It’s Not About Using AI More, But About Using It Right

#coachingonai #futureofwork #highhumanperformance #useairight @humanandai Jul 30, 2025

Introduction

AI usage is not a question of 'if', but 'how'. Its rise is inevitable. Like computers, the internet, and mobile phones before it, AI is rapidly becoming a part of everyday life and work. Why? Because the benefits it offers to society, productivity, and personal comfort far outweigh the perceived risks, at least as far as we can currently estimate.

And here’s a key point:

Independent of whether you’re for AI or against it, AI will evolve, be used, and impact society.

The real challenge isn’t about stopping it. It’s about guiding how we engage with it.

So the crucial question is no longer "Should we use AI?" but:

How do we use AI right?

This is the human performance question of our era.

1. The Inevitable Growth of AI Usage

Throughout history, humanity has adopted technologies that extend our power, ease our burdens, and increase our capabilities. The same is happening with AI, but this time on a scale we’ve never seen before.

AI doesn’t just automate physical labor or connect us via infrastructure like the internet. It begins to replicate and simulate what we once believed was uniquely human: knowledge, reasoning, analysis, synthesis, and communication.

So whether you’re optimistic or skeptical, the trajectory is clear: AI usage will increase. Its impact on work, society, education, creativity, and even personal identity will be profound.

What remains to be shaped is how we respond to this shift.

2. The “Right” vs. “More” Distinction

As AI becomes more available, many will assume the next logical step is to use it more. But this is a flawed measure of progress.

More AI usage doesn’t automatically mean better outcomes.

Using AI right means aligning its usage with intention, context, and human values.

The term "right" is subjective and that’s exactly why we need to define it. In practice, "right" depends on who’s using AI, for what purpose, in which environment, and with what mindset.

3. What Defines "Right" AI Usage?

To make the subjective practical, we explore six contextual variables that shape what "right" AI usage means for any individual or organization.

These variables influence not only the quality of AI output, but also the impact AI has on your thinking, your work, and those around you.

→ 1. Function & Domain

Your professional role and industry shape how AI fits into your workflow. A developer, coach, analyst or educator will each use and interpret AI in different ways.

Example: A software engineer might use AI to generate code snippets, while a coach might use it to craft reflection prompts for clients.

→ 2. Intentions & Desired Outcomes

Why are you using AI? Are you seeking speed, clarity, creativity, connection, insight, or impact?

Example: AI used for generating 10 ideas in 2 minutes serves a different purpose than using it to write a compelling brand story.

→ 3. Expertise in the Task or Domain

Your familiarity with the subject matter AI supports makes a big difference. Beginners often benefit from structure and prompts. Experts may find AI introduces noise or lacks necessary nuance.

Example: An experienced strategy consultant may use AI for quick frameworks, while a junior may rely on it to generate client-facing slides.

→ 4. Mindset & Beliefs About AI

Do you view AI as a tool, a threat, a crutch, or a partner? Your beliefs affect your boundaries, usage style, and openness to its potential.

Example: A skeptical manager may ignore valuable AI suggestions, while an over-trusting user may accept outputs without critical thinking.

→ 5. Environment & Systems

What tools do you use daily? What are your team dynamics, workflows, constraints? Are your systems optimized for AI integration, or is AI a stand-alone novelty?

Example: A team using Notion, Slack, and Zapier might embed AI directly into their daily processes, while others treat it as an occasional assistant.

→ 6. Mental State & Energy Level

Your internal state, calm, focused, burnt-out, distracted influences how you interact with AI and what you get from it. The better your mindset, the higher your input quality and reflective capacity.

Example: A curious, focused user might have meaningful interactions with AI, while someone in stress might misuse it for quick-fix decisions.

4. The Human Performance Lens vs. the Tech Lens

Let’s be clear: we’ve always used tools to enhance our performance. From spears and plows to factories and smartphones, human evolution has been intertwined with technological leverage.

But AI is different. Unlike previous innovations, it doesn’t just augment our muscles or memory. It simulates core functions of our rational mind: analysis, communication, reasoning.

That’s why I believe we need to evolve from focusing purely on High Performance to embracing High Human Performance.

High Human Performance means using AI to elevate our human traits, not replace them. It’s about blending AI’s strengths with our uniquely human capacities: empathy, creativity, presence, curiosity, integrity, compassion.

When we use AI from this lens, we don’t lose our humanity. We protect and expand it.

5. Examples Across Disciplines

AI usage varies widely across fields, not just in effectiveness, but in how it amplifies or diminishes human capabilities. Below are simple examples of "wrong" vs. "right" usage across five disciplines. These show how intention and alignment matter more than the tool itself.

6. Personal Reflection

It’s easy to let AI take over. To let it make decisions, generate content, finish tasks. That comfort is tempting. But it also risks atrophying the very skills we need to grow.

Real growth, clarity, and fulfillment come from engagement, not avoidance.

If you’re not challenging yourself to use AI with intention, your growth and your impact will remain limited.

Equally, resisting AI entirely is not the answer. It’s not going away. Its usage is growing, not shrinking. Instead of resisting, we can choose to observe, experiment, and align AI with what we want to create.

7. Actionable Takeaways & Reflective Questions

To close, here are questions to help you shape your own definition of "right" AI usage:

What do I want AI to help me become, not just help me do?
Where am I using AI as a shortcut instead of a growth tool?
Am I integrating AI with clarity or reacting out of fear, pressure, or fatigue?
How does my current role or function shape the way I think AI should help me?
Is my current environment or system supporting me to use AI well or holding me back?
What’s my current belief about AI? Do I see it as a tool, a partner, or something else?
How can I use AI to amplify my values, not just increase my output?
Where can AI help me express more of my humanity, compassion, creativity, curiosity instead of replacing it?

Final Thought:

We are at a defining intersection. The tools are here. The power is real. The speed is accelerating.

But the choice of how to use it, that still belongs to us.

Let’s not just use AI more. Let’s use it with intention, not just for productivity, efficiency, or wealth, but for human growth, connection, and fulfillment. For keeping our humanity.

Let’s use it right.

#HighHumanPerformance #UseAIRight #FutureOfWork #HumanAndAI #CoachingonAI