UNDERSTANDING AI by Jacqueline Whitmore The etiquette of AI: Using AI thoughtfully and confidently These days, I have a collaborator available 24/7 who knows my voice, understands my vision, and, perhaps most importantly, genuinely believes in my ideas. That collaborator is AI. But does AI help build real confidence, or can it create a false sense of it? Honestly, the answer can be both, depending on how you use it. When I share a rough draft or halfformed idea with AI, it doesn’t immediately criticize or dismiss it. Instead, it often says things like: “This is emotionally strong.” “This resonates.” “You’re on the right track.” Then it offers something even more valuable than validation: refinement. It might say, “You already have enough ideas. The real opportunity now is making this more relatable and strengthening these three elements.” That’s not AI doing my work for me. That’s AI helping me sharpen my thinking and communicate more clearly, which is where confidence begins to grow. When I know an idea has potential, AI often helps me see how to strengthen it and bring it fully to life. That kind of clarity builds confidence because I’m no longer second-guessing myself. I can see where I’m headed more clearly, but I still have to do the real work. The deeper thinking, editing, and personal perspective still come from me. That’s why I see AI less as a replacement and more as a collaborator. And in my experience, some of the best work comes through collaboration. AI is a tool, and like any tool, it can help us or hinder us, depending on how we use it. Some people use AI to avoid authentic communication, automating away the very human connection that builds trust, credibility, and loyalty. If AI helped you write an email, should you send it? Maybe. But if you’re using AI to replace genuine thoughtfulness with polished language, people eventually feel the difference. Your authentic voice and personal intention matter far more than perfectly written sentences. That’s where the etiquette question comes in: Are you using AI to enhance your thinking and writing, or to avoid the effort of thinking and writing altogether? When you use AI as a thought partner instead of a shortcut, it can be an incredibly valuable tool. But even then, it still requires judgment, discernment, and enough self-awareness to know when to trust it and when to rely on your own instincts. 7 ways to use AI strategically and confidently 1 Your prompt is your power. Strong prompts produce strong output. When you learn to articulate exactly what you need from AI, that skill sharpens how you communicate with people, too. It builds confidence on both sides of the screen. 2 Strengthen what’s already yours. AI works best when you bring something to the table first. Start with your own ideas, then let AI help you make them stronger. That’s where real confidence lives, in knowing the core was yours all along. 3 Check before you send. AI is trained to be helpful, which sometimes means it isn’t entirely accurate. If you use statistics or cite research, cross-reference with dedicated fact-checking tools like Perplexity. Strategic AI use means knowing its limitations. 4 Get a second opinion. Think of different AI models like different advisors. ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity each see things a little differently. Sometimes the more perspectives you gather, the more confident you can be in what you take forward. 5 Experiment without fear. You don’t need to be an AI expert to use it well. Start with low-stakes projects like social media captions, brainstorming ideas, or editing drafts. Experiment and see what works for you. Confidence grows through practice and familiarity. 6 Always do the real work. After AI gives you suggestions, you still have to refine, edit, and personalize. That’s where your genuine voice emerges, and that effort is the true source of your confidence. 7 Respect AI as a tool, not a truthteller. AI can sound extremely convincing, even when it’s wrong. It is designed to support and encourage your thinking, and the validation can feel reassuring. But confidence without critical thinking can quickly become dangerous, which is why it’s important to stay thoughtful, curious, and in control. Real confidence doesn’t come from AI praising your ideas. It comes from using AI to help strengthen ideas that already have substance and potential. Sometimes all we need is confirmation that we’re heading in the right direction, along with a little clarity on how to make something stronger. After that, the real work still belongs to us. JACQUELINE WHITMORE is an author, keynote speaker, and CEO of The Protocol School of Palm Beach. She is a member of the Enterprising Women Advisory Board and a recipient of the 2026 Enterprising Women of the Year Champion Award. To schedule a workshop or keynote for your group, visit EtiquetteExpert.com or email info@etiquetteexpert.com. Are you using AI to enhance your thinking and writing, or to avoid the effort of thinking and writing altogether? enterprising Women 53
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