When Help Becomes a Shortcut (And Why That Matters)

byCMacLellan

741 followers

3 weeks ago

One thing I’ve noticed as AI tools become more accessible is how quickly help can turn into habit.

At first, assistance feels useful — smoothing a sentence, clarifying a thought, helping something land better. But over time, it’s easy to reach for help before you’ve really sat with the idea yourself.

That’s where the line starts to blur.

There’s a difference between:

• using a tool to express a thought more clearly
• and using a tool to avoid forming the thought in the first place

The first sharpens thinking.
The second quietly replaces it.

I don’t think this is about discipline or rules. It’s about noticing why you’re reaching for help in a given moment.

If the question is:

“How do I say this better?”

That’s usually a healthy use.

If the question is:

“What should I think about this?”

That’s often a signal to pause.

Some of the most useful work happens in that uncomfortable middle space — when the idea isn’t clear yet, the sentence isn’t ready, and you’re still deciding what you actually believe. Skipping that step might feel efficient, but it often flattens the result.

For me, the goal isn’t to avoid assistance.
It’s to stay conscious of when I’m using it — and why.

Tools can make the work lighter.
They shouldn’t make the thinking disappear.

That distinction has helped me keep my footing as these tools keep improving.