A while back, someone told me that he had used ChatGPT to write a management report. I was conflicted about this and wondered if I should say something. My doubt showed up on my face, and so, the man went on to explain that the report was a tick-box exercise and not important with regards to his job.
I remained conflicted about this.
I believe that reading widely and writing well are cornerstones of a good society. But more than that—reading and writing improves our lives. It sharpens our thinking. It helps us to become more intentional with our time and focus. It opens possibilities and expands our sense of who we are.
When using tools such as ChatGPT ask yourself this: What’s the foundation on which I’m basing my actions? Fear or Focus? If you don’t write well—or find writing difficult—then maybe that’s indeed the task that you must attempt. Maybe you should write that management report yourself. Don’t use ChatGPT to avoid difficult work. That action builds on fear. On the other hand, if the report is so repetitive and menial, yes, by all means, use an AI tool. It’s more valuable to spend time in flow and focus.
We should use tools to lessen the load of repetitive work and menial tasks. Especially if this means you can spend more time doing creative work. That said, we should also treat thinking like a skill. Reading and writing sharpens that skill. I find that it’s one of the most accessible hacks in the world. Not easy if you’re just starting out—but hugely accessible and incredibly valuable. Whenever I struggle with something, I write and read about that something.
Now and then my thoughts will return to the manager with his management report. I often wonder if he would be happy if his kids used ChatGPT to write their essays.