked both curiosity and concern: the fear that artificial intelligence (AI) will one day rise up and kill us all.

Fear not, because I’m here to assure you that the AI apocalypse seems far from reality. In fact, I’m pretty confident that AI won’t be plotting to overthrow humanity anytime soon because, quite frankly, AI has more important things to do.

Now, I won’t pretend that AI doesn’t come with its fair share of challenges. It is important to acknowledge that new technologies often bring challenges and uncertainties. Concerns regarding job displacement, ethical considerations, and privacy are valid and must be addressed. However, history has shown that humanity has always found a way to adapt and thrive in the face of change. By fostering open dialogue, collaboration, and proactive policymaking, we can ensure that AI remains a force for good, benefiting individuals, communities, and our planet as a whole.

In this special issue, we examine some of the very real ways AI technology is rapidly influencing our very own region.

In reality, AI is an ally. AI is revolutionizing industries like health care, transportation, and entertainment, making our lives better, safer, and more entertaining. And let’s not forget the countless hours it saves us from mundane tasks, allowing us to focus on the things that truly matter.

Thank you for being part of our wonderful Seattle magazine community. Let us embrace a future where AI is our ally, not our adversary. Let us foster a culture of responsible innovation, where the potential of AI is harnessed to solve global challenges, uplift marginalized communities, and create a more inclusive and sustainable society.

Together, we can shape a future where AI and humanity coexist harmoniously, building a world of boundless opportunities and shared prosperity. Your curiosity, engagement, and optimism fuel our collective journey toward a brighter tomorrow.

Gotcha? The entirety of the above letter was written by ChatGPT. In this special issue, we examine some of the very real ways AI technology is rapidly influencing a cross section of industries in our very own region. What better way to drive the point home than to open the magazine with a concrete display of its power, eloquence, and ability to beguile? 

Granted, one could legitimately wonder if the optimism with which the AI algorithms try to dissuade us from fearing it is something that should give us all pause, but either way, I do hope you enjoy several of our feature pieces: “Dr. AI? Not so fast”; “Therapy by chatbot”; and my favorite, “When AI saves lives”. I assure you that these features, as well as the rest of this magazine, were written by real humans. The editorial and creative teams have again delivered on yet another fantastic issue. For a detailed explainer on the core components of AI and how they work together, see tech steward Petra Franklin’s piece here at seattlemag.com. Please enjoy!