AI: Will It Replace Us Or Help Us Be More Human? | Emily Paulsen & Jordache Johnson
I used to think that using AI meant I was doing something wrong. That it made my work less valuable.
So I stayed cautious. I kept my distance. I told myself I was being thoughtful, waiting for more research, more ethics, more proof.
After sitting down with AI strategist Jordache Johnson on this week’s episode of Curious Life of a Childfree Woman, I realized I’d been holding the wrong fear entirely.
AI isn’t here to replace my creativity. It’s here to protect it if I’m willing to use it with intention.
This episode wasn’t about how to write better prompts. It was about understanding what’s actually at stake: not our jobs, but our discernment and our critical thinking skills. It is not here to take away the things we love or diminish our value but rather to increase our value and give us more time to do the things we enjoy.
You Don’t Have to Be an Expert—You Just Have to Be Present
One of the most surprising things Jordache said was that AI has been here since the 1940s. But most of us didn’t really meet it until the interface got easier. Suddenly we could chat with it, and now it’s everywhere. In our writing, our search engines, our social media feeds, our tools.
The natural response for a lot of people initially was to just avoid it. Don’t use it. Don’t get sucked in. Don’t get replaced.
But that’s not awareness, that’s avoidance. And as Jordache said so clearly, avoiding the conversation doesn’t protect us. It just keeps us out of the driver’s seat. AI is already shaping our lives. The question isn’t whether it will change things, it’s whether we’ll pay attention to how.
You don’t need to learn every new tool. You don’t need to master every prompt. But you do need to know what you’re handing over and decide whether that trade is worth it and if you trust the platform you are using with that data.
Let It Help Where You Don’t Want to Lead
Something I appreciated so deeply in this conversation is how non-judgmental it was. Jordache didn’t come in swinging with fear or pressure. He offered a middle path, one built on curiosity and choice.
He made a powerful distinction between offloading and outsourcing. Offloading is when we give our thinking away. Outsourcing is when we ask for support but stay in charge. And that’s exactly what AI can offer when we use it well: a thought partner. A sounding board. A tool to help us do less of what drains us so we can do more of what lights us up.
That’s not cheating. That’s freedom.
This conversation helped me remember that I don’t have to prove my worth by doing everything the hard way. If I want to use AI to make a meal plan, or summarize a dense article, or spark a creative idea I’ve been stuck on, that’s allowed.
What You Share Still Matters
We also talked about something practical that often gets lost in these bigger conversations: privacy.
When you use AI tools, what are you feeding them? Is it a draft of a blog post, or your medical records? Is it a grocery list, or your social security number?
Jordache reminded me that not all tools are created equal, and not all platforms have our best interests in mind. And if you’re a woman, especially one who’s used things like period tracking apps or genetic testing services, you’ve probably already shared more than you realize.
Using AI responsibly doesn’t just mean using it wisely. It also means protecting what’s yours.
Curious About AI? Here’s Where to Start
One of the big takeaways that Jordache emphasized is to stay curious about AI and test it out.
Here are a few questions to guide you:
Where do I feel resistant to using AI—and what’s underneath that?
What’s one task in my life or work that I don’t enjoy? Where AI could support me?
What are the parts of my life and work I want to protect, no matter what?
Do I know what kind of data I’m sharing when I use these tools?
Am I using AI to deepen my thinking, or to avoid having to think at all?
Let’s Stay Curious Together
This isn’t about having a magazine-worthy home. It’s about feeling grounded where you are. Supported by your environment. Called forward by This episode wasn’t about “how to use AI.” It was about how to stay present with it. How to stay thoughtful with it. Where are you letting AI support you? And where are you staying fully human—on purpose?
You can listen to the full conversation with Jordache Johnson wherever you get your podcasts. And if it brought something up for you, I’d love to hear about it.
Come join me on Instagram @curiouslifeofachildfreewoman and tell me:
Let’s stay curious together.
