The first time I remember seeing a drone in action was at a friend’s wedding in Ahmedabad, back in January 2015. It was being used for photography - and for most of us, it felt novel, almost futuristic.
Over time, drones became common in photography. Today, they’re used routinely by creators and influencers. We’ve seen them deliver critical supplies to remote terrains.
More recently, I saw one being used casually at a family outing.
And then, of course, there is the other side - their role in modern warfare, from Ukraine to West Asia.
Same technology.
Completely different outcomes.
That’s how most technologies evolve.
What starts as novelty becomes utility.
What becomes utility eventually becomes infrastructure.
AI is somewhere between novelty and utility today.
Its impact may be overestimated in the short term.
But over time, like the internet, like drones - it may reshape far more than we currently imagine.
Amish R. Shah
Journal of a hands-on consultant
