After attending a lecture by Dr Rami Shaheen, organised by the Ministry of Information, I found myself leaving not with clear answers, but with important questions.
Questions about artificial intelligence, about our role in using it and about what it truly means to be a responsible digital citizen in today’s world.
Dr Rami offered a refreshing definition of a positive digital citizen. It is not someone who fears AI or rejects it, but someone who knows how to use it wisely. AI, as he explained, is an enabler. It helps us work faster, improve quality and make better decisions. But it does not replace human judgment, responsibility, or purpose. In this sense, AI is not a shortcut. It is a tool that strengthens human capability.
Yet despite this, many of us still feel uncomfortable using AI. Sometimes there is even a sense of guilt or shame. This raises an important question: if AI was created to support us, why do we hesitate to use it?
We know from experience that using AI is not effortless. It requires clear thinking, good prompts, review and correction. It often takes several attempts to reach a result that truly reflects our intention. So why do we still question the value of AI-supported work? And why do we sometimes judge others for using AI, while justifying our own use of it?
Another question stayed with me. If we are already capable writers, why do we still turn to AI to polish our work? The answer may not be about laziness. It may be about clarity, confidence and professionalism.
AI can help organise ideas, improve flow and highlight gaps. It does not replace our voice; it reflects it back to us in a clearer form.
This leads to a deeper concern. As we use AI more often, will we start to write like it? Will our language slowly become uniform, predictable and less human? And if that happens, how do we protect originality and authentic expression while still benefitting from AI’s strengths?
At the heart of all these questions is balance. AI should support our skills, not weaken them. It should help us think better, not think less. The responsibility lies with us to remain aware, intentional and critical in how we use it.
Perhaps these questions do not need final answers. What matters more is that we keep asking them. Because as long as we question how we use technology, we remain in control of it, not the other way around.
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