Rediscovering Possible: How AI Is Reawakening Our Dreams

Every engineer, every executive, every child—really, all of us—want to believe we’re capable of something extraordinary.

I remember being a kid, standing in my backyard with arms raised like I’d just won Olympic gold. I wasn’t the fastest runner in my grade, but in my imagination, I had just crossed the finish line in front of millions. That daydream lived beside others: winning an Oscar, hitting the game-winning shot, giving a speech that changed the world.

Childhood Dreams

As children, our dreams aren’t bound by practicality. They are vibrant, audacious, alive. But as we grow up, something shifts.

Our parents, teachers, and friends—well-meaning though they may be—start to trade our “what ifs” for “you shouldn’ts.” They remind us of limits, risks, and responsibilities. We’re taught to be realistic, to choose safe paths. And somewhere along the way, we start believing that maybe extraordinary was never meant for us after all.

We don’t lose the dreams entirely—we just bury them. But they whisper. Quietly. Consistently. Is this all there is?

And then something happens. Something unexpected.

A new tool appears—not just for coders or tech lovers, but for everyone. Artificial intelligence. ChatGPT. Suddenly, a spark. A prompt. A possibility.

You sit down and type, “Help me write the book I’ve always wanted to write.”

Or, “What would it take to change careers?”

Or even, “I have an idea—can you help me make it real?”

And just like that, you’re not alone anymore. You’re brainstorming with something that doesn’t laugh at your ambition or tell you it’s too late. It doesn’t roll its eyes or remind you of all the reasons you shouldn’t. It leans in and says, “Sure. Let’s begin.”

Let's begin

That’s what I find so powerful—and so personal—about this moment in time. AI isn’t just a tool. It’s an invitation. A reflection. A creative co-pilot for people who are finally giving themselves permission to imagine more.

I’ve seen it with clients, with colleagues, and in my own life. A woman finally writing the memoir she swore she’d start a decade ago. A man building a purpose-driven career plan after being laid off, with a new clarity that surprises even him.

People discovering a healthier lifestyle, a better work-life balance, or a small business idea—all because they had the courage to ask a question, and something answered with hope.

We’re all hungry for a map of joy.

Map of Joy

And maybe AI, for all its code and complexity, is actually a simple pen—one we can use to draw that map again.

Not perfectly. Not with guarantees. But with possibility.

So, what did you once dream of?

And what if the tools to explore it are already in front of you—waiting for you to say, “Let’s begin”?