A Productive Rivalry With AI
Life as an Instructional Designer: A 4-Part Series Part
Part 4: A Productive Rivalry With AI
AI has become a regular part of how I work, and overall, I support it. It helps me move faster, think differently, and unblock myself when I’m stuck. Whether I’m refining language, brainstorming ideas, or working through a problem, it’s hard to imagine my workflow without it at this point. I’m also fortunate to work on a team that supports thoughtful AI use and encourages learning through experimentation.
At the same time, I feel conflicted about it more often than I expected. I’ve caught myself spending too much time refining prompts, arguing with ChatGPT over small details, or searching for the “perfect” output instead of moving forward. In those moments, the tool that’s meant to save time ends up doing the opposite. I’ve even found myself questioning things like whether I should turn off AI suggestions in Google Search just to give my brain a little more space to think on its own. I don’t even want to know what my AI usage data would say about the time I’ve spent "arguing" with it.
There are also broader considerations that sit in the background of how I use AI, including ethical use, environmental impact, and the risk of outsourcing too much of our critical thinking. Those concerns don’t stop me from using AI, but they do make me more aware of how I’m using it and why.
What I’m learning is that working with AI is less about mastering the tool and more about adapting how I use it. I don’t aim for a perfect “output.” Like AI itself, I learn as I go. When I treat it as support rather than a solution, it works better for both my workflow and my thinking. I’m learning to think of AI as a long game, not a quick win.
I don’t think this relationship is something to “figure out” once and be done with. Like the work itself, it’s evolving. For now, being intentional, reflective, and occasionally a little uncomfortable with how I use AI has been a useful place to start. The push and pull between using AI and questioning it has become a familiar rhythm in my work, sometimes productive, sometimes a little heated.
What's Next?
Still reflecting on AI in the ID world? Check out some of my colleagues’ posts to learn more.
Using AI with Ethics in Mind by Andrea Turnbull
What I Learned from AI Failures Part 1: My Hapless Plan by Matt Murphy
Keeping It Real: Maintaining the Personal Touch When Building Courses With AI by Olly Fayers
Learning Loops, Not Lectures: Systems and Design Thinking with Brightspace and AI by Richa Arora
“Overcoming AI Trepidation” or “Surviving Awkward Chats About AI Over Christmas Dinner” by Sam Nowicki
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