"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.