Seize the Day

Today marks the anniversary of the D-Day invasion — June 6, 1944 — when Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy in one of the most daring and pivotal operations of World War II. It was a day defined by extraordinary courage. Thousands faced overwhelming odds, not without fear, but with the resolve to move forward anyway. They knew the stakes. And they seized the day.

“Courage cannot erase our fear.
Courage is when we face our fear.”

These lyrics from Seize the Day in Newsies — a musical based on the 1899 Newsboys’ Strike against powerful newspaper publishers — remind us that bravery isn’t the absence of fear — it’s action in the face of it.

A New Frontier
Today, we still have fears. One of them? Artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming our daily lives — from how we work and communicate, to how we understand health, illness, and the human body itself. It’s changing healthcare and science in ways that once felt like science fiction. AI can now help detect cancer earlier, uncover hidden patterns in genetic data, and even assist in predicting disease outbreaks. These tools hold tremendous promise — but also raise real concerns:

• Fear of misdiagnosis.
• Fear of biased data driving flawed outcomes.
• Fear of losing human connection in patient care.
• Fear that innovation may outpace regulation.

Just as past generations met new challenges with grit and resolve, we’re called to do the same. We don’t have to accept AI blindly — or reject it out of fear. The path forward is thoughtful, informed engagement.

From Hype to Healing
AI is already driving tools that speed up diagnoses, guide surgeons in real time, and broaden access to mental health care. It’s helping researchers spot trends across massive datasets and generate new hypotheses in minutes.

But tools are only as good as the people who build and use them. We must ensure that AI systems are transparent, equitable, and rigorously tested — especially when lives are on the line. We need guardrails that protect patients and policies that prioritize health equity.

We also need public trust. And trust grows when systems are explainable, inclusive, and accountable.

A Call to Courage—and Responsibility
D-Day reminds us that bravery isn’t a relic of the past — it’s a living quality we still need today. Facing the unknown with clarity, not panic. Moving forward with purpose, not blind faith. That’s how progress happens.

As we stand at the edge of another defining moment — this time technological rather than military — let’s remember:

Courage is when we face our fear.
Minute by minute, that’s how we win it.
So let’s engage with AI — wisely, ethically, and humanely.
Let’s shape the tools that are shaping us.
Let’s seize the day.

Happy reading,

Suzanne Daniels

Enjoy the weekend!

Best,
Suzanne
Suzanne Daniels, Ph.D.
AEPC President
P.O. Box 1416
Birmingham, MI 48012
Office: (248) 792-2187
Email: [email protected]

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