Reflections on AI’s Rise and My Conversation with AI Godfather Yann LeCun- Chief Scientist of Meta

I vividly remember the first public release of ChatGPT just a few years ago. At the time, it truly felt like we had discovered a genie in a bottle — a tool that could answer almost any question, write in any style, and assist with any task at a moment’s notice. What seemed revolutionary back then now feels like the starting point of an unprecedented wave of innovation. The pace at which AI has evolved since then has been nothing short of astonishing.

Although I remain deeply impressed by the positive impact and opportunities that AI offers, I would be disingenuous if I didn’t say that I find some aspects of it quite scary. The sheer scale of its capabilities combined with the rate of progress is both exciting and, at times, a little daunting.

That being said, I genuinely believe that tools like AI have the potential to make society more inclusive. For example, people with learning difficulties can now access tools that simplify complex information, convert speech into structured notes, or translate written text into visual explanations — opportunities that simply didn’t exist a decade ago.

One thing that has become increasingly clear is that AI has application in almost every industry. Whether it be healthcare, finance, agriculture, transport, architecture, or education, the technology is transforming how we operate, make decisions, and interact.

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to meet Yann LeCun, one of the “Godfathers of AI.” Yann is widely regarded as a pioneer in the field, particularly for his contributions to convolutional neural networks and deep learning. During our conversation, I asked him what future applications of AI we should be paying the most attention to. He spoke passionately about the healthcare sector — an industry where the combination of data availability and critical human need makes it ripe for AI-enabled breakthroughs. From diagnostics to personalised treatments and early disease identification, the impact will be monumental.

As a civil engineer myself, I’ve also witnessed first-hand how AI can transform the construction industry, particularly when it comes to productivity onsite. Ours is a data-rich sector, and when that data is properly analysed and used, the efficiency gains can be substantial — whether it’s optimising material usage, predicting maintenance schedules, or improving safety through real-time analysis.

This year, I had the honour of winning an AI Hackathon in the transport sector, supported by the Department for Transport. What inspired me most was not just the outcome, but the way professionals from different backgrounds came together to creatively tackle some of the sector’s biggest challenges. It was a powerful reminder that AI is not just a technology — it is a catalyst for collaboration and innovation.

Despite these promising developments, it would be irresponsible not to acknowledge the growing fears around AI — especially when it comes to job security. People worry that automation will eliminate their roles, that creativity will be replaced by algorithms, and that machines will ultimately make humans redundant. These concerns are valid, but I believe they can be addressed if we focus on adoption through empowerment. In other words:

• Upskilling and reskilling: Rather than resisting change, we need to provide people with the skills to work with AI, not against it.

• Human–AI collaboration: AI is powerful, but it cannot (and should not) replace human judgement, empathy, or creativity. The best results come from combining both.

• Clear regulation and ethical frameworks: The more transparency and accountability we build into AI systems, the more trust we will inspire across society.

AI is not here to replace us. It is here to augment our abilities and help us solve the complex challenges we face as a society.

We are still very early in this journey. And while the pace is fast and, at times, intimidating, I remain optimistic — especially when I see how AI can help build a more inclusive, productive and innovative world.