Chapter 8: Should I Use AI?

AI can be incredibly helpful, but it isn’t always the right tool for every situation. Learning when to use AI — and when not to — is a major part of becoming AI fluent.

This chapter introduces a simple decision framework to help you determine whether AI is appropriate, safe, and reliable for the task at hand.

AI excels at tasks involving pattern recognition, summarization, drafting, classification, or large amounts of information. These strengths make it ideal for:

• Repetitive work: drafting emails, generating ideas, creating outlines, summarizing notes.
• Information processing: analyzing documents, sorting information, comparing options.
• Brainstorming: providing variations, examples, or creative suggestions.
• Learning support: offering explanations, generating practice questions, or helping with language translation.
• Productivity: automating small tasks so you can focus on bigger decisions.

If AI can make a task faster, easier, or more efficient without introducing new risks, it’s often a good fit.

Some tasks require additional caution, especially when accuracy, sensitivity, or fairness are critical. Use extra care when:

• The information is sensitive: personal data, medical records, financial details, private images.
• The stakes are high: legal decisions, medical advice, safety-critical tasks.
• The outcome affects fairness: hiring, grading, evaluations, or disciplinary decisions.
• Factual accuracy is essential: research, reporting, compliance, or scientific work.

In these cases, AI can still assist — but a human expert must verify or confirm the results.

Some situations are simply not appropriate for AI. Avoid using AI when:

• You are replacing your own learning, judgment, or critical thinking.
• The task involves deception, harm, or unethical behavior.
• You cannot verify the AI’s output but accuracy is mandatory.
• You are sharing content that must remain confidential but are using a public AI model.
• The task requires emotional understanding or deep personal context.

AI is a powerful tool — not a moral compass, not a decision-maker, and not a substitute for human oversight.

Before using AI, ask yourself three quick questions:

1. Helpful? Will AI make this task easier, faster, or better?
2. Safe? Could using AI create risks, privacy issues, or unintended harm?
3. Trustworthy? Can you verify the results or double-check them if needed?

If the answer to all three is yes, AI is appropriate. If the answer to any one is no, pause and reconsider.

AI is most valuable when used thoughtfully: to accelerate work, support learning, inspire creativity, or automate tasks — while keeping human judgment in the loop.

A simple rule: Use AI when it is Helpful, Safe, and Trustworthy. If not, rely on your own expertise or seek human guidance.