Artificial intelligence is becoming part of how we work, search for jobs, solve problems and make decisions. With so many tools available and constant encouragement to use them, it’s easy to feel that we should be incorporating AI into everything we do.
But using AI doesn’t automatically mean we’re working smarter. The real value comes from understanding when it can help, what we want to accomplish and how to use it without giving up our own thinking and judgment.
Using AI With Purpose, Not Just Because You Can
Just because AI can perform a task doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best way to accomplish it.
Before turning to AI, consider what you’re actually trying to achieve. Are you looking to save time, organize information, explore ideas, improve something you’ve already created or approach a problem from a different perspective?
Starting with the problem rather than the technology helps you determine whether AI is the right tool for the job.
It also helps you avoid adopting tools simply because they’re popular or because someone has suggested you should be using them.
The goal isn’t to incorporate AI into as many activities as possible. It’s to identify where it can genuinely improve the way you work. In accounting, for example, AI is already changing how professionals approach routine tasks and higher-value responsibilities, as we explored in The Impact of AI on Accounting. The opportunity is to use technology where it adds value rather than simply because it’s available.
How Do You Get More From AI Without Letting It Do the Thinking for You?
One of the differences between basic and more thoughtful AI use is how actively we participate in the process.
Asking a question and accepting the first response might provide a quick starting point, but it doesn’t always produce the most useful result.
More meaningful interactions involve explaining what you’re trying to accomplish, providing relevant context, identifying constraints and continuing the conversation as your thinking develops.
You don’t necessarily need the perfect prompt. You need to understand what you’re asking for and be willing to refine the results.
Use AI to Explore, Not Just Produce
AI is often presented as a way to create something quickly: a document, an email, a presentation or an answer to a question.
But some of its greatest value may come from helping you think through something rather than simply producing the finished product.
For example, you can use AI to:
- Explore: What possibilities or perspectives haven’t I considered?
- Challenge: What assumptions am I making that might not be correct?
- Compare: What are the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches?
- Refine: How could I make this idea clearer, stronger or more practical?
- Review: What gaps, weaknesses or unanswered questions remain?
These types of interactions encourage you to stay involved. Rather than simply accepting an answer, you’re using AI to examine your thinking, consider alternatives and develop a more informed perspective.
The Better the Context, the More Useful the Result
AI doesn’t automatically understand your circumstances, priorities or objectives. Without enough context, it may produce an answer that sounds reasonable but could apply to almost anyone.
Consider someone preparing for a job interview.
Asking AI to generate interview questions might provide a useful starting point. But sharing information about the position, your relevant experience and the areas you’re concerned about can help you explore questions that are more meaningful to your situation.
You can then use those questions to develop your own examples and practise explaining your experience in a way that feels natural.
The same principle applies to an employer developing a job description.
Rather than simply asking AI to write one, consider explaining why the position exists, what the successful candidate needs to accomplish, which skills matter most and what makes the opportunity different.
The result is more likely to reflect the actual position rather than a generic description of the job title.
In either situation, remember that context doesn’t mean sharing everything. Be thoughtful about confidential business information, personal details and anything you wouldn’t want entered into an AI tool.
Don’t Mistake a Polished Answer for a Good Answer
One of AI’s strengths is its ability to produce confident, professional-sounding responses.
That can also be one of its weaknesses.
Something can be beautifully written, logically organized and completely convincing while still being inaccurate, incomplete or inappropriate for your circumstances.
A polished response isn’t necessarily a thoughtful one.
Before accepting an AI-generated result, ask yourself:
- Is the information accurate and can I verify it?
- Does it actually address what I was trying to accomplish?
- Is it relevant to my particular situation?
- Does it reflect my knowledge, experience or perspective?
- Is there something important missing?
It’s also worth considering whether the response makes sense to you. If you don’t understand the reasoning or can’t explain the conclusion, you may need to explore it further before relying on it.
AI can help you evaluate information, but it shouldn’t become the only source you use to determine whether that information is correct.
This is particularly important when the outcome could affect someone else’s career, livelihood or professional reputation.
Be Selective About the Tools You Choose
With new AI tools appearing constantly, it’s tempting to believe that every new product offers an opportunity to become more productive.
But more tools don’t necessarily mean better results.
Before adopting something new, consider what problem it solves and whether it genuinely improves on what you’re already doing.
Does it save meaningful time? Does it improve accuracy, organization or decision-making? Does it fit naturally into your existing processes? Are you comfortable with how your information will be handled?
It’s also worth distinguishing between a tool that offers genuinely useful AI capabilities and one that simply uses AI as a marketing feature.
A complicated new system may not be an improvement if it takes more time to learn, manage and review than the task it was intended to simplify.
You don’t need to become an expert in every available AI product. Understanding the tools that are relevant to your work and using them effectively may provide considerably more value than constantly searching for the next one.
Know What Should Still Belong to You
AI can help us organize information, identify patterns, brainstorm possibilities, prepare for conversations and evaluate different approaches.
But there are parts of our work that require more than generating an answer.
Professional judgment, accountability, relationships and an understanding of the circumstances surrounding a decision still matter.
For candidates, AI might help improve a résumé or prepare for an interview, but the experience, accomplishments and answers must genuinely represent you. You need to be able to stand behind what you’re communicating. As we explored in How Does AI Impact Accounting Careers?, skills such as critical thinking, communication and professional judgment remain important as technology continues to reshape the profession.
For employers, AI might help organize hiring criteria, compare approaches or identify questions worth exploring. But decisions about people require careful consideration, appropriate safeguards and human accountability.
The same applies to everyday workplace decisions. AI can provide information and perspectives, but you still need to decide what is relevant, what makes sense and what action to take.
Using AI thoughtfully doesn’t mean doing everything yourself. It means recognizing where technology can contribute and where your own experience, knowledge and judgment are essential.
The Goal Isn’t More AI. It’s Better AI Use.
Becoming a more mindful user of AI isn’t about how many tools you use, how often you use them or how sophisticated your prompts sound.
It’s about approaching the technology with intention.
Start by understanding what you’re trying to accomplish. Give AI enough context to be useful. Explore and question its responses. Choose tools that genuinely add value, and remain responsible for the decisions you make.
Sometimes AI will save you time. Sometimes it will help you see something differently. And sometimes the most useful outcome will be a better question rather than an immediate answer.
The best use of AI may not be getting it to think for you. It may be using it to help you think more deeply yourself.
At Mercer Bradley, we believe thoughtful decisions and meaningful conversations remain at the heart of successful careers and workplaces. Whether you’re considering your next career move or making decisions about your team, we’re always happy to connect.
