A Humane Way To Work With AI
without Losing Your Voice, Clarity, or Values
Using AI as Augmented Thinking
We’re living through a moment of real disruption.
New tools—often labeled “artificial intelligence”—are changing how people write, think, create, and make decisions. For many, this brings excitement. For others, confusion or unease. For most, a mix of both.
“Augmented Thinking” is my response to this moment.
It’s not about mastering technology or keeping up with trends.
It’s about learning how to think with new tools—carefully, ethically, and in a way that supports meaningful work rather than undermines it.
This page outlines a simple learning path you can enter at any point, beginning with my writing (free) followed by moving, only if you choose, into deeper exploration.
What I mean by "Augmented Thinking"
Augmented Thinking is the practice of using AI tools as thinking partners, not as replacements for judgment, voice, or human discernment.
In this approach:
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the human remains responsible for meaning and direction
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the tool supports reflection, clarification, and exploration
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speed never replaces wisdom
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and efficiency never replaces care
Augmented Thinking is especially important for writers, creators, educators, and people engaged in right livelihood—where clarity and integrity matter as much as output.
Start with the writing (free)
The best place to begin is simply by reading.
I’ve written a series of essays on Medium and Substack that explore why AI is neither “artificial” nor “intelligent” in the way the hype suggests, how these tools actually work as mirrors of our own thinking, what’s at risk if we outsource judgment or voice, and how mindful attention changes the relationship entirely.
These essays are reflective, practical, and non-technical. They’re meant to help you orient yourself, not convince you of anything.
Begin by reading my essays about AI and Augmented Thinking here:
- “Start Here: Using AI for Augmented Thinking” index article.
This collection proceeds through four phases that introduce the process of mastering human agency over the use of AI.
If you came here from that article, then you can skip to this one:
- “Further Reading on AI and Augmented Thinking” (A Curated Bibliography)
This second collection brings together two kinds of writing:
- Articles that make a positive, evidence-based case for AI as a genuine aid to thinking, learning, and creative work
- Articles that are critical or cautionary, but which—when read carefully—end up reinforcing the same conclusion: outsourcing judgment, meaning, or responsibility to machines is a mistake.
This collection includes two of my essays that you will have already read from the “Start Here” article, but it also draws on a broad selection of the work of others.
If the writing resonates, you’re invited to continue with a short, free email course. (Self-guided and available anytime.)
The Augmented Thinking email course consists of five brief lessons, delivered over about ten days. Each lesson takes about 10 minutes and includes:
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one clear idea
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a simple example
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a small experiment you can try on your own
Topics include:
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thinking with a tool rather than through it
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keeping your voice intact
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using AI to clarify, not replace, your thinking
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developing a right relationship with powerful tools
There’s no selling inside the lessons—just exploration.
Prerequisites
A Note About Tone and Values
I don’t teach AI as a productivity hack or a competitive advantage.
My work is grounded in:
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mindfulness and attention
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right livelihood
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simple living
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and respect for human judgment and community
Augmented Thinking is not about becoming faster or louder. It’s about becoming clearer.
This program is reflective, practical, and non-technical. The lessons and sessions are meant to help you orient yourself, not convince you of anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be “technical” or already using AI to participate?
No. This work assumes no technical background.
Augmented Thinking is not about learning tools or platforms. It’s about learning how to think clearly in a world where such tools exist. You may come in curious, uncertain, or even skeptical—and that’s entirely appropriate.
For your own play, you will need access to a free or paid account on an AI such as ChatGPT, Claude.ai, Gemini, or CoPilot, that focuses on words (often referred to as an LLM or “large language model.”) The baseline for any demos I share will be the free version of ChatGPT.
Is this pro-AI or anti-AI?
Neither.
Augmented Thinking starts from a different place: discernment.
Rather than arguing for or against AI, we explore how these tools actually affect thinking, creativity, and judgment—and how to stay in right relationship with them. You’re encouraged to form your own conclusions.
Is this mainly for writers?
Writers often find this work helpful, but it’s not limited to writing.
Augmented Thinking is relevant to anyone who:
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works with ideas
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makes decisions
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teaches, creates, or advises
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or cares about clarity and integrity in their work
That includes educators, consultants, artists, nonprofit leaders, small business owners, and thoughtful retirees.
Will this help me become more productive or efficient?
Possibly—but that’s not the goal.
The focus here is on clarity, authorship, and judgment, not speed or output. Some people find that working this way naturally improves effectiveness. Others find it helps them slow down in healthier ways.
Either outcome is fine.
Is this about replacing human creativity or voice?
No. In fact, it’s largely about preventing that from happening.
A central concern of Augmented Thinking is how easily voice and authorship can be diluted or lost when tools are used unreflectively. Much of the work is about staying grounded in your thinking, language, and values.
Do I have to move through all the steps—articles, email course, live sessions?
No.
Each part of this work is designed to stand on its own. You may engage only through the writing. Or you may enjoy the email course or attending a single live session.
Going deeper is always optional.
Are the live Zoom sessions sales presentations?
No.
The live session is a complete experience, not a pitch. It’s a conversation, with examples and reflection, designed to help you understand the core ideas in a human, accessible way.
If there’s an opportunity to continue afterward, it’s offered gently and without pressure.
Is the longer program always paid?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no.
Occasionally my small-group sessions are offered as beta experiments. Other times they’re offered as a paid series. That decision is based on what makes sense for the work and for me—not on marketing urgency.
You’ll always know the terms clearly before deciding.
The email course focused on Augmented Thinking begins in early 2026 and is free. The first Zoom session that follows close after that is also free. The “deep dive” Zoom sessions after that will charge a fee yet to be determined. If you participate in the email course and the first free Zoom session, you’ll get a chance to help me figure out the appropriate fee for those final Zoom sessions.
How is this different from other AI courses?
Most AI courses focus on:
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tools
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prompts
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productivity
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competitive advantage
Augmented Thinking focuses on:
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judgment
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voice
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responsibility
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and meaningful work
It’s less about what the tool can do and more about who you are while using it.
What if I decide this isn’t for me?
That’s a valid outcome.
This work is about choice and clarity, not persuasion. If reading the essays or participating in a session helps you decide not to engage further, then it has still done its job.
This program is reflective, practical, and non-technical. The lessons and sessions are meant to help you orient yourself, not convince you of anything.
Is this connected to mindfulness or right livelihood?
Yes—explicitly.
Augmented Thinking grows directly out of my long-standing work with mindfulness, right livelihood, and simple living. The same values apply here: attention, responsibility, sufficiency, and care for the human consequences of our choices.
What does “GPT” stand for?
Hopefully, you’ll laugh and not run from the room screaming!
GPT is a very science fictiony label. It is an acronym derived from the phrase “Generative Pre-trained Transformer.”
What does that mean? Well the actual intention is something like: “a type of artificial intelligence model that generates human-like text by learning patterns from vast amounts of data, enabling it to understand prompts and create coherent responses in a conversational format.”
So, we have a scifi label that, on the one hand, could be taken as the savior of civilization or, on the other hand, as an alien come to destroy all life on earth.
No wonder so many people experience fear and uncertainty around AI!
Personally, I’m biased toward names like “Claude.ai” as I am one (a ‘Claude,’ that is).
One final reassurance
You don’t need to keep up.
You don’t need to decide quickly.
You don’t need to agree with everything here.
You’re welcome to engage as lightly—or as deeply—as feels right.
About Me
I’m Claude Whitmyer—writer, teacher, and long-time practitioner of right livelihood and simple living.
For decades, my work has focused on helping people find and sustain meaningful work, especially in times of transition. Augmented Thinking is a continuation of that work, shaped by the realities of the moment.