How AI Helped Me Be More Human

Using AI to Slow Down, Think Deeper, and Engage Like a More Authentic Human

Alright, buckle up because this post is a bit of a deviation from my usual format and a little longer than usual. It’s not a permanent shift but one that made sense given the topic and story that goes with it. That said, I think you’ll find it still has that familiar feel. Oh, and one thing that is consistent is I still made my usual off-the-cuff video if that’s more your style.

Now, let me set the context. Despite all the noise and change happening around AI, I had a surprisingly human experience that was profoundly enhanced by it. It was the kind of relatable experience that illustrates so many of the things I try and help people understand about AI’s potential. Given that, I had to share, not because it’s a perfectly polished situation, but because it’s authentic and something we can all learn from.

Here’s what happened:

Someone came across a recent YouTube video of mine and sent me a message. While not uncommon, this was a doozy. It was messy, unfiltered, and emotionally charged. And, if I’m being honest, the moment I saw it, my defenses flew up. As a creator, I’ve gotten enough my share of messages over the years from someone ready to tear me apart, question my motives, and tell me I’m ruining the world. So, I instinctively braced myself for impact.

However, AI radically changed the trajectory because I invited it to the party; not to respond faster, but to slow myself down. Not to offload the work, but to help me work through it more intentionally.

What followed wasn’t just a better response. It was a better process because it pulled me out of my emotional reaction and into a thoughtful, human-to-human exchange. It was a real-life scenario proving that AI doesn’t have to dull our humanity. Used correctly, it can sharpen it.

So, this article is dedicated to walking you through exactly what I did and the role AI played in enriching the messiness of a genuine human connection.

Alright, let’s get to it!

My Experience

Getting triggered is unavoidable. How you respond is a choice.

The message hit hard before I even read the first sentence. It wasn’t necessarily because of what it said but because of everything I assumed it was going to say. My mind immediately jumped ahead and the internal script fired up. I almost groaned out loud, “Here we go again. Another person who probably hasn’t seen any of my other content and didn’t even watch the full video somehow made time to rip me apart.”

That’s what happens when we feel attacked. We stop listening and without thinking prepare for a counterattack. My reaction was automatic, primal even. But my response? Well, that’s where I had a choice, and it was not an easy one.

In moments like these, I’m reminded why we’re told to take every thought captive. The purpose of that statement is not to suppress our thoughts and feelings but create space to interrogate them. It’s a chance to pause and ask: Is this true? Is this helpful? Is this even me at my best?

Now, this step wasn’t technical. AI couldn’t do that work for me. There’s not a tool out there that can make you humble and no algorithm can override your ego. I could have decided to ask for AI’s help in crafting a response that would make the sender wish they’d never crossed me. And, if I had, I’m confident it would have made me even better at it than I know I’m capable of being on my worst days.

So before I ever opened a chat window or shared a word of that message with AI, I had to make a choice of who I wanted to be.

That choice was my real starting point.

“AI may always be available, but you still need to show up.”

After deciding not to give into my carnal response, some deep breaths, and a prayer, I opted to leverage the power of AI. To be clear, my goal was not to save time. I wasn’t looking for a shortcut. I invited AI to help because in this moment I needed help processing and thinking.

Now, you might scoff and say, “Why not call a human friend?” And, that’s a fair question. I have people in my life I trust, and I did eventually pull a few of them into the situation. However, let’s be real for a minute, people aren’t always available on demand, and I feel like it’s rude to treat people like they should be. They’ve got lives, responsibilities, and families. And when you’re sitting in the tension of a heated moment, you don’t always have the luxury of waiting for someone to be free. I also feel that inviting people into your personal venting session isn’t good for anyone involved.

AI, on the other hand, is always there, is an objective third party, and doesn’t end up forming its own biases and feelings about another human being based on what you tell it.

However, that doesn’t mean it’s ready.

The thing with AI is that it only works if you’re willing to do the work first. It needs real, thoughtful, messy human context. If I had just pasted in the message and asked for a “human response,” it would’ve given me one. But, that message would’ve been empty and hollow.

So, I took time and gave it the full story. I described the situation and my reaction. I shared the transcript of the video that sparked the message. I shared my honest fears about how it might have been misunderstood. Now, if you haven’t picked up on it already, that kind of input isn’t fast. This kind of work requires you to slow down and think critically.

I wasn’t timing it, but if I were, I know for a fact it took way more time than reacting emotionally. But, you see, that’s the point. My objective wasn’t speed. It was about achieving the best possible outcome.

“AI didn’t do the work for me; it helped me do the work better.”

Once I gave AI the context, I shared the message itself. My goal was not to skip the reading, but I wanted to be able to read it with understanding. I needed help making sense of something that was written to me but not for me, something that felt overwhelming. The thing is, I’m not a detail-oriented person, and this message was loaded with messy, unfiltered, emotionally layered details. Without help, I knew myself well enough to know I’d be tempted to skim, project, or misinterpret the words on the screen.

So, I asked ChatGPT to break it down and walk me through it. I prompted it with loads of specific questions. What’s the tone here? Can you break this down and summarize the key points? What are some of the things being said underneath the surface?

One of the first sentences in the response back completely disarmed me: “They’re not attacking you—in fact, they seem to respect your platform—but they are using your video as a springboard to pour out years of bottled-up frustration, confusion, despair, and hope.”

That line brought my defenses down because deep down, I didn’t want to be right about my fears. I genuinely wanted to think the best of this person, but I didn’t trust myself to see it clearly.

Everything in this step wasn’t AI replacing my thinking; it was AI supporting it. It was genuinely helping me slow down, notice themes, spot nuance, and stay curious. I even asked it for help in strengthening myself for future situations: Where am I vulnerable to read this wrong? What wrong assumptions was I making? What could I do to see more clearly in the future?

AI gave me structure and order where there had been chaos. It wasn’t feeding me answers, but it was giving me perspective to consider. And, that perspective helped me be able to read with empathy instead of ego.

“Just because AI can write for you doesn’t mean it should.”

Now it was time to shift from internal work to action. Keep in mind that at any point, I could’ve asked AI to write a quick response, copied it, and hit send. Believe me, it offered more than once. I think even it was exhausted. Granted, the neat little paragraphs it offered would’ve technically been a reasonable “response” to the message. And, in today’s world, that probably would have meant a lot. However, that wasn’t what this moment needed.

Given this situation, that didn’t feel human.

This person deserved sincerity. So instead of asking AI to write a response as me, I asked it to help me clarify me. I told it what I wanted to say, not just words, but feelings, themes, intentions. I asked for its help translating it all into a coherent message.

As you might imagine, this wasn’t a one-shot prompt. It was a back-and-forth.

I’d share what was on my heart and AI would give me something. Sometimes it was close. Sometimes it was off. However, it was always a starting point, something I could react to, refine, reshape.

It helped me avoid the wasted energy of typing, deleting, rewriting, and second-guessing. It wasn’t replacing the thinking. It was clearing the clutter so I could focus on what mattered most.

And, once I had something that felt like a decent final draft, I went analog. I edited. I reworded phrases, adjusted tone, and rearranged thoughts. Because in the end, this wasn’t about AI writing for me, it was about AI helping me write like me, with a little more clarity and a lot less noise.

“AI helped me process, but people helped me grow.”

And there it was, ready to be sent, which transitioned me into the next phase. Once the message was written and sent, I stepped away from technology and engaged with my human community.

While AI helped me move through the individual emotions and complexity of the moment, it couldn’t help me fully process what it all meant. That part still belongs to people. So I started sharing the experience. However, at this point it was no longer a rant or a vent session. It had graduated to an experience I was genuinely learning from.

I brought it to people I trust. My goal was no longer to unload but to unpack. And, what emerged was something far deeper than the original exchange. We talked about the emotional triggers, the power of slowing down, and how rare it is to really engage with someone across difference, especially in digital world. My community didn’t just listen, they sharpened the insights, brought new perspectives, and helped me see the growth that had happened through it all. They also learned and grew from my experience.

That all led up to where this article comes in. This article is not intended to be the final word; it’s the unwritten step in the process. This whole experience wasn’t just about me learning how to handle a difficult message well with AI. It was communal lesson in how we can all use AI to show up better, inviting each and every one of you to do the same.

Concluding Thoughts

Okay, okay. If you like good stories, you might be wondering, “This is great Christopher, but where did it all go? Did they respond? What did they say?” This wouldn’t be a good article if I didn’t give you that. So, here it is.

They did respond.

And the message landed exactly as I’d hoped. Me breaking away from my emotions, consciously choosing to be human, and inviting AI to the party helped this individual feel seen, heard, and understood. Not only did AI help defuse what could’ve easily spiraled into misunderstanding, it opened up a real conversation and created a new human connection.

AI didn’t just help me respond to an email; it helped me show up like a better version of myself. It became a quiet, steady, and objective presence in the background, nudging me to think deeper, reflect more honestly, and put words to thoughts I would’ve struggled to get out clearly on my own.

Oh, and it didn’t do it because it’s better than me. It did it because I led it well. It didn’t replace me; it refined me.

And, that’s the point.

We keep talking about AI as a threat to humanity, but that narrative is missing the bigger story. AI doesn’t have to be a threat to being human; it can be a catalyst for becoming more of one.

However, that only happens when we use it with intention. AI can’t make you care. It can’t give you humility. However, it can give you a mirror, a rhythm, and a pause button. And sometimes, that’s exactly what we need to be a better version of ourselves.

With that, I’ll see you on the other side.