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I had just completed college and recently co-founded a small presentation skills/public speaking training company with a couple of seasoned professionals. We were discussing marketing strategies to get the word out. The internet was brand new, and so I suggested creating a website to promote our new business. One of my partners responded, “I’ve heard about the world wide web, but it’s really just a fad, you know, like the Hula Hoop.” I must have had a confused look on my face because he then proceeded to say, “And you don’t see many people still playing with Hula Hoops anymore, do you?”
I haven’t seen him in decades. I don’t even remember his name (I think it was Dave or Greg or something short like that), but I’d love to talk to him and recite back the words he shared with me that day,
“It’s just a fad, you know, like the Hula Hoop.”
I also realize there are many looking up Hula Hoop right now after reading that sentence. Yes, it was an actual toy, and yes, people would play with it for hours. My former colleague’s response wasn’t meant to be defensive or dismissive or even contrarian. It was a response out of ignorance. He just didn’t know. No one did. However, none of us can imagine our lives today without the internet...uh, world wide web.
We are currently in a similar situation right now in the workplace. AI is a disruptor today like the internet was back in the early 90s. And it isn’t feeling like a Hula Hoop...or Slinky...or Zune to call back some old fads. This feels like it is going to stay even with all the concerns around energy, ethics, job replacement, etc. As a matter of fact, we’ve been using AI for years whether we have realized it or not. It is just more front and center nowadays. We can’t afford to be ignorant and ignore the impact AI is going to have on our lives. It ain’t no Hula Hoop.
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