How I AI:

I write. A lot. In a lot of categories and genres. For a lot of different purposes. And that means that I’m going to use AI. A lot. In a lot of different ways.

But “using AI” in writing can mean a lot of different things. Did it generate the text based on my prompt? Did I ask for feedback on my writing? Did it help me brainstorm titles (naming things is my kryptonite)? Did it format the manuscript of my latest book?

The three guiding questions and subsequent mantras that I outline in my book, AI for the Curious and Confused form the foundation of my approach to AI + writing.

1. Does using AI for this task strengthen my relationships with others, or weaken them? (People First)
2. Would I want to know if AI was used to create this? (Be Transparent)
3. Am I willing to stand behind this as if I wrote it myself? (Take responsibility)

You can quickly read that chapter at the bottom of this post or download it here.

Using these principles as a foundation has allowed me to create a more specific set of guidelines for myself.

• I will rarely if ever use AI to write emails or messages to individuals I have any sort of relationship with. If we’re having a conversation, even if it’s written, you get me, messy and wordy and clunky. I don’t want to build a relationship on words that aren’t my own.
• I always attempt to write my first draft. Whether I’m writing a blog post, social media post or a book, I write first, then may use AI to help with reviewing and improving.
  • Sometimes, AI will suggest a different wording and after reviewing, if I prefer the way it wrote it, I will accept those changes.
• If AI writes something on my behalf, I will not “blame” AI if I later don’t like it. If I’ve chosen to use AI to write something for me, then I consider it “mine” and must take responsibility as such.
• I will not hide that I’m using AI. Sometimes, I’d prefer to not share that I used AI. The thoughts and writing are similar enough to what I would have said that I could probably get away with not claiming I used AI. But, at least in this interim period where we’re all learning how to live with this new tool, it’s important that we’re transparent.

I’m a person who loves categorizing things (I have a deep love for color-coded spreadsheets). In that same vein and in the spirit of full transparency, I’ve created a tool, clearly visible on my website that shows how AI was used in each of my major writings.

AI Use A B C D E F G Light touchMore involved Process notes Explore my AI Use. A simple, color-coded vocabulary for where AI did—and did not—play a role in my work. See how it works →

Check it out and let me know what you think.