Troopmaster Times

We are entering a world where answers are instant, conversations are simulated, and relationships can be… engineered.

Artificial Intelligence is changing everything some people—how we learn, how we work, and even how we relate to one another. For troop leaders, dads, and mentors, this raises a real question: Will programs like Scouting, Trail Life, and other troop-based models still matter in an AI-driven world?

Some believe the answer is no. Some believe in-person meetings, campfires, and shared struggle will be replaced by efficiency, personalization, and digital convenience. But they’re missing something fundamental.

We don’t just live in a digital world. We live in a physical one.

And the next generation is counting on us not to forget that.

The Growing Concern: What AI Might Disrupt

Serious voices are raising thoughtful concerns about where this AI technology is leading humanity.

“More recently, in discussions about the rise of Artificial Intelligence (such as on Impact Theory and The Diary Of A CEO), Gawdat uses a similar acronym to describe a potential 12–15 year ‘dystopian’ transition starting around 2027. He argues that these fundamental societal pillars will be ‘ripped’ apart and redefined:
Freedom: Redefined by the loss of agency as power becomes concentrated and surveillance increases.
Accountability: As AI takes over decision-making, it becomes harder to pin down who (or what) is responsible for the outcomes.
Connection: Our human-to-human relationships are being reshaped—and potentially diluted—by digital interfaces and AI avatars.
Economics: The traditional relationship between work, value, and income may collapse as AI automates complex labor.
Reality: The rise of deepfakes and AI-generated content makes it increasingly difficult to distinguish what is real from what is fabricated.
Intelligence: We are moving into an era where human intelligence is no longer the “top” tier, fundamentally changing how we value knowledge and innovation.
Power: Ultimately, the control over these AI ‘digital soils’ shifts power into the hands of those who own the platforms, potentially creating a new class of trillionaires.”

Whether or not you agree with every point, you need to realize that our world is on the brink of shifting, for better or worse, into a new digital landscape. We need to maintain connection in the physical world. That is a non-negotiable. However, we cannot bury our head in the sand and pretend the world isn’t changing. We are called to protect the one thing AI cannot give: Authentic human-to-human connection.

The Lie of Easy Answers

What makes a young man grow and mature? Is it because he received the best possible answer to a question online? Does instant access and spoon-fed answers help the brain develop in the best possible way? No.

He grows because he wrestled with a problem—and someone stood beside him while he figured it out.

Now it’s undenyable that AI tools give us access to incredibly powerful things like:

• Instant information
• Polished responses
• Simulated conversations
• “Perfect” communication

But is that all a person needs to grow? Leadership has never been about perfect answers. We need to have the awkward conversations, plenty of opportunity for trial and error, the possibility for miscommunication, repair, and probably showing up when it’s inconvenient. These things lower anxiety and help us to know that we’re still human and we can learn and understand things at a human pace.

The Danger of Idealized Relationships

It’s both amazing and scary when you understand what AI tools can do now. They can roleplay friendships, simulate mentorship, generate encouragement, and even mimic emotional understanding.

But here’s what it cannot do: It cannot replace presence.

It cannot look a young man in the eye, notice when something is off, share silence on a cold morning hike, laugh at something completely unplanned because real relationships are messy. They are unpredictable. They require effort.

And that’s exactly why they matter.

Why the Troop Method Still Wins

The troop method—used in Scouting, Trail Life, and similar programs—is built on something AI cannot replicate:

Shared physical experience.

• Hiking a trail when you’re tired
• Building a fire that won’t start
• Leading peers who don’t always listen
• Sitting around a campfire after a long day

These moments create:

• Trust
• Resilience
• Leadership
• Brotherhood

No algorithm can simulate that in a meaningful way. Because those experiences aren’t just informational. They are transformational.

AI Is a Tool—Not a Replacement

Let’s be clear: AI is not the enemy.

In fact, it can make us better leaders when used correctly:

• Planning activities faster
• Generating ideas
• Learning new skills
• Improving communication

But here’s the line we cannot cross:

When AI replaces effort instead of enhancing it, we lose something essential.

We must teach the next generation:

• Use tools, But don’t depend on them
• Learn from AI, But don’t outsource your growth to it

The Responsibility of Today’s Leaders

We are the bridge generation.

We remember life before:

• Smartphones
• Social media
• AI assistants

And we are leading boys who will never know a world without them.

That means the responsibility falls on us to model:

• Real conversation
• Eye contact
• Patience
• Physical presence

If we don’t teach it, they won’t learn it.

Holding the Line Where It Matters

This doesn’t mean rejecting technology. It means being intentional.

It means:

• Prioritizing in-person meetings
• Protecting time outdoors
• Encouraging real conversations over digital ones
• Letting boys struggle instead of solving everything for them

Because the goal isn’t efficiency. The goal is formation.

Don’t Lose What Makes Us Human

AI will continue to evolve. It will get faster, smarter, and more integrated into daily life. But no matter how advanced it becomes, one truth remains:

We are still human and we still need:

• Connection
• Challenge
• Purpose
• Belonging

The troop, the patrol, the campfire—these are not outdated ideas. They are anchors in a rapidly changing world. And the next generation is counting on us to hold them steady.

A Simple Challenge for Leaders

At your next meeting, ask yourself:

• Did I prioritize connection over efficiency?
• Did I let the boys lead—even if it was messy?
• Did I create space for real conversation?

Because in the age of AI, the greatest thing we can offer isn’t better answers.

It’s a better example of what it means to be human.

Final Thoughts – Troopmaster Times

While troops are essential to many boys and men for connecting with each other and the natural world, how do we prepare for the changing digital landscape? While human influence on the direction of the world continues to diminish at a rapid pace as we see more people turning to AI for both basic and complex questions, where does the troop method fit?

I believe it’s even more essential for boys to connect with wise, grounded men who are aware of AI and yet choose to maintain the human-to-human connection for growth using interaction with the physical and natural world.

For further articles and discussion about AI and the troop method, contact us and ask about the beta launch of an upcoming adult leader fellowship we’re launching for troop leaders to connect and encourage each other and celebrate personal and mentorship wins.