I get your concern. I’ll be the first to admit that I use ChatGTP pretty frequently—I find it very useful for polishing written docs or emails, or for getting me started with writing when I’m having a bit of brain block. However, while tools like ChatGPT are great for efficiency, I do worry they can lead to surface-level engagement, where people don’t fully grasp the complexities of the work or even the gist of what they are writing about. I also worry that relying on AI might make us miss key details and context, and I see your point that it could reduce our emotional connection to the cause. We might get more done, but at the cost of being less invested or maybe less EA aligned?
That said, AI does level the playing field for those with less experience, helping them communicate more clearly. I think/hope the key is finding the balance—using AI for efficiency without losing the depth, understanding, creativity, humaness and emotional connection that’s critical to the work.
Totally agree — “surface-level engagement” is exactly the phrase I’ve been circling around without quite naming it. That’s the subtle risk, I think: you feel productive, even insightful, but you haven’t actually done the real thinking yet. It’s like reading a menu and thinking you’ve tasted the meal.
And I really resonate with your point about emotional connection. When I’m too “efficient,” sometimes the work starts to feel oddly transactional — like I’m just slotting in the next block of text or ideas, rather than wrestling with them. I don’t think EA work has to feel emotionally intense all the time, but there’s a danger if it becomes purely mechanical.
That said, I’m with you: AI can absolutely empower people who might otherwise struggle to express their ideas clearly — whether due to language barriers, confidence, or just inexperience with writing. I’ve seen it give people a kind of voice they didn’t have before, and that feels like a win.
“The key is finding the balance.” Yes, exactly. Maybe the hard part is that the balance will look different depending on the person, the task, and the stakes involved. But just being aware of the tension seems like a good first step.
Have you found any specific habits or “guardrails” that help you stay on the deeper-thinking side when using ChatGPT?
I get your concern. I’ll be the first to admit that I use ChatGTP pretty frequently—I find it very useful for polishing written docs or emails, or for getting me started with writing when I’m having a bit of brain block. However, while tools like ChatGPT are great for efficiency, I do worry they can lead to surface-level engagement, where people don’t fully grasp the complexities of the work or even the gist of what they are writing about. I also worry that relying on AI might make us miss key details and context, and I see your point that it could reduce our emotional connection to the cause. We might get more done, but at the cost of being less invested or maybe less EA aligned?
That said, AI does level the playing field for those with less experience, helping them communicate more clearly. I think/hope the key is finding the balance—using AI for efficiency without losing the depth, understanding, creativity, humaness and emotional connection that’s critical to the work.
Totally agree — “surface-level engagement” is exactly the phrase I’ve been circling around without quite naming it. That’s the subtle risk, I think: you feel productive, even insightful, but you haven’t actually done the real thinking yet. It’s like reading a menu and thinking you’ve tasted the meal.
And I really resonate with your point about emotional connection. When I’m too “efficient,” sometimes the work starts to feel oddly transactional — like I’m just slotting in the next block of text or ideas, rather than wrestling with them. I don’t think EA work has to feel emotionally intense all the time, but there’s a danger if it becomes purely mechanical.
That said, I’m with you: AI can absolutely empower people who might otherwise struggle to express their ideas clearly — whether due to language barriers, confidence, or just inexperience with writing. I’ve seen it give people a kind of voice they didn’t have before, and that feels like a win.
Have you found any specific habits or “guardrails” that help you stay on the deeper-thinking side when using ChatGPT?