AI for the People: A Mindful Approach to Artificial Intelligence Without Losing Humanity
There is much to criticise about artificial intelligence. From privacy concerns to job displacement, the technology often sparks fear and suspicion. But what if there was a more mindful way to engage with AI? Our new free course, AI for the People, demonstrates practical methods to work with artificial intelligence without sacrificing judgment, privacy, or human connection.
From Party Bore to Practical Advocate
For the past year, I have been that person at social gatherings who inevitably steers conversations toward AI. When I mention my work on an AI-focused newsletter, I typically encounter frowns and scepticism. However, this is not another advertisement promoting AI as a replacement for human interaction or a tool to deceive employers. Instead, my focus is on utilising AI in ways that preserve our humanity.
Like many, I despise mindless content and the threats AI poses to privacy, cognitive abilities, and employment. Yet I view AI similarly to the internet. While the internet introduced problems like doomscrolling, data harvesting, and misinformation, it also provided digital maps, podcasts, Wikipedia, and video calls. Powerful tools can be exploited, but that does not mean we must comply. We must demand proper regulation and accountability from AI companies, advocating for guardrails on privacy, environmental impact, and misinformation.
Practical Applications with Guardrails
So where does this leave us? In AI for the People, our free six-week newsletter course, we explore useful ways to work with AI while remaining alert and in control—whether at work, in the kitchen, at the gym, or elsewhere. We implement this with clear principles, outlined below as our four cardinal rules.
When discussing AI with sceptical acquaintances, I highlight its practical benefits. For instance, I detest informational asymmetry, such as corporations using legalese to obscure contract terms. I use AI to explain terms and conditions in plain English, highlighting concerning clauses. Additionally, AI has assisted with time management, studying for driving tests, adventurous cooking, consistent workouts, and even learning to play musical instruments like the tin whistle.
In most cases, AI is no substitute for human beings. However, as an assistant for understanding information, speeding up tasks, or creating tailored plans, it has provided small, practical revelations throughout the year.
Learning to Discriminate and Adapt
AI for the People is not about life-changing prompts or letting chatbots do your job. It is about learning how AI can help without surrendering judgment. As AI expert Ethan Mollick noted, "It's just like any other tool: you dull your skills and critical thinking by giving all your skills and critical thinking to the AI."
Many of these issues are not new. In 2002, Italian author Umberto Eco discussed misinformation on the early web, stating, "The problem with the internet is that it gives you everything, reliable material and crazy material. So the problem becomes, how do you discriminate?" This question—how we learn to discriminate, adapt, and stay in control—guides the philosophy behind AI for the People.
Our Four Cardinal Rules for Mindful AI Use
AI can be powerful and genuinely useful, but only if approached with intention. Here are the principles underpinning our series.
1. You're the Boss
You can instruct AI to handle tasks and uncritically accept its responses, but this trade-off gradually erodes your control. As Ethan Mollick, author of Co-Intelligence, advises, "If you're trying to learn something, make sure the AI is asking you questions and not giving you answers." Therefore, we treat AI as a smart collaborator or assistant, with you remaining in charge.
2. Be Your Own Fact-Checker
AI tools can be incorrect due to poor sourcing or hallucinations. For example, in 2024, Google's AI search overview mistakenly suggested adding glue to pizza after misinterpreting a Reddit joke. Treat AI information like any other data. Mollick emphasises, "If it's something that really matters, you have to spend the time to verify it." You can request sources from AI or upload documents like peer-reviewed studies for it to base answers on.
3. Be Informed and Intentional
The Guardian has reported on AI's alarming environmental impacts, which may confuse users. While data is complex, the larger issues involve AI infrastructure growth, passive integration into digital services, and energy sources. All online activities consume energy and water, from streaming to video calls. Some evidence suggests AI for simple tasks is not vastly more energy-intensive than basic web searches. For this series, we use text-based prompts, which have lower energy consumption. Responsible use is key—just as you would not run a dishwasher for one fork.
4. Don't Share Sensitive Information
To protect privacy and employment, be cautious about what you share with AI. Input is sent to corporate servers and may be accessed via data breaches or legal requests. Many workplaces have strict AI policies, and shared data can train models unless you opt out.
