My Philosophy Regarding AI Usage - Part II
Using AI Without Losing Our Ability To Think
In the first part I discussed about the downsides of using AI in a reckless manner. The focus of this article is more about following some good practices while using AI.
“Do I need to stop using AI?”
Absolutely not!
AI is a great accelerator and I believe that it can help us bring out the best in us if we wield it properly. I have my own way of using AI. In fact, the trigger for writing this blog came from this Youtube video by Don Woodlock. In his video, he states that there is a way to use AI which preserves our cognitive abilities.
My Tips Regarding AI Usage
There is a lot of overlap between Don and my methods, but I go into a bit more detail. Before I discuss the tips, let me explain how I arrived there. If you remember my last article, I spoke about maximizing certain metrics. The metrics are
- Cognitive ability - Using the tool should not decrease our own thinking abilities
- Control - We should always be in control of the direction in which the generation takes place
- Understanding - The output and methodology of the AI should be clear to us at all time
Based on these metrics, I have devised a set of tips which maximize the said metrics.
Tip 1: Use AI to only enhance your existing knowledge
We humans have a tendency to get attached to certain viewpoints about topics. AI is really good at giving alternate viewpoints, expanding our horizon and removing certain biases. So use AI to gain a new perspective about a topic about which you have existing ideas.
Tip 2: During the research phase, ask the AI clarifying questions; more the better
When you are researching a topic with an AI, try to formulate questions based on their response. This is better compared to simply reading their output because it forces your brain to critically think.
Tip 3: Try avoiding using the AI for full generation
You can use AI to generate snippets of code, or rearrange an existing text, but never give it complete autonomy over your task. Giving it autonomy is the easiest way to lose control over your creative process. At the end of the day, you will be responsible for the output generated by the AI.
Tip 4: Instead of full generation, ask for best practices
When you need to create something (a piece of text or image), ask the AI what are the properties of a good piece of content. Example, do not ask the AI “generate an essay on renewable energy”, instead ask “I am writing an essay on renewable energy. What are some points that I should mention in the essay?”. This allows you to learn what makes a good piece of content.
Tip 5: Try to resort to AI once you have exhausted your natural knowledge
When faced with a problem, spend a little time on trying to resolve the problem on your own. Just like before, this forces you to critically think. If you think it’s beyond your abilities, or your professional work depends on your solving the problem as fast as possible, you may use AI. However, AI should not be your first instinct.
Conclusion
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| AI and short-form content; the fast-food of this age |
As per my observation of the people around me, there is a negativity associated with boredom and slow progress. People do not want to be bored, or want to spend any time with their own thoughts. We are now in the era of instant-gratification, where if any content doesn’t please our senses the moment we lay our eyes on it, is immediately swiped up (or down? I do not know). You might feel that this action alone is insignificant, but repeat this over hours and it trains our mind to give attention to the most pleasing content only. This causes us to subconsciously ignore boring or any hard problems in life, and anything which does not please us, is gravely displeasing. This is also what has accelerated AI usage among the masses.
If we want to preserve our ability to think, return to slow progress and boredom, and use AI like a tool instead of your guide. Think of AI as fast-food of the brain; it’s easy to consume an excessive amount as it’s delicious, and terrible for your health in the long-run.