Thanks for tuning in to this episode of UMBC Mic'd Up. I'm Dennise Cardona, your host, and today I want to talk to you about something that is quickly becoming part of everyday academic and professional life. That is artificial intelligence, of course. From writing assistance to research support, AI tools are everywhere, and if we're being honest, they can make things so much easier. They can make faster drafts, quicker summaries, and instantaneous ideas. But here's the question: At what point does helpful turn into dependence? What happens when we start relying on AI not just as a tool but as a replacement for our own thinking? Has that already happened to you? Today, we're going to be exploring how to use AI with intention to keep your voice, your perspective, and your critical thinking at the center while still benefiting from what AI can offer. So, first thing that I'd like to say is that AI is not the problem. Our overreliance on it is. When used thoughtfully, AI can actually help enhance your work. It can help you brainstorm and organize ideas and refine your communication. But let's just be honest. It should never replace your judgment or your creativity. That is an absolute human skill. So instead of asking, "Hmm, what can AI do for me? Try asking instead, "Well, how can AI support the work I do? AI works best when it's treated like an assistant, not an authority. It can help you do things like generate starting points, so you're not staring at a blank screen. It can help you summarize complex information. It can offer alternative perspectives. It can edit for clarity and structure. But here's the key: AI produces outputs based on patterns. We, meaning the human race, are not patterns. We are living, breathing beings who thrive and enjoy authentic, meaningful interactions. The most interesting interactions come from our insights and how we sense the world around us. So consider some of the content that you already consume. Ask yourself what resonates best with me. Why do I like it so much? Is it AI written and created? Does it contain robotic sentences, or do you enjoy content that is born out of someone's intellect and creative spirit? Maybe there's a grammatical error in there, or somebody just kind of tumbles over their own words. Nowadays, does that actually intrigue you? Does it make it feel much more authentic to you? It actually does to me. I actually enjoy finding those kinds of, I call them, gems nowadays. That being said, I think there is something that is innately beautiful about written and spoken language that has character to it, and what I mean by character is that varied sentence structure, a gorgeous play on words, and a meaningful compilation of thoughts that may not be perfect in execution, but they touch our hearts anyway. And in this AI-driven world, that imperfection, in all its nostalgia, shares a beat that artificial intelligence can never replicate. The beauty of human expression and the value that we place on it offers us protection from what could become a very dull cookie cutter type of existence. You may already be experiencing that with things that you consume. Our brains, beautiful and natural as reality itself, are meant to be challenged and used. Accepting that challenge means the value of our work still depends on us. We must continue to question things and stay curious about them. It's only through that quest that we can continue to grow and be interesting. AI can give us the material, right? But the meaning of that material can only come from us. We are sentient beings. AI obviously is not. That is a huge distinction. When we rely too heavily on AI, something starts to fade. You can feel it. If you find yourself copying and pasting without questioning, accepting responses without verifying, or avoiding that effort of forming your own ideas, you're no longer using AI as a brainstorming assistant. You essentially are depending on it, and that's a very dangerous place to be. That dependency can lead to things like weaker critical thinking, less confidence in your own voice, your own ideas, surface-level understanding of complex topics. Over time, it becomes harder to distinguish between what you know and what the tool provides. If you don't exercise your brain, it's going to atrophy over time. Do you want that? You should be afraid of that. And in academic and professional spaces, that kind of atrophy spells complete disaster. So, how do you avoid that trap? A beautifully productive thing happens when we create an intention. What do I mean by this? When you create an intention, you create a path forward. You are more apt to get somewhere when you set an intention to arrive there. So, if we look at AI within the context of a map, we can think of it as a starting point. AI is that that starting point, point A. You can use AI to map out sections of that journey, but for a meaningful journey, you wouldn't allow AI to be the driver. Well, unless you're a self-driving car, of course. But let's put the autonomous cars aside. The gem of a journey is in the way we sense our own experiences. AI cannot determine the beauty of a sparkling lake as the sun descends on the horizon. But I digress. All right. So if we're thinking about intention and AI, how can you set a meaningful intention with it? Well, you can use AI to ask yourself: Do I understand this as I am perceiving it? Do I agree with this? How do I explain this in my own words using my own human experience? You see, real learning happens when we engage with the facts, not just look at them, consume them, and throw them aside. If we never let the facts marinate without our insight and our intellect, then all we're going to do is regurgitate a bunch of garbage. The world will be that. The beauty of learning is in the journey. Would you agree? It may sound kind of cliche, sure, but isn't that the case? Your voice is what makes your work original. AI should support that, but not replace it. Using AI effectively isn't about avoiding it. It's a great tool. It's here in the world. We're we're surrounded by it. There's no avoiding it. But it's really critical if you say to yourself, "How much control do I want to hand over to it? How much creativity do I want it to contribute? Let's talk about some ways that you can stay in control of your work while using AI as an assistant. First, start anything on your own. So, before turning to AI, spend a few minutes outlining your thoughts. Even a rough idea helps anchor your perspective, not AI's, but your perspective. Remember that the quality of your output from AI directly relates to the quality of the input that you give it. So thoughtfully consider what you have to contribute. Once you contribute your ideas, then ask for its assistance in analyzing it and ask for its constructive feedback. Second, use AI for refinement, not replacement. Let it help you improve things like clarity and structure, grammar, but keep your ideas at the core. Third, you want to verify and cross-check. Don't assume accuracy. Take the time to confirm information, especially in academic work. And finally, make sure you're reflecting on what you are learning. If you can't explain it without AI, take a step back and revisit the material. When we consider the big picture of humans with AI at the core, we have to remain steadfast in developing ourselves as thinkers. Your ability to think critically, communicate clear ideas, inform your own ideas is what's going to set you apart academically, professionally, and personally. AI can assist with efficiency, but it cannot replace originality, judgment, or authenticity. In graduate school and beyond, people value individuals who can analyze information, ask thoughtful questions, offer their unique perspectives, make informed decisions-these are all human skills. Yes, AI can assist you in helping you to brainstorm where your thoughts are after you've given it your thoughts. Essentially. These are human skills, and they can only grow when you actively use them. At the end of the day, AI is a powerful tool, but remember, it's still just that-it is a tool. When you use it with intention and awareness, it can support your growth, but when you rely on it without reflection, it can really hold you back. So stay engaged, stay curious, and most importantly, stay present in your own thinking. Your brain will thank you for it as you get older and as you age. Your brain will definitely thank you for it. Thanks for tuning into this episode of UMBC's Mic'd Up podcast. Until next time, keep learning, keep questioning, and keep your voice at the center of everything you create.
