Did You Write That?
Is Using AI Cheating...
One of the most interesting things about using AI at work isn’t just what it can do - it’s how people react to it.
I’ve been experimenting with AI, and the results are impressive. Whether it’s helping draft documents, summarise information, or explore ideas from a fresh angle, the tools are proving to be incredibly useful. But every now and then, after I’ve shared something, I’ll get a comment - sometimes with a smile, sometimes not - that goes something like: “Did you write that… or was it AI?”
At face value, it’s a simple question. But behind it is often something else: a hesitation, a concern, maybe even a quiet discomfort with how fast things are changing. And in some cases, a lingering suspicion that using AI might somehow be “cheating”.
We’ve Been Here Before
It’s not the first time we’ve had this conversation in the workplace. People once worried that calculators would make us lazy, or that word processors would ruin our writing. Now they’re just part of how we work.
AI is new, yes - but the underlying pattern is familiar. A powerful tool arrives, early adopters start exploring its potential, and a period of adjustment follows. It’s natural. But if we let doubt or discomfort turn into resistance, we risk missing the bigger opportunity.
Because here’s the truth: using AI well is not cheating. It’s a skill. And like any skill, it takes practice, judgement and a sense of responsibility.
It’s Still Your Work
One thing AI doesn’t do is take over. It doesn’t decide what matters. It doesn’t understand our context or our goals. It can generate ideas, offer summaries, test phrasing - but the direction, intent and judgement still sit firmly with us.
When I use AI to help shape a piece of writing or develop an idea, it’s not about taking shortcuts. It’s about thinking differently. Seeing what I’ve missed. Starting faster so I can go deeper. The end result is still mine - but the process is better supported, and often better informed.
Far from replacing the need for human thinking, AI invites more of it. It challenges me to ask better questions, to refine what I mean, to interrogate what I want to say. That’s not taking the easy route - it’s working smarter.
Let’s Shift the Conversation
What I’d love to see is a shift in tone. Less focus on whether something was “written by AI” and more interest in how tools like this are being used to improve quality, save time, and spark new ideas.
That means being open about how we use AI, but also being confident that doing so isn’t a compromise. It’s an evolution.
And yes, we need to be thoughtful. We need the right safeguards, standards, and ethical guidance. But we also need space to explore - to try things, to learn, and to bring others along without fear of being second-guessed.
A Role for Leaders
If you’re in a senior leadership role, you play a key part in setting the tone for how new technologies are received. The message from the top matters. When leaders openly support the use of AI, when they encourage curiosity rather than judgement, it creates the conditions for meaningful change.
This isn’t about hype or blind adoption. It’s about recognising that the way we work is changing - and helping people feel safe and supported as they adapt. The goal is not to replace people. It’s to empower them.
So let’s make it clear: using AI is not cutting corners. It’s about working with the tools available to do a better job. That’s something we should encourage, not question.
The Future Is a Team Effort
None of us has all the answers yet. That’s what makes this moment exciting. The more we share what works (and what doesn’t), the more confident we’ll all become in using AI wisely, responsibly, and creatively.
So next time someone asks me, “Did you write that?” I’ll say, “I did - with help from a tool that made it better. Want to see how it works?”
Because this isn’t about proving a point. It’s about learning together - and moving forward, together.
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Very interesting read! Completely agree with your sentiments of AI being used as a tool and enhancing rather than replacing or hindering what currently exists. I would say, though, that most AI users are probably not as cognisant as you with regards to disclosure and limiting use to editing as opposed to core content. Additionally, when AI is used as a search engine the information is not always accurate but people take it at face value anyway as opposed to doing their own research to fact check etc. I think, for me, there's a much wider scope to AI controversy than simply 'was it written by AI or not'. It's also about the impacts of using AI itself, it's still largely unregulated so what we feed it and what that is being used for is a bit of an unknown and potential concern re data sharing, IP etc. Moreover, the environmental impact of AI is what most concerns me. I didn't realise how unaware people were of how much water and energy it takes to run AI data centres. Because that's what it is, it's not just a little circuitboard in your computer that makes it work, it's huge energy consuming centres that also take up space, time and money. With the climate crisis forever closing in, it's important to consider the environmental impact of everything we do, AI use included. And of course there are many other concerns regarding AI use in art etc. Maybe I will also write a piece on this as I have a lot of thoughts about it!