AI is one of those things that everyone is talking about, and almost no one feels fully confident using. On one side, it is “the future,” and you need to get on board immediately. On the other side, it is taking jobs, ruining creativity, and cannot be trusted.
Neither of those perspectives are helpful.
In my conversation with Abigail Merrill on the podcast, what stood out most was not how AI works. It was how we are thinking about it, especially as women in business.
Because most of the hesitation I see is not about ability. It is about trust.
The Hesitation Isn’t the Problem
There is data showing that women are adopting AI at a lower rate than men. That gets framed as a gap. I don’t see it that way.
I see it as awareness.
Women are often more cautious in the workplace because we have to be. When something goes wrong, it is more likely to be remembered and more likely to be tied back to us personally. So when a new tool shows up, and everyone is saying “just use it,” hesitation makes sense. Add in the fact that AI tools are built on the internet, which is full of bias, and of course, there is some resistance.
That doesn’t mean you should avoid it.
It means you should use it differently.
AI Is Not an Answer Box
One of the biggest mistakes people make is treating AI like Google.
It is not pulling facts. It is recognizing patterns and giving you the most likely response. That is why sometimes it sounds really smart and still feels slightly off.
If you expect it to be perfect, you are going to lose trust in it quickly. If you treat it like a starting point, it becomes useful.
Think of it like a second set of eyes, not a final decision maker.
You Don’t Need to Learn Everything
This is where most people get stuck.
It feels like you need to learn prompts, tools, systems, and somehow become an expert overnight.
You don’t.
You need to use it in your actual day-to-day work. Start with the things that already take up your time:
- Writing and rewriting emails
- Summarizing calls
- Planning content
- Organizing your thoughts before a meeting
These are things you are already doing. AI just helps you do them faster.
That’s it.
The Real Mistake Is Removing Yourself From the Process
There is a lot of talk about people becoming too reliant on AI.
The issue is not using it too much. The issue is using it without thinking. If you copy, paste, and move on, your work is going to feel generic. It is going to sound like everyone else. It is going to miss the nuance that actually builds trust.
You still need to read it. Edit it. Ask yourself if it sounds like you or your client.
AI can support your thinking. It cannot replace your judgment.
If It Feels Like a Third Job, You’re Doing Too Much
This is something Abigail said that really stuck with me.
If using AI feels overwhelming, you are probably trying to do too much too fast. You do not need five tools. You do not need a complex system.
Pick one.
Use what you already have access to and test it in a small way.
For example:
- Have it draft a follow-up email after a client call
- Use it to brainstorm a week of content ideas
- Ask it to rewrite something in a clearer tone
Try it for a week or two and see what actually changes.
Did it save you time? Did it make things easier? Did it help you think more clearly?
That is how you build confidence.
You Are Not Behind
I hear this all the time. “I feel like I’m late to this.”
You’re not.
No one has this fully figured out. Not even the people building these tools. What matters is that you start using it in a way that makes sense for you. Because the people who benefit from AI are not the ones who know everything about it.
They are the ones who actually use it.
Why This Matters
This is not about doing more.
It is about doing what you are already doing with less friction. It is about getting time back. Time to think. Time to be more present. Time to focus on the parts of your work that actually move things forward.
AI can support that, but only if you stop overthinking it and start using it.
Start small. Stay involved in the process. Keep your voice in what you create.
That is what makes it work.
