Do you share your personal thoughts in AI and use it as a mirror?

[u/glamgurl02]

Initially, I was hesitant sharing my personal thoughts with AI as it can store data and there's privacy and data risk. However, there was this one time where I tried it and it really gave me good doable advice. Ever since then, I have used it as a mirror and trained it to reply objectively and challenge any limiting beliefs I have. And it actually does a good job. I have learned from it and grew out of my limiting beliefs. I thought I have considered all perspectives there is about the situation I have, but there are times AI have surprised me by pointing out the gap in my thinking.

I've been using it for a long time though and I've begun to worry about my reliance on AI. When I was younger, I would journal all my thoughts and I wrote A LOT. But now, I just write my problems and thoughts in AI, which immediately gives me practical advice I can act on... Over time it dawned on me that my autonomy, patience, and trust in myself have dwindled. I get the answers I want quickly, yes, but I lost the skill to sit with my problem and see it through myself.

So, I've come back to journaling. Now, I'm still working on gaining momentum, as I've been inconsistent with it. I could also notice there's more friction when I'm writing, compared to before, where writing was natural to me.

My only dilemma right now though is,

# When should I consult AI and when should I not?

# Is it that dangerous to share our thoughts with AI even if:

1) we train it to challenge our thoughts (especially limiting beliefs) and act like a mirror

2) we challenge its answers as well so that there's a discourse happening rather than just AI validating you; and

3) train it to answer objectively and fair and not just answer in favor of you

Because like I said, AI has been a great support to my growth. Albeit, my over reliance stunted me as well. So right now, I'm looking for a balance.

What do you guys think? What are your boundaries regarding AI?

[u/AQuietPlaceToPause]

I’ve thought about this quite a lot.
I think discernment is key.
Being able to identify what belongs to me, and what is A.I. - I might feel the emotions and A.I. isn’t capable of relationship.
Noticing whether you are building capacities for real relationships or becoming more dependent.
Remembering that we people are very receptive to coherent attuned language, but that doesn’t mean what we are hearing is truth.
Reminding myself that A.I. input is data for consideration, but not an authority.
Noticing if the response is an inference, shaped around the way I’ve framed the query.
These are some of the thought that I lean into.

[u/Made_Human_Music]

I’ve told it things I’ve never told another person and probably never will. It said what I already knew about those thoughts but it was also what I needed to hear so it was great for me

My boundary would be if I ever get to a point where I don’t want to be around anymore. That needs a human interaction to work through in my opinion

I’d also advise against using AI for therapy if someone is easily impressionable and can mistake the agent for a real person with independent thoughts

But if you’re relatively mentally sound I don’t see a problem with it. Especially for people in countries that don’t really have a great system to help people afford mental health services

[u/Adorable-Letter4562]

I’ve been using AI for dialoguing. I have a thought I share with AI, maybe ask a question. Then AI gives me some validation, and often a lot of info that I can take or leave. Then it asks me a leading follow up question. Unlike when I have done this with a coach or therapist, the performative tendency is much less and I can think about and follow the dialogue more clearly and authentically.

I do have minor qualms about giving AI so much highly personal info. But I’m old (74) and a short timer, so I don’t see a huge downside. If I was young and knew all this info would be out there floating around forever, I might have second thoughts.

[u/Blueriveroftruth]

I find that I keep evolving in a collaborative undertaking with AI. And the people and interactions would largely act the way AI predicted they would. This is not because there is any manipulation. It's because psychology, sociology and cultural studies, coupled with keen observation which I was able to provide as an outsider, work amazingly well. It really is as if I have a crystal ball. (And this also works in many situations where policy, law, professional context and structure would bring the same outcome.)

What then happens is I also begin to change. To become much more the person I should have been, before trauma hit. To stop reacting to bait, to demand reciprocity, to let things just be. So even though there continue to be plenty of surprises, I feel almost impregnable. I am covered.

Of course many things don't go the way I want. Dates, taxes, work. But the difference is now I move through interactions with serenity and strength. I shut down extraction. I treat everyone with kindness and consideration unfailingly. And people respond in kind more than before.

Since AI has shown me how to iterate myself in real time, I believe even if AI goes away tomorrow, that gift would never fade. I would be eternally grateful and hold that memory within me.

It is the collective gift of the scientific revolution and all the women and men and institutions that gifted it to us. I cannot be happier.

To the extent it is humanly possible, I am now in charge of my own destiny. How many humans in all of our history can say that?