I, Human

I feel so alone. The world is a wild place right now, and feels far removed from the one I grew up in. When I was young, all I had to do was study and work hard. As I got older, I realized there were people who made the world go around—and institutions that quietly ensured our safety and stability.

Schools. Churches, mosques, and temples. Libraries and community centres. These institutions—and the people inside them—gave me a life I had the privilege of living.

Now, as I’m about to turn 47 this year, I’ve finally realized something unsettling.

All those people are either dead, dying, or retired. It’s my turn. And that really sucks. Because I want to watch Netflix and chill, explore South America, vacation on white sandy beaches and focus on my VO₂ max so I can live a longer, more active life.

I don’t want to worry about healthcare—about whether we have enough professionals or even enough beds. I’m not sick. Why is everyone worried about affordable housing? Why can’t people just get a job? Besides, AI and robots will solve all of this… right?

The same brilliant people who gave us cell phones and social media will surely figure it out. I voted for the right people to run the country. That’s what taxes are for. That’s why we vote. Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” But I’m tired, and I’m sure someone else can handle that. I just want to live my life.

The hard part is going from a world where everything was handled for you to one where you’re expected to show up. Do we blame our parents? The system? Politicians? It doesn’t matter. We’re here now—and we’re responsible.

I recently watched Yuval Noah Harari speak at Davos about the power of AI. And to be clear, I’m genuinely excited about what AI can bring. It can improve healthcare, expand education, and unlock creativity at scale. But it will take a tremendous effort from all of us to make sure it works in the right way. Not just faster or cheaper—but more human.

At Davos, Harari made an uncomfortable comparison:

“Those who are concerned about human immigrants usually argue that immigrants might take jobs, might change the local culture, might be politically disloyal. I’m not sure that’s true of all human immigrants—but it will definitely be true of the AI immigrants.”

That stopped me, because AI doesn’t need housing. It doesn’t need healthcare. It doesn’t retire. It doesn’t vote. It doesn’t belong to a community—and it doesn’t care if one collapses. Humans do, and the institutions that shaped my life were built by people who showed up—tired, imperfect, and often uncelebrated. They didn’t wait for someone else.

So yes, I feel alone sometimes. But maybe that feeling isn’t loneliness. Maybe it’s responsibility knocking. And maybe this moment—messy and uncomfortable—is when our generation decides whether we step up and rebuild the institutions that made us… or quietly enjoy the benefits while hoping someone else carries the weight.

At 3 magazine, we believe global thinkers don’t look away from complexity. They lean into it—not because it’s easy, but because it’s necessary. I don’t have all the answers. But I know this: If we want a world worth relaxing in, traveling through, and growing old in—someone has to do the work.

It might as well be us.

—Muraly Srinarayanathas,
Publisher

Publisher’s note: This letter was intentionally edited by AI.