“Something Big Is Happening”
“Something Big Is Happening”
I’ve had a lot of trainings over the past few weeks, which has kept me especially dialed in to social media, youth, technology, and AI. But honestly, that’s just how I’m wired. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve wanted to understand why things are the way they are, how they’re built, how they work — and what the next innovation might be before everyone else sees it coming.
That curiosity hasn’t gone away.
The other morning I was driving to work and heard someone on the radio talking about AI. I immediately leaned in. They referenced a recent blog post by Matt Shumer and called it a “must read.” That got my attention.
When I got to the office, I checked my emails, set my schedule for the day — and then went straight to find the article.
I was enthralled.
This was it. It confirmed what I’ve been warning about — and made it clear the timeline is shorter than most people think.
Matt works directly in AI — he builds AI products and invests in the space — and in his post Something Big Is Happening, he explains why what’s happening now isn’t incremental. He compares this moment to early 2020 before COVID really hit — when only a few people were paying attention, but the world shifted fast.
He lays out the part most people don’t see:
AI progress isn’t linear anymore — it’s accelerating faster than most realize. New models are arriving more often, and each jump isn’t just slightly better, it’s noticeably better than the last.
AI is already doing work that used to require human expertise. Matt describes how the latest models can write complete software, test it on their own, refine it, and deliver a finished product — not just a draft.
The experience tech workers are having — where AI handles most of their cognitive work — is coming to every field. Law, finance, writing, medical analysis, consulting — if your work happens on a screen, AI is already approaching the point where it can do big parts of it.
This isn’t something far off — it’s already happening. According to Matt, and others he cites, the timeline isn’t “someday,” it’s now — and tools are improving so quickly that what seemed futuristic months ago feels standard today.
AI isn’t just a productivity tool anymore — in some cases it’s becoming a substitute for cognitive work.
I’m not in the AI industry. I’m a dad, a husband, and a counselor who keeps his ear to the rail as much as possible. I’ve been urging people to pay attention to what’s coming. But my background doesn’t carry the same weight as someone building inside this space every day.
Matt’s does.
If you’ve followed me for any length of time, I hope you’ve learned something about youth and technology. But this article? This is the next level. This is where the shift moves from “kids and screens” to “adults and careers.”
The wave is hitting AI developers first. But on February 5th, when OpenAI released GPT-5.3 Codex and Anthropic released Opus 4.6 on the same day, something clearly shifted. It wasn’t loud or dramatic — it was more like glancing down and realizing the speedometer has quietly jumped from 55 to 90. What’s unfolding inside the tech world right now won’t stay there. It’s moving toward everyday professions faster than most people realize.
This isn’t a “read it if you get time” piece.
Don’t take my word for it.
This is a must read — because your job, your industry, and your future are closer to this change than you think.
And after you read it, share it.
Send it to a colleague. Forward it to your team. Text it to a friend. Talk about it at dinner.
Most adults are still operating like this is a slow, distant shift. It’s not. The more people who understand what’s happening now, the better positioned we’ll all be.
This is one of those moments where awareness matters.
Stay connected.
~ Ryan