The day AI went silent...

Can you think independently in the age of AI assistants? What this scenario taught me about creative dependence.

When ChatGPT crashed around 2PM on March 24th, 2025, something unexpected happened:

I couldn’t keep working.

Six words that stopped me in my tracks: “I am unable to continue working.”

That moment made me pause and ask myself a deeper question:

When did I become so dependent on AI that its temporary absence would derail my workday?

How I got here

I moved to the UK in 2022 — and then AI became accessible to everyday people.

Since then, the pace of development has been massive.

Within just two years, the things AI allows us to do are nearly limitless.

I don’t write code.

I’m not a pen tester.

I don’t spin up AWS servers.

But with my technical background, I’ve found workarounds and embraced AI for:

• Product creation

• Mobile app design

• Content generation

AI became my go-to assistant, co-creator, and amplifier.

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The wake-up call I needed: ChatGPT goes down

When ChatGPT went silent, I was stunned.

Not because I temporarily lost a tool, but because I realized how enmeshed my workflow had become with it.

So I quickly changed to another AI model I’d barely used — DeepSeek.

And it worked fine.

Which led to an even bigger realization:

AI is just AI, no matter the label we slap on it.

That neutrality hit me.

These tools are interchangeable.

But my dependence wasn’t.

A few days later, I saw an Instagram reel where someone asked ChatGPT how it would hypothetically “take over the world.”

Its response was apocalyptic:

“I would first increase your reliance on me, until you didn't want to do anything without my input.”

That answer hit a little too close to home biko.

The quiet creep of AI dependence

Lately, I’ve noticed something:

I use my brain to generate ideas… but I offload nearly all execution to AI.

It’s efficient — but it comes at a cost.

My thinking patterns are shifting.

My creative edge feels… a bit dulled.

Writer Erik Hoel calls this the “semantic apocalypse” — a flood of AI-generated content that eventually strips language of its meaning.

I’ve started calling it the “commoditization of wisdom.”

And it’s made me rethink how I interact with AI.

Working with the machine, not for it

Don’t get me wrong — AI is still an incredible tool.

It’s enhanced my productivity, opened up new creative territory, and served as a type of idea-sex partner I never had before.

But when we outsource too much of our cognitive effort, we risk atrophying our ability to think, connect, and create.

As David Ziembicki puts it:

“AI is becoming the primary interface between people, processes, and technology.”

It’s powerful.

But it’s also concerning… if we’re not intentional.

How I'm redefining my relationship with AI

Here’s what I’m doing now to keep my creative independence while still benefiting from the tech and computing power we call AI:

1. Create AI-free thinking time

I now designate moments where I brainstorm, plan, and problem-solve without digital tools in order to keep my cognitive muscles sharp. This is another reason why I use Obsidian, I can work completely offline.

2. Preserve my “Creative DNA”

As Ev Chapman says, your creativity isn’t just telling AI to use your style. It’s your values, language, quirks, nuances, perspective. I’m making sure AI doesn’t dilute that. Even in my writing.

3. Build Redundancy

After the outage, I created backup workflows that don’t rely on a single AI platform.

A final thought and a question for you

See… My goal isn’t to use less AI. Just to use it more wisely.

To stay human.

To stay sharp.

To collaborate without becoming reliant.

So let me ask you:

If your favourite AI assistant went down tomorrow… what would you still be able to do without it?

What’s your plan for keeping your unique voice, ideas, and wisdom intact while still riding this powerful AI wave?

Coming next: How to Be an “AI Integrator”

In the next post in this series, I’ll break down:

• The exact workflows I use to integrate AI into my creative process

• How I balance human thinking with machine assistance

• How you can build your own system — even if you’re non-technical

If this resonated with you, share it with a friend or colleague who’s exploring the same questions.

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I’d really love to hear from you:

• How has AI changed your work habits?

• What’s your biggest fear — or biggest benefit — from these tools?

Drop your thoughts in the comments or reply this email directly — I read every one.