AI Isn’t Going Away Why We Need to Talk About Using It Responsibly
Life does not always happen this way and emotional injuries are such ones that hurt just the same as physical injuries. It is then when the so-called emotional first aid kit is employed, which is a set of necessities and practices that encourage mental health counseling in everyday life. You can think of your set of emotional tools as your first aid pack that can offer solace, support, and direction during stressful moments, just as simple first aid would with scrapes, cuts, and other simple ailments.
The real conversation isn’t about whether AI should exist. It’s about how we can use it wisely, responsibly, and ethically. That conversation is long overdue.
Safeguard #1: Protecting Privacy and Confidentiality
For social workers, therapists, healthcare providers, or anyone working with clients, the most important rule is simple: never share private or identifying information with AI tools.
Think of AI the same way you think of public social media — once you put confidential information in, you can’t guarantee where it goes. For those of us in counseling or social work, that means:
- Don’t input client names, stories, or health records.
- Don’t use AI to write session notes or assessments with identifying details.
- Do use AI for general purposes — drafting psychoeducation handouts, brainstorming group topics, or summarizing research.
AI can be an incredible assistant, but it should never take the place of our ethical responsibility to protect those we serve.
Safeguard #2: Helping Students Learn Without Cheating
Students face another challenge: how to use AI in a way that supports learning instead of replacing it. It’s not so different from when Google first entered classrooms, or even when encyclopedias were the main source of research.
The difference comes down to intent.
Using AI responsibly looks like:
- Asking it to explain a confusing topic in simpler terms
- Practicing with AI-generated sample questions
- Brainstorming ideas for a project before doing your own work
- Learning different perspectives on an issue
Misusing AI looks like:
- Copying entire essays or answers without understanding them
- Turning in AI-written work as your own
- Avoiding the learning process altogether
AI should be treated as a tutor, not a shortcut. It’s there to support curiosity and deeper learning, not replace the effort required to grow.
Why This Conversation Is Overdue
AI is advancing faster than most workplaces, schools, and even professional ethics codes can keep up with. That’s why open, honest conversations are needed right now — not five years from now.
Avoiding AI because of fear doesn’t make us safer. It only creates gaps in knowledge and leaves us unprepared. Just like ignoring the internet in the early 2000s would have left a business behind, refusing to learn about AI today risks the same.
The truth is, AI is already shaping:
- Business (customer service, scheduling, marketing)
- Healthcare (research support, non-clinical documentation)
- Education (personalized tutoring, study aids)
- Everyday life (time management, budgeting, translation tools)
The question isn’t whether AI will impact us. The question is: will we learn to work with it responsibly, or be left behind by those who do?
Practical Steps for Responsible AI Use
If you’re wondering where to start, here are a few simple guidelines:
- Never share private client or personal data.
- Treat AI platforms like you would an open forum.
- Use AI as an assistant, not a replacement.
- Let it help with drafts, brainstorming, or breaking down information — but always apply your professional judgment and personal touch.
- Teach ethical use early.
- Parents, teachers, and mentors can guide young people on how to use AI responsibly — not to cheat, but to learn.
- Stay curious.
- Explore new tools. Learn what they can and can’t do. Awareness is the best safeguard.
- Have the conversations.
- Whether in schools, clinics, or communities, we need open discussions about how to set healthy boundaries with AI.
Final Thought
AI isn’t something to fear or avoid. Like every major technology before it, it will keep evolving whether we embrace it or not. The real work is not in demonizing or denying it — it’s in learning, teaching, and creating safeguards that allow us to use AI for good.
The sooner we start that conversation, the better prepared we’ll be to protect privacy, support learning, and take advantage of the opportunities AI offers.
So let’s not focus on fear. Let’s focus on responsibility and adaptation. Because in today’s digital world, not learning to use AI wisely isn’t just a missed opportunity — it’s a disadvantage we can’t afford.