AI is a powerful tool, but a tool doesn't think, decide, or lead. You do. The moment you let AI make your choices, you've handed over something that belongs to you. These five principles keep you in charge.
Use AI to sharpen your reasoning, not replace it.
AI is a thinking aid, not a thinking replacement. Use it to accelerate your work and develop ideas, but keep yourself in the driver's seat at every step.
Generate first attempts to get started faster, then shape them with your own thinking.
Ask AI to explain ideas, then verify them yourself before accepting them as true.
Polish work you already created. Don't outsource the creation itself.
Generate possibilities, then you decide what's best. The decision is always yours.
Never input sensitive information into an AI tool.
Some information should never enter an AI tool. The risk of exposure is real, and the consequences can be serious for you and others.
Your own or anyone else's names, addresses, or IDs.
Records, client details, internal communications.
Account details or sensitive transactions of any kind.
Anything marked confidential, restricted, or proprietary.
Confident-sounding output is not accurate output.
AI can generate plausible-sounding facts, citations, and explanations that are simply wrong. Before you use AI output for anything that matters, check it.
Before citing anything, verify it against a trusted, independent source.
Assess whether the output actually makes sense given what you already know.
Take responsibility for what you submit or share. That's your name on it.
If you wouldn't stake your grade on it without checking, don't use it as-is.
Know what's allowed before you use AI for a task.
Your school and workplace have policies on AI use. Not knowing the policy is not an excuse. When in doubt, ask before you act.
Check your teacher's policy before using AI on any assignment. Every class may have different rules.
Check with your manager before using AI on any work task. Policies vary by organization and role.
Don't automate decisions or workflows without explicit permission from the appropriate authority.
You are responsible for any work you submit, AI-assisted or not. Ownership doesn't transfer to the tool.
When something feels off, stop before you act.
If AI output seems wrong, inappropriate, or risky, don't submit it, share it, or act on it. Pause. Ask a teacher or supervisor. Asking is what responsible people do.
Stop before submitting or sharing anything that seems off. A moment of hesitation can prevent a serious mistake.
Is this accurate? Is this appropriate? Could this cause harm to you or someone else?
Tell a teacher or supervisor. Raising a concern is always the right move, it shows judgment, not weakness.
Not your ability to copy output. AI is a tool, and you are the one in charge. Always.
Use AI to sharpen reasoning, not replace it.
Never input sensitive information into any AI tool.
Confident-sounding is not the same as accurate.
Know what's allowed before you use AI for any task.
When something feels off, stop before you act.
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