AI is a tool I use behind the scenes to make the essays sharper, clearer, and easier to navigate. Every idea, stance, and final call is mine. It does not decide what I think.

Here is exactly how I use it.

1. Brainstorming and preparing the essay guideline

Before I write, I often use AI to help me:

  • Explore different angles on a topic
  • Turn a messy brain dump into a rough outline
  • Spot gaps in my initial thinking

I start with my own notes. Then I ask AI to challenge them, to restructure them, or to surface questions I may be missing. The final guideline is always adjusted by me, but AI speeds up the transition from “vague idea” to “clear structure.”

2. Editing

After I write a draft, I use AI like a fast, picky editor.

I ask it to:

  • Highlight confusing sentences
  • Suggest more natural phrasing
  • Improve transitions between sections
  • Point out repetition or clutter

I never accept changes blindly. I review all suggestions, keep what matches my voice, and discard what feels off. The goal is simple: same idea, same honesty, less friction for you as a reader.

Some of the older essays were expanded by AI to reach essay length, which is why a few of them read longer than the idea needed. I have stopped doing that.

3. Generating the Quick Summary at the top

Each essay starts with a short “Quick Summary.” AI helps with these by:

  • Reading the full essay
  • Summarizing the core argument in a few lines
  • Keeping it focused on the outcome, not just the table of contents

I then adjust the summary so it reflects what I actually care about in that piece. The idea is that you can decide in a few seconds if the essay is worth your time.

4. SEO improvements on essays

I do not write for algorithms, but I do not want good content to be invisible either.

AI helps me with SEO by:

  • Suggesting headings that are clearer and more searchable
  • Helping refine titles and meta descriptions
  • Checking if I am overusing or underusing key phrases
  • Making sure the structure is friendly to both humans and search engines

I still refuse keyword stuffing. Search intent is always informational or navigational, never “how to buy X now.” If a suggestion hurts clarity or honesty, I ignore it.

5. Generating some images

Some images on BUT. Honestly are created with AI. I use it to:

  • Generate simple visuals that match the mood of an essay
  • Experiment with concepts that would be hard to photograph
  • Avoid stock-photo clichés

I provide the ideas and prompts. AI provides raw images. I then pick, tweak, or discard them based on whether they support the message of the piece.

6. Reading the essays aloud

Many essays have an audio player near the top. That is not me reading. It is a synthetic voice — Google's Gemini text-to-speech — narrating a script built from the essay.

I read that script before it is synthesized and fix anything that should sound different: an acronym spelled out, a caption rewritten so it makes sense without the image. The words are mine but the voice is not.

What AI does not do here

  • It does not decide what I write about
  • It does not choose my opinions or conclusions
  • It does not publish anything without my review
  • It does not replace real experience or critical thinking

If AI ever helps shape a piece in a significant way, it still goes through the same filter: “Would I stand behind this if AI disappeared tomorrow?” If the answer is no, it does not get published.