Munira Shamim: Until Robots Take Over

Munira Shamim shares about her experience with AI and trying to change a lightbulb.

It was a weeknight, and our usual household rhythm was unfolding — dinner, homework, work emails — when the light bulb above my youngest one’s desk went out.

Replacing broken light bulbs is a quirk of mine. Light for me is more than electromagnetic waves. It’s the guiding force that watches over my child as he studies. This particular light bulb, however, was not the ordinary twist-in-and-out-type. It was a glass-encased spotlight that I couldn’t touch or budge. How was I going to replace this light?

While I’m adept at analyzing grand ideas, practical tasks can be a challenge. Pride kept me from asking my husband or kids for help. So, I fetched the step stool and turned to the AI assistant on my phone. I snapped a picture of the light and asked, “How do I change this bulb?”

The AI assistant identified it as either an LED GU10 or MR16 bulb. Not familiar with these terms, I pressed on. What’s the worst that could happen? It was just me and my AI assistant, a judgment-free zone where I could be honest about my ignorance.

The assistant explained the bulb was held in a spring clip, offering tips for removal. But I wanted a demonstration. The AI assistant directed me to a video showing how to pry open the glass casing safely. I followed the directions, and the light popped free. It then guided me step by step with another video to put a new light in place.

Voilà! Light came back on and the balance in the universe was restored.

The world is rightly wary of AI. It may take jobs, generate deepfakes, even pose existential risks. We must, together, navigate these unprecedented times. In the meantime, my AI assistant and I will stay friends, bringing light into the home—one bulb at a time. With a Perspective, I’m Munira Shamim.

Munira Shamim is an attorney in Saratoga.