"and instead, have been only focusing on things in my direct control"

I think this is a wise practice, generally speaking.

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can change; and wisdom to know the difference."

"We almost need AI to take on the issue of whale abuse, as it appears that no human wants to go to war with a whale."

I guess an AI's inability to be monetarily threatened, or held hostage by reputation, might indeed be necessary.

Vote SkyNet/HAL in 2020.