How do you *REALLY* feel about AI?

When AI tools first emerged a few years ago, I’ll be honest, I was skeptical. I wasn’t sure if they would meaningfully support the kind of intentional, human-centered work I care so deeply about. But instead of dismissing them, I gave my team and myself one day to explore, experiment, and see what might be possible.

That day changed everything.

Since then, especially over the last 18 months, I’ve watched AI show up in almost every corner of our world. And while Illuminated Marketing and Allie Jones Consulting are two distinct entities, both have felt the growing presence of AI in different and important ways.

What’s become increasingly clear to me is this: as AI becomes more prominent, it becomes more essential for leaders to use it intentionally and strategically. AI can absolutely be a game-changing strategic partner. It can also become a shortcut that weakens our critical thinking and dulls our craft. Both paths have very real consequences.

Some of my team have growing reservations about using AI—not just around environmental impact, but around creativity, originality, and what it means to honor the integrity of our work. Those conversations have been good, honest, and sometimes hard. And they’ve pushed me to be even clearer about how, when, and why I use these tools.

The truth is: I love using AI. I rely on it to help me think more broadly, surface blind spots, process complex situations, and move forward with more clarity. I also use it to improve efficiency so I can spend my energy on the parts of my work that matter most. But I’m increasingly convinced that the real responsibility of leadership right now is to discern—intentionally—where AI belongs and where it doesn’t.

Here are some real, tangible and nuanced examples of how I've used AI in recent months:

• I regularly use the voice feature to talk out my thoughts and give ChatGPT more nuanced prompts. More than writing a prompt, talking it out lets me clarify what I think first, then ask more specifically what I want in a response. What I DON'T do is write a generic one-sentence prompt. 

• With a challenging client interaction, I downloaded all of my email communication and transcripts from recorded Zoom calls and had ChatGPT help me summarize the key challenges and determine a boundaried, yet compassionate way to move forward. What I STILL do apart from ChatGPT is process with my trusted friends in my life who understand the nuances and aren't afraid to point out a blind spot. 

• I brainstormed ideas for a facilitated feedback session with a board of directors, helping narrow from a more generic format to one that really elicited an engaging conversation. What I MAKE SURE to do first before turning to ChatGPT is determining the big picture goals and strategic direction. 

• I used it to help me write social media content or different versions of the same key messaging in my own marketing. What I DON'T do is let ChatGPT write my first draft or copy+paste the first thing ChatGPT spits out. 

In helping hone in on the discernment of how and when to use AI, I created a simple decision tree for myself and my team. It’s a tool to help us pause, reflect, and choose the right path rather than defaulting to “always use it” or “never use it.”

Avoiding AI altogether is, in my view, a strategic mistake. It’s reshaping industries too quickly and too profoundly to ignore. But using it without awareness or boundaries is also a mistake—one that risks quality, trust, and the depth of our thinking.

P.S. I’m curious: How are you using AI right now? Which tools have been genuinely helpful? And where do you notice fear, skepticism, or uncertainty shaping your choices?

I’d love to hear what’s working (and what’s not) for you