I started an important conversation about the use of generative AI (think: ChatGPT, Gemini, and other chatbots that can converse with us and come up with original answers), and now I need to see it through. My latest article ruffled some feathers and started some conversations, and I love that. Discussing the use of AI with someone who engaged with my article and uses AI as an assistant made me think more generally about generative AI and how many ways people tend use this tool.

I’ve had my own experiences using generative AI as someone interested in astrology, numerology, human design, writing, strategy, and some specific topics. I was interested in exploring and discussing these subjects with the chatbots, but people are using this tech for all kinds of reasons nowadays.

So, I thought about all the different ways people use generative AI and made some agreements with myself to guide my use. This final post on the topic of generative AI provides guidelines that I use to ethically and mindfully engage with this tech.

Before I get to my agreements that serve as guidelines, here is some context of what I’ve discussed thus far.

Two deliveries, one topic: generative AI

My first article addressed three main topics:

My journey using generative AI and how I experienced it;
When and how AI use became messy for me as a writer;
The oftentimes hidden costs of generative AI use. I didn’t get into specifics, but you can find more information from Arbor’s article on AI’s environmental impact (link embedded here).

It’s a very sharp piece, written unapologetically assertively. You can read it here.

After that post, I felt inspired to write a short story: The Genie. This short story format addresses some of the issues discussed in the first critical piece but has a different angle. Simpler to read and easy to understand, the Genie can be accessed here or by tapping on the image below. It reads like a children’s story.

The cherry on top: a logical guide

This third post on this topic culminates my exploration and sharing of my thoughts on gen.AI use, for now. After all, we will all do what we want anyway, so I’m not going to bother too much trying to convince people what they should or shouldn’t do.

But I was thinking, instead of merely critiquing and sharing how I’ve experienced and now view generative AI as a writer, and asking if we have “the brains to use AI,” what about also showing how we can possibly mindfully use it?

I’m an idealist as I’m a realist. And the truth of the matter is that people ARE going to keep using generative AI. More people than ever. And more mindlessly than ever. More exploitative than ever.

I foresee an AI-(assisted)-content blow-up. While I don’t know how that will look like in a few years from now, I foresee technology aiding us back to our humanity. But not immediately, for this is just the beginning phase of a wave that must run its course.

As a writer, I have made my peace with this realization and have come up with a strategy for myself so I can navigate the changing waters and upcoming wave of “creatives” and polished posts that will be, indeed, indistinguishable on the surface from the work that I, an actual, seasoned writer, academic, and philosopher, produce. But that is no longer an issue, as I also know who I am.

After sitting with the implications of using generative AI as an intellectual, creative, conscious human, I have made some agreements that guide how I now interact with it.

This was inspired by all the many different ways people already use the tech. I find it so much easier to know where I stand with anything when I actually think about it. When I can hold space for different sides of an argument and find, using both my critical thinking and intuition, the best course of action.

I believe that you may find some value in how I go about generative AI after trying it and finding out that it’s not worth the costs for me. Who knows? You might even take some agreements and make them your own.

At the end of the day, all these posts about AI boil down to one thing: a sense of urgency to educate ourselves and be mindful of how we use generative artificial intelligence.

Here are 20 agreements I have with myself to guide my generative AI use: