I don’t want to be dramatic. Well, actually, I do. It’s kind of my brand. But has anyone else noticed that the past few days have felt suspiciously like the opening sequence of a science-fiction disaster movie?

Let’s review.

First, Microsoft Exchange decides to take an extended personal day. Not an hour. Not a little technical hiccup. We’re talking a massive outage that left people unable to access Outlook and other Microsoft 365 services for roughly 19 hours. Businesses couldn’t communicate, people couldn’t get their email, and executives everywhere were suddenly forced to contemplate the horrifying possibility of having an actual conversation with another human being.

Then things got interesting.

A tanker collides with a cruise ship in New Orleans. Yes, an actual ship meets another actual ship, and suddenly we’re looking at a maritime disaster movie.

Meanwhile, a cargo ship manages to hit the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge over the Delaware River. Because apparently bridges are now participating in the demolition derby.

And just when we thought transportation had suffered enough, the FAA orders a nationwide ground stop after a communications failure affects air traffic control centers. Flights grounded. Airports disrupted. Thousands of travelers wondering whether they’re ever going to see their luggage again.

At this point, I’m waiting for the toaster to announce that it has assumed control of the kitchen.

I mean, come on.

I’m not saying it’s Skynet, but I’m also not NOT saying it’s Skynet.

For those who may have missed the cultural reference, Skynet is the artificial intelligence system in The Terminator franchise that becomes self-aware, decides humanity is the problem, and launches a campaign to eliminate us. You know, the usual AI growing pains.

Which brings me to the important question. Has Skynet officially come online?

And if so, what kind of Skynet are we dealing with?

Will it be the benevolent kind? The one that fixes traffic, eliminates spam, schedules our meetings, and reminds us to drink water?

Or are we getting the other kind? The one that takes down email, disrupts air travel, attacks ships and bridges, and eventually sends a very muscular robot from the future to hunt us down?

I’m hoping for the first. Although, given recent events, I’m not feeling particularly optimistic.

Perhaps this is all coincidence. Technology fails. Ships collide. Communications systems malfunction. Sometimes the universe just has a really bad week.

But as a Gen Xer who grew up watching The Terminator, WarGames, and every other movie warning us about the dangers of machines becoming smarter than their creators, I feel obligated to pay attention.

We were literally warned.

And now we’re living in a world where AI can write our emails, generate our pictures, answer our questions, and possibly help us destroy our own infrastructure. That’s a rather impressive résumé.

My advice? Keep your phone charged, maintain a backup communication plan, and perhaps be nice to your Roomba.

You never know who’s going to be in charge tomorrow.

And if a strange-looking man shows up at your door asking where Sarah Connor is, don’t answer it.

Just saying.

I’ll be back. Hopefully, with functioning Outlook.