Use AI Wisely
AI can be useful, creative, and surprisingly powerful.
But like any tool, it works best when you understand its limitations and use it thoughtfully.
You don't need to be afraid of AI.
You just need a few good habits.
Before giving information to an AI tool, stop and ask yourself:
Would I be comfortable sharing this information with a service I don't know well?
Avoid entering sensitive information such as:
- Passwords
- Social Security numbers
- Bank or credit card information
- Private medical information
- Private information about someone else
- Other highly sensitive personal information
When in doubt, leave private details out.
Different AI services have different privacy policies and settings. Understand what information a service collects, stores, or uses before sharing sensitive information.
AI can give an answer that sounds confident and still be incorrect.
It may:
- Misunderstand your question
- Give outdated information
- Mix up facts
- Leave out important information
- Make information up
For important information, verify the answer using reliable sources.
The more important the decision, the more carefully you should check.
An AI response can sound polished, certain, and convincing.
That does not mean it is correct.
Confident does not always mean correct.
Treat AI as a helpful starting point, not an unquestionable authority.
AI can now create realistic-looking images, videos, and audio.
That means seeing or hearing something online does not automatically prove that it is authentic.
When something seems surprising, emotional, or too good to be true:
- Pause before sharing it
- Look for the original source
- Check whether reputable sources are reporting the same thing
- Look for context and the date
- Consider whether the image, video, or audio could have been altered or generated
A picture or video can look real and still be misleading.
AI can help you understand information and explore options.
But important decisions deserve human judgment.
Examples include:
Use AI to help you learn and prepare questions, but don't let an AI answer replace appropriate professional advice or your own judgment.
When AI gives you information, ask:
Where did this come from?
Depending on the tool and features being used, an AI system may use information from its training, the web, files you provide, or connected services.
For important claims, look for reliable sources that you can check yourself.
Being careful with AI isn't only about protecting your own information.
Think before entering someone else's:
- Private messages
- Personal information
- Medical information
- Financial information
- Photos
- Confidential work or school information
If you wouldn't share it publicly, think carefully before putting it into an AI tool.
AI can help you brainstorm, explain, organize, and create.
But keeping your own thinking involved is important.
Ask Questions
Don't be afraid to question an AI response.
Use Your Judgment
You decide whether an answer makes sense.
Add Your Own Ideas
Your experience and creativity still matter.
Make the Final Decision
AI can assist you, but you remain responsible for your choices.
Think before sharing information or acting on an AI response.
↓Keep sensitive information private.
↓Verify important facts and sources.
↓Consider whether the answer makes sense.
↓Use your own judgment before taking action.
You don't need to remember every possible AI risk.
Start with a few simple habits:
The goal isn't to avoid AI.
The goal is to use it wisely.
AI can be a powerful tool for learning, creating, organizing, and exploring.
You don't have to be an AI expert to use it safely.
Remember: