A Little Late to the Party (As Usual)

I’m a bit behind on weighing in about Artificial Intelligence. That’s pretty typical for me. I often show up a little late to most projects—not fashionably late, just regular old delayed. But that’s never stopped me from joining in when the time feels right.

Let’s get one thing straight early on: I’ll be calling it “AI.” The font doesn’t always give the letters the strength or seriousness they deserve, but it saves me a few keystrokes, and we’re friends here.

Finding My Groove with AI

After a helpful coaching session from a tech-savvy colleague, I started seeing the potential for AI and me to actually work together. Not just coexist—but collaborate. Now, I regularly use a handful of different AI tools depending on what I need:

• ChatGPT: A professional-grade resource that’s learned my style and brings information back in a voice I can work with.

• DIVI AI: Built into the Elegant Themes website builder. It’s great for building pages and websites—though blog content can come out a little soft and repetitive.

• Google Gemini & Venice: Helpful for fresh angles when everything’s starting to sound too much like me.

I like to write first, then hand the piece off to AI for some brightening. A little lift here, a fresh twist there. Sometimes I pass the content through more than one AI tool, just to get different suggestions.

AI Is My Partner—But I’m Still the Brain

Let’s be clear: I’m not handing over the reins. AI is my partner, not my replacement. As a partner, I can use AI to burnish blog posts here at Bar JD. Cardinal Bluff Reviews and FoxParkSourdough1971 benefit from the resources at ChatGPT and the AI writer in Divi. Divi’s AI helps me design new pages, even entire themes for a website. 

I still move things around, add missing pieces, cut what doesn’t work, and polish until the story hums. Sure, sometimes the suggestions miss the mark, but I’ve found that if I explain my goal clearly, the results get better every time.

One recent win? I dropped in 500 words of raw writing for assessment—and within seconds, AI had turned it into something stronger and shinier. That kind of speed and insight gives me room to think and breathe.

From “Dutchy” to Clear and Reader-Friendly

I’m monolingual, but I’ve lived in a swirl of languages and dialects all my life. My writing occasionally leans into what my mother would call “Dutchy.” Not bad—just a bit twisty.

Before AI, I relied on Hemingway Editor to help trim the fat and clarify my message. I still use it now and then. The goal is always the same: make the writing easy to read and enjoy.

Yes, I Say “Please” to the Robot

Sometimes, working with AI feels like a polite conversation. I catch myself starting with “Please” and ending with “Thank you.” That’s just good manners, even if the other party is a circuit board.

In the early days, I’d write a request, hit enter, then paste the content I wanted help with. But AI was too quick and would jump in before I was done! Eventually, I asked it how it wanted to receive instructions—and it actually gave me a very helpful format. Now, we get along just fine.

While I was composing this post, the response was perfect. I asked if this was Over the Rainbow with a real person behind the curtain. I made AI laugh!  Please and Thank you will continue to be part of our communication.

Beyond Writing: Real-World Wins

AI doesn’t stop at writing help. When I was struggling with my wireless printer, I asked AI what equipment I needed. It gave me a list of potential solutions that worked.

Another time, I wanted to leave a review for a book I’d listened to on Audible, but the system wasn’t cooperating. AI walked me through some troubleshooting and then said, “When all else fails, just leave your review on the Amazon page.” That’s exactly what I did.

AI Isn’t Perfect—But Neither Am I

Let’s be honest. AI isn’t infallible. But neither am I.

We make a pretty good team, though—especially when writer’s block strikes. Some days, I’ve got all these ideas swirling around in my head, but they won’t come out in a way that makes sense. AI helps me get them into order. My writing still sounds like me—just a bit brighter, better arranged, and with punctuation that sings.

From Suspicion to Curiosity

A couple of years ago, if you asked older folks about AI, many of us were suspicious. I didn’t trust it either. But I wasn’t afraid—I was curious. And that curiosity turned out to be my superpower.

If there is danger with AI, I think it comes from ignorance. That’s something we can fix. Learn it. Use it. Understand it. Shine a light on it. There’s nothing to fear when you keep your eyes wide open.

A Tool, Not a Crutch

Some of my peers are still uneasy about AI. And that’s okay. But I’m here to say: I’m using it—and I’ll keep using it. Not as a crutch, but as a tool.

I still read carefully, fact-check, rewrite what doesn’t sound right, and stay involved. AI is not my friend or my family. It’s not offering a shoulder to cry on. It’s just a powerful tool—like my laptop or my pen. And it’s made my writing life a whole lot easier.

Still On the Fence? Try It Anyway.

If you’re still unsure about AI, give it a try. Test it out. Don’t let fear or hesitation hold you back. Make a people-smart decision.

Because used wisely, AI doesn’t replace your voice—it helps you turn up the volume.