AI: Avoiders, Abusers, and Finding the Right Balance
A few weeks ago, I was procrastinating on my to-do list, scrolling through posts from friends and colleagues on social media. I came across a motivating post – the details I can’t remember, but it was enough to stop and read it in its entirety. It was good stuff – something about setting the example as leaders and empowering our teams. However, at the end of the post was something odd, yet strangely familiar:
“This updated version maintains your casual and direct style while making the text more engaging and concise”.
A keen eye will immediately recognize the boilerplate response from ChatGPT. It was obvious that the motivational social media user had simply copied and pasted the AI’s suggested text, passing it off as their own, forgetting to remove the final statement from the chatbot.
Over time, it’s become increasingly easy (for me at least) to spot AI-generated writings. It’s even more obvious when people use the “free” models, which are typically more limited in their responses and content.
The choice to prompt ChatGPT to “generate me a two-paragraph motivational message about servant leadership” rather than taking the time to share your own experiences and perspectives damages your credibility and influence.
On the flip side, we know that these tools can be useful. I personally use AI tools almost daily – whether it’s to flesh out ideas, review an email, or avoid overusing the same word. It’s great. I’ve also heard success stories from colleagues and friends in software development, who use AI to help identify bugs or errors in their code.
When it comes to AI, people tend to fall into two camps – “Avoiders” and “Abusers”.
“Avoiders” are just that – they’ve never used AI and fail to see how it can help them – whether in their personal life or professionally. Similar to the initial hesitancy to buy a cell phone (then later upgrading to a smartphone), these tools ultimately become so prevalent that they permeate all areas of our lives. And the change comes fast – just think about COVID – suddenly, we were locked down at home and my son was attending his kindergarten class on Zoom.
AI solutions can vastly improve both personal and professional life by streamlining communication, speeding up document review, and saving time and money.
On the other side we have the “Abusers”. This is the person who posted the motivational social media note. They ask AI to write something or provide research on a topic, then take the output at face value. While at first glance the AI-generated content may seem “good enough”, a closer look could reveal inaccuracies even risk plagiarism.
We shouldn’t avoid AI, but we also shouldn’t abuse it.
AI models – whether ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok/xAI, Apple Intelligence, or Copilot – are tools at our disposal. But they are not crutches. Below is a list of “Dos” and “Don’ts” to consider when using AI:
Do:
Try it out: If you’re new to AI, try asking ChatGPT for a dinner recipe. Then ask it to modify the recipe based on your personal dietary needs or preferences, and see how well it adapts.
Make it your own: If you’re using AI to help with your writing, does the output really sound like you and your writing style? Use it for feedback, but ensure you maintain your unique voice. Use it if you’re stuck, to help expand on your points, and to bring new ideas to consider.
Explore how it can help: If your organization isn’t looking at AI to improve their operations, rest assured – your competitors will. Research how AI can streamline document review, improve communications, or even automate repetitive tasks.
Don’t:
Just copy and paste: Feel free to ask it to review your writing, but never just copy and paste the output. Remember, YOU have a message to share. Don’t let it be ruined by fake AI lingo.
Assume it’s always right: If it provides sources or research, be sure to independently verify them.
Input confidential information into an AI model: Typically, the AI software company “owns” the information you put in and uses it to further train the software. You don’t want to expose yourself to trouble by giving it sensitive or personally identifiable information (PII).
Let it replace your uniqueness: AI should complement your skills, not replace them.
AI is not going anywhere – it’s only becoming more prevalent in everything that we do. Learning how to properly use it as a tool will help you – both personally and professionally!