Why AI Is the New Plane, Not Just Another Train ?
Throughout history, technology has arrived in waves—transformative forces that reshaped industries, empowered entrepreneurs, and changed how people lived and worked. Each wave came like a train: powerful, fast, and full of opportunity—if you got on board in time.
But artificial intelligence (AI) is different. It’s not a train.
It’s a plane, and it’s about to take off.
If you’re in the service sector, freelancing, self-employed, or considering launching a business, now is the moment. AI can either become your co-pilot or your competitor. The choice is yours.
The Historic Waves of Opportunity
Let’s look back at the last century. You’ll see a pattern—each technological leap gave rise to a new class of entrepreneurs and redefined what was possible.
🚂 The Electricity Train — 1880s
Thomas Edison lit up the world with electric power. This revolution fueled the industrial age and made the impossible possible—from night shifts in factories to electric streetcars. According to McKinsey, electrification boosted productivity by over 85% across industrial sectors in the first half of the 20th century. Those who harnessed it became industrial titans.
“Electricity is doing for the mass what steam has done for the individual.” – Nikola Tesla
💻 The Computer Train — 1950s
Mainframes first, then personal computers in the 1980s. Computing automated routine tasks and transformed business processes. Entrepreneurs who adopted computers early—from Microsoft to Apple—rewrote the rules of industry.
In 1977, only 1 in 8 households in the UK had a computer. By 2020, 93% did. (ONS)
🌐 The Internet Train — 1990s
By the late ’90s, the internet had gone mainstream. Amazon, eBay, and Google were born. Information became global. Commerce went digital.
According to Statista, the number of internet users worldwide jumped from 413 million in 2000 to over 5.35 billion in 2024—more than 65% of the global population.
“The internet is the most powerful mechanism we’ve had for knowledge, innovation, and connection.” – Clay Shirky
📱 The App Train — 2007 onward
The iPhone’s arrival in 2007 marked the start of the app revolution. Developers, solopreneurs, and creatives built scalable solutions from their bedrooms. Airbnb, Uber, and Instagram—all app-native companies—grew to billions in value.
Mobile apps now account for over 60% of digital media time in developed countries. (Comscore, 2023)
✈️ The AI Plane — 2023 and Beyond
AI didn’t arrive with a loud bang. It crept in—quietly at first—through recommendations, auto-corrections, and smart assistants. But in 2023, with the public launch of tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, Claude, and Copilot, the age of accessible AI began.
Unlike the trains of the past, AI is not just faster—it flies. And its altitude and acceleration are unlike anything we’ve seen before.
Consider this:
60% of all jobs today could see at least 30% of their tasks automated by AI. (McKinsey Global Institute, 2023) AI could add $4.4 trillion annually to the global economy, reshaping industries. One person with AI tools can now do the work of an entire team in some professions: copywriting, graphic design, coding, customer service, and even legal and financial consulting.
The Service Sector: A Golden Opportunity
If you’re in the service sector, AI is your partner, not your replacement—if you learn how to use it.
A VA who uses AI can manage 10x more clients with higher precision. A self-employed mortgage broker can process paperwork, run affordability checks, and write reports in a fraction of the time. A property consultant can use AI to generate search reports, create marketing materials, and automate lead nurturing.
You’re not being replaced by AI—you’re being outcompeted by someone using AI better than you.
AI Is the New Literacy
“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
– Alvin Toffler
Just as typing became a basic skill with computers, and Google became second nature in the internet age, prompt engineering—how you talk to AI—may become the most important literacy of this decade.
Will You Build with It or Be Beaten by It?
You don’t need to be a coder. You don’t need a degree in AI.
But you do need to understand how to use tools that already exist:
ChatGPT for content, ideas, emails, strategy Notion AI or ClickUp AI for productivity and task automation Canva AI or Midjourney for visual content Claude or Perplexity for research and summarisation Empreso Network (or similar platforms) for launching service-led businesses fast, with AI infrastructure baked in
Don’t Miss the Plane
Remember this: the people who got rich from electricity weren’t all scientists. They were the ones who saw the potential and built businesses around it.
The same goes for the computer revolution, the internet era, and the app economy.
AI is your once-in-a-generation lift-off moment.
But planes don’t wait.
They take off—with or without you.
✈️ Ready for Takeoff?
If you’ve ever thought of starting your own business, now is the time.
AI lowers the barrier to entry more than anything in human history.
You don’t need funding. You don’t need staff.
You just need courage, curiosity, and the willingness to learn.
“In a world that’s changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.” – Mark Zuckerberg
🚀 Final Call: Get On Board
Whether you’re self-employed, between jobs, or building something on the side—AI is the ultimate co-pilot. It’s fast. It’s accessible. And it’s flying.
Book your seat, take the leap, and don’t look back.
About the Author :
Alain Mbe is a property search consultant, entrepreneur, and founder of Empreso — a network dedicated to building prosperity through property, finance, and collaboration. With over 25 years of experience, Alain helps everyday people make smart property decisions and grow wealth the ethical way.
