As AI advances, we must confront its implications and make decisions about its future. We can either explore the possibilities or retreat from the present, which would lead to reactivity or passivity. The rapid progress in AI technology presents a choice: to shape its development, use it, direct it, and distribute its benefits. This requires reckoning with the power of the technology and envisioning the future it implies. By understanding AI’s past progress, we can better prepare for its future impact. Ultimately, this choice matters because it will determine whether we harness AI’s potential for human benefit or risk its misuse.