In the latest episode of It’s (Probably) Not Rocket Science (IPNRS), "Keeping up with Artificial Intelligence,” Lobos at The University of New Mexico explores the growing presence of artificial intelligence in daily life. From smartphones to spreadsheets, AI quietly embeds itself into everyday tasks, often without people even realizing it.

Just a year and a half ago, Leo Lo, dean of the College of University Libraries and Learning Sciences (CULLS) at UNM, spoke about AI’s potential. Now, it’s evolving so fast that even yesterday’s information can feel outdated.

“Every time I talk about AI, I have to put out a disclaimer,” Lo said. “The information from two weeks ago might already be old news.”

ChatGPT made history by reaching 1 million users in just five days. Today, roughly 450 million people use it every month, and AI has quietly embedded itself into everyday tools—Microsoft Office, iPhones, and countless apps now run on AI, whether users notice or not. 

As AI becomes more powerful, governments are racing to regulate it. The European Union took the first major step with the AI Act, categorizing AI by risk level and imposing strict guidelines. Other countries are following, but a global debate remains: How do we encourage innovation while keeping AI in check? Lo warns that AI’s potential comes with risks.

 “AI can introduce a lot of misinformation,” he said. “There are transparency issues, copyright concerns, and the potential for real harm. But at the same time, it’s a massive economic driver, so we have to strike a balance.”

In the U.S., AI policy remains uncertain. A shift in leadership has led to new policies, overturning previous guidelines and leaving many unsure of what AI regulation will look like in the coming years. 

While regulation attempts to catch up, tech companies are already pushing forward toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), the idea that AI could surpass human intelligence in most areas.

“There are different levels of AGI,” Lo said. “Right now, I’d say we’re at level one. AI can do some tasks better than unskilled humans, like generating text, but it’s far from perfect. Some believe we’ll reach a point where AI is better than 90% or even 100% of people at certain tasks. Others say we’ll never get there. The truth is, we don’t know.” 

Lo believes AI has the potential to revolutionize industries like science, healthcare, and education. If used correctly, it could take over tedious tasks, giving people more time to focus on creative and meaningful work.

“That’s the hope,” he said. “AI could handle the things we don’t like doing, so we can focus on what really matters.”

Still, challenges loom. AI’s impact on misinformation, job security, and the environment raises tough questions. Training AI models requires enormous amounts of energy, adding to its ethical concerns. 

Comparing AI’s rise to social media, Lo noted how initial excitement can sometimes overshadow hidden consequences.

“We didn’t fully understand social media’s impact until years later,” he said. “AI is the same way; we’re still figuring it out.”

While the future of AI remains uncertain, one thing is clear: the world is learning as it goes and the conversation is far from over. 

It’s (Probably) Not Rocket Science is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts.