Overheard at the airport: Yep, it's about AI. But hear me out.

This is a bit of a “spur of the moment” blog post.

I was sitting in the airport over the weekend and, I’ll admit it, I love to people-watch and eavesdrop…lol. Frankly, it’s one of the best places to get a little pulse check on what’s going on in the world. But yesterday was…quite a bit different. It was the first time I’ve heard the same topic come up over and over… and over again...AI.

And not in a “this is so cool!” kind of way.

More like: “This is kinda scary… right?”

So I wanted to write about it. Because chances are, if the conversations around me were full of worry and confusion, a lot of other people are probably feeling the same way. And, well, I simply like writing about this stuff so why not.

As usual, I don’t claim to have the answers. These are just my thoughts. An opinionated take, if you will (emphasis on opinionated). I’m someone who’s been quietly using AI to build systems, streamline operations, and save a ton of time behind the scenes at ClearMind Capital (CMC). So yes, I’m more on the optimistic side of this. But I also understand the concerns.

Maybe the purpose of this post is to, hopefully, ease some of that uneasiness for just one person...or at least open the door to a different perspective.

Why So Much Fear Around AI?

Let’s be real… the fear makes total sense.

AI went from being something in sci-fi movies to something in your inbox, your kid’s homework, showing you what your dog would like as a human, your food order, your resume writer... the list goes on. And it happened fast.

And when you're constantly hearing about:

• Jobs being replaced

• Deepfakes and misinformation

• Machines making decisions we don't fully understand

• AI is taking over the world

• A general loss of human connection...

…it’s easy to feel like the world is speeding up in ways we can’t control. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, human beings hate change. And when change happens this fast, it turns from discomfort into full-blown fear. Especially when it’s invisible.

Let's Start with the Good (duh)

Here’s what most people haven’t seen: how helpful and empowering AI can actually be… when used intentionally. Behind the scenes at CMC, I use AI every day to:

• Draft workflows and templates

• Speed up brainstorming

• Build internal systems that save me hours each week

• Clarify my thoughts before they turn into something client-facing

It’s not making decisions for me. It’s not pretending to be a human. And it’s definitely not replacing real relationships. It’s just a tool, a really powerful one, that helps me create more space.

Space to focus on what I am actually here to do: plan, guide, create, and connect.

It’s saved me more hours than I can count. Seriously... hundreds. And in the right hands, it’s kind of amazing.

So...Where's This All Going?

Let's zoom out.

If we want to get more comfortable with AI, I think it helps to understand where it might be heading. So, I did what any rational person would do... I asked AI where it thinks it’s going next…lol. And then I added my own thoughts next to it.

This is just a high-level snapshot, and of course, there’s way more that could be said and other opinions, but here’s what came up:

Year 1 Forecast:

• Personal AI assistants go mainstream: Not creepy robot companions (though, maybe someday? Still undecided on that one). But tools that help you plan, remember your workflows, and cut down your admin time.
  

• Search habits shift: People won’t “Google” something the same way. They’ll just ask a chatbot. This one’s already happening and feels pretty obvious.
  

• Advisors and solopreneurs gain leverage: This one hits close to home. A solo shop, like mine (for now….we are growing 😊) can feel like a small team with the right systems in place. It’s a game-changer. Also, even in the corporate world, most professionals will be expected to use AI, similar to Excel or other tools.

Year 5 Forecast:

• AI will be baked into everything: It won’t feel like “using AI.” It’ll just be how your email, calendar, or even your voicemail/phone operating systems work. You won’t even think about it.
  

• Jobs evolve: The data-heavy, repetitive tasks get automated. But the need for human skills: empathy, creative thinking, problem-solving…will go up. Big time.
  

• Bigger ethical questions: This is where I get a little uneasy. Bias, privacy, power, control… these conversations are coming, and they’ll matter more than ever. We actually didn’t do a terrible job with the internet. In the early days, it wasn’t a given that it would be free and open, but the world mostly agreed to keep it that way. Maybe we’ll rise to the occasion again.
  

• Medical Breakthroughs: We are already seeing acceleration in drug research and development, and are on the path for some serious breakthroughs over the next five years.

Is This Like the Internet Boom?

I think so...but with a twist.

The internet connected us to information.

AI connects us to intelligence.

That's a pretty big leap. This isn’t just about access. It’s about amplification of your ideas, your decisions, your creativity, and your efficiency.

And that's a deeper shift.

What AI Won't Replace (And why it shouldn't try)

Let’s be real…again. AI is going to keep getting better.

It’ll be able to run retirement projections. Build investment models. Simulate thousands of future scenarios. And do it all faster than I ever could.

But I’m not worried about it replacing me. Because CMC was never about just showing you numbers, or only managing your investment portfolio.

Here's what AI won't do:

• Be there for someone at the loss of a loved one.

• Understand the emotional tension in a family conversation about estate planning.

• Help someone navigate a messy divorce or a big life pivot.

• Sit with someone during times of uncertainty and just be a listening partner.

• Ask, “What does enough look like for you?”  ...and give plenty of space and time for the answer.

Should I keep going? 😅

As AI gets better... so will the craving for something real.

That’s why my vision for CMC isn’t about just being a smarter calculator, it’s about helping people align their financial life with their real life. To bring together 150+ financial & mental moving parts (overestimating here, but the point is there are a lot) and build a plan that’s actually aligned with who they are, not just what they own.

Not a spreadsheet. Not a template. Not a robot.

People won’t just want charts. They’ll want clarity. Peace of mind. A relationship with someone who gets it, gets them, and someone they can trust.

And I’ll say this until the end: Personal financial planning should be personal.

Final Thought

AI isn’t the enemy.

It’s not perfect, and yeah, it can be used in dangerous ways. Newsflash…so can a lot of things. But at its core, it’s just… powerful. And power, when used well, can help us live better and more intentionally.

I don’t know where this is all headed. I don’t control the military or government implications of AI, and let’s be real…one final time, neither do you. So why waste energy worrying about that part?

Use it where it matters. Use it to support you, not stress you out. And if you don’t have someone to talk to about this shift, or what it might mean for your life or your work - I’m here, not as an expert, more as a human being.

We’re living through one of the most exciting and transformative chapters in human history. But with rapid change comes that word again… uncertainty. And our default response to uncertainty is often pessimism. At our core, we’re wired to survive, not necessarily to stay optimistic.

And no... I’m not trying to compete with the robots.

I’m just doubling down on what they’ll never be able to do.

I hope you had a great Easter weekend with family & friends. And I am curious if this was a topic of conversation, like everyone at the airport.

Have an awesome week. Cheers!

It’s easy to feel stuck with money. It's harder to have clarity and a plan you trust. If that feels like something you've been missing, let's talk about it.

Schedule Discovery Meeting

Nick George CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®

Founder | CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Practitioner

ClearMind Capital

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