“I don’t want to become dependent on AI”
I hear people say that one of their worries about using AI is that they won’t be able to work without it.
In some ways, that’s probably true. AI is becoming so integrated into everyday work that soon avoiding it won’t be practical.
But we’re already dependent on many technologies (like computers, the internet, and email) that make day-to-day work possible. In that sense, “dependency” just means we rely on tools to do modern work.
I don’t think that’s what people are worried about when it comes to AI. What we’re afraid of is losing our ability to reason through problems and express ourselves in human ways.
If we lean too hard on AI, will we forget how to think?
Happily, this fate is avoidable. Here are some ways to retain your critical thinking when using AI, particularly for writing.
Before you start, define for yourself:
- What’s the purpose or goal? What problem am I trying to solve?
- What do I want to say, and how do I want to say it?
- Who is this for? What do they need?
- What additional context or constraints should I give the AI tool?
When you’re evaluating AI output, ask yourself:
- Does what AI gave me make sense? Does it sound right? Do I agree with it?
- How might my reader react to this?
- Where are the weakest parts? Does it flow logically?
- Are there any important points I haven’t included?
Once you’ve gone back and forth with AI a few times, consider:
- Have I gotten as far as I can go with AI? Does it seem likely that more rounds of refining will help?
- Do I need to do more writing/editing/revising myself?
- How helpful was AI for this task, and should I use it this way again?
If you engage your judgment before, during, and after using AI, you’ll get better output and strengthen your ability to think critically. Over time, that judgment becomes faster and more intuitive. That’s how AI stays a tool you use, not a crutch you depend on.
Don’t let AI drive the bus. Use it in ways that don’t require it to think for you.