Do you use AI responsibly?

Many people hesitate to rely on AI, fearing it will replace human decision-making or lead to lazy dependence. However, the real problem isn’t using AI, it’s using it blindly.

Just like any other tool, AI should be leveraged intelligently to enhance productivity and decision-making.

Be transparent when using AI

Transparency is key when using AI-generated content. If AI is simply refining your own work, disclosure may not be necessary. However, there are cases where you should clearly communicate AI involvement:

• If significant portions of content are AI-generated – For example, if an AI writes an entire report, readers should know that
• If AI-generated content influences decision-making – If you're making a business decision based on AI recommendations, others involved should be aware
• When AI involvement impacts trust – E.g. using AI-generated customer reviews or testimonials without disclosure is unethical

See Do you indicate when AI helped? 🤖 for details.

Apply critical thinking

You get out what you put in, both in context and effort. To get meaningful results:

1. Give the AI full context – Include any important data or background information
2. Give it some direction – Include some bullet points for your initial solution to the problem
3. Edit the AI generated responses – Never assume the first response is perfect; refine it to match your needs

Understand AI’s boundaries

AI is powerful, but it has limitations:

• Fact-check information – AI can hallucinate or present outdated info. Limit this by enabling the “Web Search” feature in your LLM client
• Know what LLMs can and can't do – They excel at summarizing, brainstorming, and coding assistance but struggle with nuanced reasoning and real-world context

❌ Figure: Bad example - Blindly trusting the AI with compliance issues

✅ Figure: Good example - Fact-checking the AI when business decisions are at stake.

Protect data privacy

AI services differ in how they handle user data. Be mindful of:

• Training data policies – Make sure you opt-out of your conversations being used to train the models
• Confidentiality – Never enter sensitive company data unless using private AI models
• Secure options – If needed, run AI models privately via Azure, a private cloud, or even offline using Ollama

Use the right tool for the right job

Maximize AI’s potential by using the right tools for the right tasks:

• Use ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, etc. – For emails, web content, marketing materials, documentation, and training resources
• Use AI voice mode – It’s great as a sounding board or to explain concepts
• Use GitHub Copilot or Cursor – For generating boilerplate code, auto-completions, unit tests, and debugging

Don't let it make you lazy

AI isn’t something to hide or fear. When used correctly, it enhances efficiency and decision-making. However, leaning on it too much, can lead to Automation Bias.