Lately I've been noticing a lot of my colleagues at work using ChatGPT for reports and emails. I still write everything by hand, but I'm wondering if I'm wasting time. Does it still make sense to cultivate original thinking when technology does everything for you?
In my opinion there's a big difference between using a tool and having your brain replaced - AI is good at putting together information that already exists, but genuinely new ideas still come from people who know how to think critically and personally, so if you cultivate that you're not wasting your time at all.
I agree with what's been said, but I'd add a more personal perspective. I work with clients at the gym and I often find myself writing personalized workout plans - and yeah, I could use an AI-generated template, but what makes the difference is when I notice a client has weird posture or an asymmetry that needs a tailored approach. That observation, that intuition, comes from years of paying attention and hands-on experience. AI can give you the structure, but the added value is yours. It's kind of like when I water my plants - I know the growth cycle of my monstera because I've watched it carefully for months, not because I read a guide. That empirical knowledge is hard to replicate.
The thing is, if everyone uses AI the same way, we all become the same. Your colleagues who use ChatGPT for reports probably produce documents that all look alike. You, on the other hand, writing by hand and in your own words, develop a style that's recognizable, more authentic. And yeah, maybe it takes you more time, but your original thinking becomes your competitive advantage, not a disadvantage. I don't think you're wasting time; rather, you're building something more solid. Use AI as a tool if you want to speed things up, but don't let it replace your creative process - that's really where the value lies.
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