I've been thinking a lot about something that I'm not particularly good at: saying what I really think - my opinion about real world issues.

Not all the time, of course.

But more often than I care to admit, I find that I'm thinking something about a news story, for example, but I don't express it.

Happen to you?

Here's what I mean: I listened to several podcast episodes this week on CBC's Frontburner (a personal favourite podcast of mine) that left me deep in thought.

Like this one: Is AI inevitable? Jill Lepore says no. There was A LOT of thought provoking information in this episode, but one idea that got me was some of the losses we are experiencing because of our growing reliance on AI: the ability to talk to our neighbours or a friend or loved one when we have a question or a problem to solve because we are increasingly reliant on AI to quickly answer those questions.

In the interview, Lepore gives the example of having a gardening problem. She could easily just pick up her phone and ask ChatGPT, but in doing that she is missing a valuable opportunity to talk with her neighbour to see how they have managed to get their garden to work so well.

We're at risk of losing human connection.

That was the short message of that segment of the interview.

And it left me with the question: Do you think AI is quietly and quickly stealing opportunities to get to know the people near us a little better?

I thought about it a lot.

But you know what?

I didn't ask anyone what they thought.

Why?

I am not sure. Maybe fear? Feeling shy? Feeling like I wasn't sure what I would say after.

But I missed the opportunity to express myself.

And, in case you're wondering, I totally agree with the idea that we are at risk of losing our ability to connect with the people around us.

Don't believe me? Go to a restaurant and look around. I bet you'll see tables with people who are busy looking at their phone and not each other.

Not everyone, for sure. But I see this happening more and more.

I feel the pull to vanish into my phone too.

But you know? I don't want to be alone.

I don't want to be isolated even though I live in a apartment complex filled with people who I see, but never talk to.

And now I'm going to offer you the question: do you feel like AI is slowly (or maybe quickly?) robbing us of our ability to connect with each other?

What's your opinion on this topic?

Care to share it with me? (Hit reply and let me know!)

Heck - if you're up for it, I'd love to talk with you about it on the podcast. Are you game? (Just reply and let me know. I'll set the time up with you!)

So what?

Yeah, I know. AI and keeping/making connections with the people around us seems far off from the CELPIP.

But expressing your opinions isn't.

And if you want to get better at speaking task 7 (expressing an opinion) you actually have to practice having one to express!

I know for me, it's super easy to listen to stories like the one I linked to, find it interesting, find it thought provoking, find it disturbing, but never actually express those thoughts with anyone.

Or worse: I've also listened to a great podcast, but never stopped after to even consider what my opinion might be. I just consume the ideas and move on.

I think that's a mistake and a missed opportunity to start a conversation with someone that goes beyond the typical, "How are you?"

And for you as you get ready for your CELPIP, not allowing yourself to have and express your opinion about the things you hear on the news, for example, is a big wasted opportunity to practice.

Do you agree?
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In case you missed it: Struggle with grammar on the CELPIP? Here's why you shouldn't try to memorize it.​

And if you like YouTube instead, here's the video version.​