What I particularly appreciated was that you resisted the temptation to join either camp in the AI conversation. You neither evangelise nor condemn. Instead, you bring something far more valuable: judgement.
The Windex metaphor is wonderfully chosen because it captures a pattern many of us are witnessing. Organisations often reach for AI before they have properly understood the problem they are trying to solve. Technology becomes the answer before the question has even been asked. Your reminder that "being human matters more" in moments of trust, emotion, ethics and uncertainty is both timely and necessary.
I also enjoyed the way you grounded complex ideas in lived experience. The article never feels like a lecture. It feels like a conversation with someone who has spent time thinking carefully about where AI genuinely helps and where it can create new risks. The swimming analogy in your broader writing reflects the same strength: curiosity balanced with healthy scepticism.
Perhaps the greatest compliment I can give is that this piece encourages reflection rather than reaction. In a landscape crowded with hype, fear, certainty and noise, that is increasingly rare.
Thank you, Charles! That means a lot coming from you as I truly appreciate your writing reflections and stories. An inspiration to do more writing that garners reflection instead of reaction. I'm thrilled you recognized that in this piece. I haven't published much lately, but hope the next piece resonates as well.
Thank you Karen. Good to hear from you. Is there a reason for your hiatus may I ask? I myself have unfortunately had yet another uncheduled 12 week hospital visit due to different problems with my heart, which link to the original failure I had late last year, so I've been a little bit out of action. It's quite strange how sitting in a hotel bed all day 24/7 would be the ideal opportunity to do lots of writing but I think I ended up not doing any at all 😂!. But as you can see, I think I'm making up for it since, because this last week in particular has been extremely gratifying as far as producing content is concerned. Sometimes I guess the mind is on fire with inspiration and other times less so. i do enjoy your area in which you are writing at the moment because it seems so fertile yet also so poorly understood by other writers and thinkers who are not harnessing the benefits and opportunities presented by AI innovation. Thank you as always for all your support and I hope we can keep in touch a bit more in the coming months. Happy Monday, I hope we have a great day.
I'm so glad the SheWritesAI digest helped me find this! First of all – thank you for reminding me of that scene in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. 🤣 Hilarious. And it does feel like that's what companies are either intentionally or unintentionally doing with AI - Just sanitize it with some AI! Strip the human out. Make it clean, efficient. Smooth with no texture or meaning.
So this post really hit home. I couldn't believe the story in here about your former colleague mid-presentation. I've seen that kind of stuff first-hand too. Especially when AI first became mainstream, we saw SO many companies 'performing AI usage' versus actually using it as a solution to anything real.
Wow so many great stories packed into one article!
First of all, love the call back to My Big Fat Greek Wedding. One of my best friends is also Greek, and we had a blast with that movie. The Windex part was the best.
I am floored by your helicopter story, first by your colleagues (I’m trying not to seethe) and second for you standing your ground and preventing disaster. That gave me chills.
In all the frenzy to use AI, it’s such a good reminder to ask ourselves when shouldn’t we use AI, when is it not suited for the task.
Thank you! Just trying to get people to consider if they even need AI for everything. I love that you got the Windex story. I kinda held my breath wondering how many people had actually seen that movie. My mom read this and said, "I hadn't heard that story. And I've heard so many." Well, Mom. I didn't really share all the "There I was...when I almost died" with you because, well, you're Mom. Didn't want to worry you any further!
I totally got it haha, so there’s one. And if people haven’t seen the movie, they should. My mother-in-law likes to quote “I make you lamb” since I’m vegetarian. 🤣 And I still think about the women as the neck that moves the head analogy.
Yesssss I’d understand keeping near-death stories from your mother…
What happened to your Flight Plan framings? I think that’s such a cool part of your background to bring in! Despite the death part of it… I enjoyed getting to learn about that side of you!
I'll work more of those back in! I drifted a bit while I was experimenting with what formats resonate and what don't. Good to have feedback! 🙌🏻 The women as the neck quote....still laughing.
Sigh I wrote a whole reply then hit back and it’s gone. Let’s try again.
I totally get experimenting with what will resonate! And not wanting to get boxed in to one identity. It does make you stand out, and I know I’m intrigued. I also like how you tie it to your name from a branding standpoint with the helicopter.
For what it’s worth, the three things that come to my mind when I think of you are: your Guardians articles and vision of the future; the Flight Plan / connections to flying and aviation; your blue cover photos and the leaf impressions. I see the AI Meets Girlboss dress.
And I just think how cool to have these variations as part of your tapestry! And seeing how they all come together as you’re experimenting. I’m excited to see it. 😁
I am so here for seeing how you evolve them together. I love the creative process of writing, starting with yourself, and watching those pieces come together as you keep putting yourself out there, and we all of us together in the community interact with and shape each other! ❤️❤️
Karen, this is an excellent piece.
What I particularly appreciated was that you resisted the temptation to join either camp in the AI conversation. You neither evangelise nor condemn. Instead, you bring something far more valuable: judgement.
The Windex metaphor is wonderfully chosen because it captures a pattern many of us are witnessing. Organisations often reach for AI before they have properly understood the problem they are trying to solve. Technology becomes the answer before the question has even been asked. Your reminder that "being human matters more" in moments of trust, emotion, ethics and uncertainty is both timely and necessary.
I also enjoyed the way you grounded complex ideas in lived experience. The article never feels like a lecture. It feels like a conversation with someone who has spent time thinking carefully about where AI genuinely helps and where it can create new risks. The swimming analogy in your broader writing reflects the same strength: curiosity balanced with healthy scepticism.
Perhaps the greatest compliment I can give is that this piece encourages reflection rather than reaction. In a landscape crowded with hype, fear, certainty and noise, that is increasingly rare.
Thoughtful, practical and refreshingly human.
Thank you for writing it.
Thank you, Charles! That means a lot coming from you as I truly appreciate your writing reflections and stories. An inspiration to do more writing that garners reflection instead of reaction. I'm thrilled you recognized that in this piece. I haven't published much lately, but hope the next piece resonates as well.
Thank you Karen. Good to hear from you. Is there a reason for your hiatus may I ask? I myself have unfortunately had yet another uncheduled 12 week hospital visit due to different problems with my heart, which link to the original failure I had late last year, so I've been a little bit out of action. It's quite strange how sitting in a hotel bed all day 24/7 would be the ideal opportunity to do lots of writing but I think I ended up not doing any at all 😂!. But as you can see, I think I'm making up for it since, because this last week in particular has been extremely gratifying as far as producing content is concerned. Sometimes I guess the mind is on fire with inspiration and other times less so. i do enjoy your area in which you are writing at the moment because it seems so fertile yet also so poorly understood by other writers and thinkers who are not harnessing the benefits and opportunities presented by AI innovation. Thank you as always for all your support and I hope we can keep in touch a bit more in the coming months. Happy Monday, I hope we have a great day.
Articles like this one deserves way more attention
🙏🏻
I'm so glad the SheWritesAI digest helped me find this! First of all – thank you for reminding me of that scene in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. 🤣 Hilarious. And it does feel like that's what companies are either intentionally or unintentionally doing with AI - Just sanitize it with some AI! Strip the human out. Make it clean, efficient. Smooth with no texture or meaning.
So this post really hit home. I couldn't believe the story in here about your former colleague mid-presentation. I've seen that kind of stuff first-hand too. Especially when AI first became mainstream, we saw SO many companies 'performing AI usage' versus actually using it as a solution to anything real.
Such a great post, Karen!
Thank you for reading @Natalie Nicholson! 🙌🏻
Just put Windex on it!!🤣🩷
Wow so many great stories packed into one article!
First of all, love the call back to My Big Fat Greek Wedding. One of my best friends is also Greek, and we had a blast with that movie. The Windex part was the best.
I am floored by your helicopter story, first by your colleagues (I’m trying not to seethe) and second for you standing your ground and preventing disaster. That gave me chills.
In all the frenzy to use AI, it’s such a good reminder to ask ourselves when shouldn’t we use AI, when is it not suited for the task.
Thank you for sharing, Karen!
Thank you! Just trying to get people to consider if they even need AI for everything. I love that you got the Windex story. I kinda held my breath wondering how many people had actually seen that movie. My mom read this and said, "I hadn't heard that story. And I've heard so many." Well, Mom. I didn't really share all the "There I was...when I almost died" with you because, well, you're Mom. Didn't want to worry you any further!
I totally got it haha, so there’s one. And if people haven’t seen the movie, they should. My mother-in-law likes to quote “I make you lamb” since I’m vegetarian. 🤣 And I still think about the women as the neck that moves the head analogy.
Yesssss I’d understand keeping near-death stories from your mother…
What happened to your Flight Plan framings? I think that’s such a cool part of your background to bring in! Despite the death part of it… I enjoyed getting to learn about that side of you!
I'll work more of those back in! I drifted a bit while I was experimenting with what formats resonate and what don't. Good to have feedback! 🙌🏻 The women as the neck quote....still laughing.
Sigh I wrote a whole reply then hit back and it’s gone. Let’s try again.
I totally get experimenting with what will resonate! And not wanting to get boxed in to one identity. It does make you stand out, and I know I’m intrigued. I also like how you tie it to your name from a branding standpoint with the helicopter.
For what it’s worth, the three things that come to my mind when I think of you are: your Guardians articles and vision of the future; the Flight Plan / connections to flying and aviation; your blue cover photos and the leaf impressions. I see the AI Meets Girlboss dress.
And I just think how cool to have these variations as part of your tapestry! And seeing how they all come together as you’re experimenting. I’m excited to see it. 😁
Wow @Alyssa Fu Ward, PhD! Most excellent feedback. I will continue to bring those all together a bit more consistently, too.
I am so here for seeing how you evolve them together. I love the creative process of writing, starting with yourself, and watching those pieces come together as you keep putting yourself out there, and we all of us together in the community interact with and shape each other! ❤️❤️