Feature: Fort Wayne Magazine Jan 2025

“Angie Carel has almost single-handedly cultivated a Fort Wayne network of individuals who are braving the next frontier of Artificial Intelligence—and are eager to talk about it.”

Fort Wayne Magazine January 2025 Issue: AI/Innovation

I’m thrilled to be featured in the January issue of Fort Wayne Magazine: The AI/Innovation Issue.

John Christensen opens the AI feature (page 30) with a simple truth:

“Change is inevitable, but it isn’t for everyone, everywhere, all the time.”

He’s absolutely right. Change has always been inevitable, but what makes this era so extraordinary is the speed and scale at which it’s happening. AI isn’t waiting for us to catch up—it’s charging ahead, reshaping industries, redefining creativity, and challenging the limits of what we thought was possible.

For some, this feels terrifying. For others, it’s exhilarating.

As John puts it:

“It may scare you or excite you. But as with any change—large or small—it starts with your mindset.”

Here’s the truth: we are the ones who decide what this technology becomes.

Instead of asking, “What will AI do to us?”, let’s shift the conversation. Let’s ask:

“What can we do with AI?”

“What can AI do for us?”

AI isn’t inherently good or bad—it’s a tool. Its power lies in how we choose to use it.

Having spent the last two years consulting in AI, I’ve realized one thing beyond a doubt: sitting on the sidelines is no longer an option. You don’t have to be an expert, a developer, or even particularly tech-savvy to join the conversation.

What you do need is curiosity—and the willingness to embrace discomfort. Because let’s face it: growth, whether in AI or any part of life, doesn’t happen when we stay in our comfort zones.

The AI movement here in Fort Wayne is about more than just exploring a new technology. Over the past year, hundreds of people—AI-curious newcomers, educators, experienced professionals, and self-proclaimed “tech nerds” alike—have come together to learn, share, and shape ideas around AI.

At first, many of them showed up with fears and uncertainties. But somewhere along the way—through meaningful conversations and connecting with others who shared their questions—those fears transformed into moments of possibility.

The conversations happening in AI in FW and in this issue of Fort Wayne Magazine embody exactly what John describes:

“An open dialogue about what is happening, whether you like it or not.”

AI isn’t here to replace humans. It’s here to enhance how we interact with each other. It’s helping us communicate better to each other. It’s nudging us to connect in ways that remind us why being in the same room matters.

AI is helping us imagine what’s next—and more importantly, empowering us to shape it in ways that serve us all.

Thank you, John, for featuring this movement and for sparking these important conversations in your pages.