The Familiar Fear of Change
Every major technological leap in history has sparked the same human reaction…fear. Fear that machines would replace people. Fear that automation would erase jobs. Now, as artificial intelligence takes center stage, the pattern is repeating itself.
Across industries, the moment AI enters the conversation, anxiety follows. Many people hear “AI” and immediately think “replacement.” This is understandable when you see headlines about major companies like Amazon laying off thousands, purportedly as a result of heavy AI adoption. It reinforces the perception that technology’s primary outcome is job loss, not job evolution.
That fear often breeds resistance, creating an “us versus them” mindset…humans on one side, technology on the other. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that technology doesn’t eliminate people (except in the movies!). It changes what people do, and often elevates them to roles that require deeper thinking, creativity, and judgment.
We’ve Seen This Before
At Power Lube Industrial, we’ve seen this dynamic play out firsthand. As one of the first companies to introduce automatic lubrication systems to the United States, we had a front-row seat to both the promise and the pushback that came with it.
When the technology first began gaining traction, the reaction was far from universally positive. Many in the maintenance world viewed these systems as job threats…believing automation would make their hands-on expertise unnecessary.
The opposite proved true. Automation didn’t take jobs; it took over the tedious and risky parts of them. It allowed maintenance teams to focus on higher-level planning, reliability strategies, and solving the problems that machines couldn’t.
And yet, even today, that same resistance still surfaces. There’s still a segment of the workforce that views automatic lubrication as a formula for early retirement…as though embracing the technology will make them obsolete. It’s a mindset we still have to overcome from time to time in order to provide solutions that could dramatically improve uptime, safety, and the bottom line.
Automation in lubrication is far from “old news.” It continues to be both a technological solution and a cultural challenge. But each time a customer experiences its benefits firsthand, that fear gives way to appreciation…just as it always has.
A Personal Lesson in Adaptation
When I first started in mechanical engineering, my drafting skills were a point of pride. I spent hours perfecting line weights, lettering, and symmetry on the drafting board. Even in college, my professors and TAs would regularly use my homework as the grading standard because of its precision and attention to detail.
Then computer-aided design gained traction…and the traditional drafting board quickly became a relic. I was comfortable with computers, so adapting to CAD wasn’t a problem. In fact, it expanded what I could do. I could iterate faster, visualize designs in 3D, and let my creativity drive the process instead of being limited by the tools on my desk.
But the shift still brought an interesting realization: what had once made me stand out was suddenly just standard practice. My strength in drafting was no longer an advantage as everyone now had access to the same digital precision.
That experience in part shaped how I view technology today. Each new innovation…from CAD to automation to AI…redefines the playing field. The people who stay curious and adapt keep finding new ways to add value, while those who cling to “the way things were” risk being left behind.
The AI Parallel: A New Kind of Automation
AI is simply the next evolution of that same story. Where automation took over physical and repetitive tasks, AI is beginning to handle cognitive and analytical ones. The principle hasn’t changed…only the domain has.
We’re seeing the same cycle: initial excitement, followed by fear, followed by gradual acceptance as people learn to use the technology to their advantage. The real disruptor isn’t the AI itself…it’s how quickly some people and companies are learning to use it effectively while others hesitate out of fear.
In that sense, AI doesn’t replace people…it amplifies the capabilities of those who embrace it. Just as technicians who learned to leverage automated systems became more efficient and valuable, professionals who learn to use AI as a tool will find themselves empowered, not endangered.
From Resistance to Readiness
The greatest challenge with any new technology isn’t the innovation itself…it’s the human response to it. Fear creates resistance, and resistance slows progress. But when teams learn to see AI as an extension of their expertise rather than a threat to it, the possibilities multiply.
For companies, the key is fostering an environment where experimentation is encouraged and curiosity is rewarded. Just as maintenance professionals once learned to trust automatic lubrication systems, today’s workforce must learn to trust AI to assist, not replace, their work.
This shift requires leaders to lead by example…to explore the tools themselves, share how they’re using them, and show that adopting AI isn’t about losing control, but gaining capability.
Technology Evolves. So Do We.
Every major advance…from the steam engine to CAD to automation…has redefined how we work. Each time, those who adapted didn’t just survive the change; they thrived because of it.
Artificial intelligence is no different. It’s not here to take our jobs…it’s here to redefine them. It’s here to handle what’s repetitive so people can focus on what’s creative, strategic, and uniquely human.
The question isn’t whether AI will disrupt industries. It already is.
The real question is whether we’ll choose to resist it…or to harness it.
Because, as history shows, progress doesn’t wait.
