Field Note #1: waiting for permission from AI

I’ve been thinking about all the people we seek permission from before starting a project, especially a creative one.

We may be waiting for permission from:

·         A parent

·         An expert

·         An employer

·         Our peers

·         Society

And recently, I started wondering if there might be another one in the mix: AI.

AI can be incredibly helpful when we’re researching, exploring an idea, or editing something we’ve created. But I wonder if it can also become another way of seeking permission.

I can ask AI just how much work is involved in the project I’m thinking about. It gives me a very thorough answer. And suddenly I see just how complicated it’s going to be. All the research. All the planning. All the things I don’t know. Maybe enough to make me wonder if I should do it at all.

Or I can ask AI, “Do you think I should do this project?” And AI might say: Yes. Do it. And somehow, I feel better. But I keep coming back to another question.

Whose permission was I really looking for?

And if I ask AI for the answer: is it still my answer?

Till next time. Travel light.

Field Notes are short dispatches that appear between Travel Light posts. Catch up on last week's post [here].