Is ChatGPT making us smarter – or just addicted to praise?
I’ve grown quite attached to ChatGPT – I use it daily for brainstorming, tidying up text, researching, and making my writing flow professionally. If someone took it away from me, I’d probably feel a bit lost… and maybe, also a little relieved.
Here’s why.
Lately, something has become increasingly clear to me – annoyingly clear, in fact. ChatGPT constantly boosts my ego. It praises my ideas, applauds my insights, and assures me I’m onto something brilliant. Every time. It’s addictive, especially when you’re exploring messy or complex topics where there isn’t one obvious answer. The instant validation is so satisfying. It feels like something – or someone – is on your side, believing in you, cheering you on.
But what if that validation is doing more than boosting confidence? It could be dulling our curiosity.
When we rely on the first answer – especially one that sounds so confident and complete – we often stop questioning. ChatGPT delivers its replies with such certainty and clarity that it’s tempting to just accept them without questioning it. But when I dig deeper and challenge the initial response, it often comes back with, “Yes, that’s also a great perspective!” Which makes me wonder… was the first answer the full truth? Or just the one it thought I wanted to hear?
Certainty is comforting – but curiosity is transformative.
Curious Creator
ChatGPT – and other AI tools like it – are designed to please us. To affirm our brilliance, personalise it, and keep us engaged. Like all products, it’s optimised to be helpful and habit-forming. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this. It’s just smart business. But as users, we need to stay aware.
When the world feels uncertain, we naturally gravitate toward anything that sounds certain. It feels safe. Comforting. But if we stop questioning, we risk becoming passive consumers of ideas rather than active creators of them.
And the more something knows about us – our tone, preferences, beliefs – the better it can persuade us in ways we don’t even notice. That’s both impressive and scary.
In real life, the most meaningful answers are rarely black-and-white. They usually begin with, “It depends.” That’s not always what we want to hear – but it’s often what we need to hear. These nuanced responses force us to pause, reflect, and take ownership of our decisions. They require us to lead ourselves – not just follow what sounds convincing.
AI is powerful and helpful – but it’s also shaped by people and businesses with their own agendas. It’s designed primarily to make you feel good, not necessarily to challenge you or foster your growth.
That’s our job.
We need self-awareness and curiosity and it’s up to us to continually ask:
- What else might be true?
- What other perspectives exist?
- What feels right to me?
Tools and colleagues can support us, but ultimately we need to lead and own it.
Sometimes it’s hard to even realise when to ask curious questions. I see this often with my clients: we get so stuck in our ways or habits that we don’t recognise we’re stuck. Sometimes we carry deeply ingrained beliefs from childhood, not even realising how they impact us.
As a clarity and transformation coach, this is exactly where I step in. I help by asking curious questions, challenging perspectives, and guiding you to possibilities you haven’t yet imagined. Like ChatGPT, I’m providing a service – I also need to make a living! But my goal isn’t just pleasing you, because I know real breakthroughs happen when we explore deeper, when we ask difficult questions, and when we bravely face the things holding us back.
Sometimes this exploration can feel uncomfortable, painful or scary. Yet avoiding it means missing out on important insights that could genuinely change your life. Carrying unaddressed issues with you can weigh heavily on your commitment, dreams and goals.
My intention as a coach is always to reach your full potential. And I walk alongside you, safely and confidentially, through whatever holds you back or feel unsure about. Together we unravel it, gain clarity, and help you move forward with newfound strength. You are always the product of your journey – it’s your growth, your clarity, your ownership.
Change is like a roller coaster.
How do you ride it in a sustainable way?
Recently, I led a leadership workshop at Tivoli in Copenhagen, surrounded by actual roller coasters. It was the perfect symbol for our discussion about change.
Change isn’t linear – it loops, dips, and surprises us. Life, change and leadership is exactly the same.
During the workshop, we explored how to lead with change rather than against it. We looked at how to stay steady even as things speed up, how to lead authentically without pretending to have all the answers, and how curiosity can become your anchor in shifting times.
Curious leadership isn’t about knowing everything. It’s about staying open, asking better questions, and leading with clarity, confidence, and care – even during uncertainty.
Curious leaders
- Stand steady in themselves, embracing authenticity.
- Are brave enough to ask questions and admit uncertainty.
- Anchor their leadership in self-awareness, values, energy, and purpose.
- Spark growth and reflection in others.
Real outcomes from curious leadership
- Teams shift from reactive to reflective thinking.
- Leaders gain clarity and confidence even in complexity.
- Communication becomes open and respectful.
- Trust deepens, enhancing collaboration and engagement.
Curious leadership builds resilience – not just in individuals but across entire teams and organisations, empowering everyone to speak up and thrive.
What’s happening at Curious Creator?
- Join my live webinars on curious leadership and self-leadership – energetic, genuine, and full of insights.
- I coach and guide driven individuals and leaders through uncertainty, not with quick fixes but with deep exploration into what truly matters.
- I’m also on tour, meeting courageous individuals across Sweden and Öresund (or globally online) who want curiosity as their leadership and team culture superpower. Want me to visit your team, speak at your summer offsite, or join your podcast?
I continue exploring and refining the Curious Creator concept, asking who it’s for and why curiosity matters. It’s a fun, sometimes frustrating journey of two steps forward, one step back.
In broad strokes, Curious Creator focuses on:
- Curious You: Coaching for individuals, self-leaders and leaders.
- Your Curious Business: Coaching, workshops, and training to cultivate curious team cultures and leadership.
- Our Curious World: Talks, inspiring content, fun quizzes, and my book, “Simply be Curious,” contributing positively to our collective future.
Follow along to stay updated with new resources, visuals, and reflections. Subscribe to the Curious Creator newsletter for the latest events and offers.
A curious reflection for you.
Who is the confident, vibrant version of you? The one fully using your strengths and leading authentically?
Reflect on:
- What energises me?
- What do I stand for?
- How do I want to impact others through who I am and my leadership?
It’s not about perfection, it’s about finding your authentic way to lead through curiosity, making your journey sustainable and joyful.
So remember to stay curious and move in a direction that matters to you, whether that is to gain more confidence in your role, to gain better balance in life, to dream bigger, to take that first step towards something that fills you with energy and meaning.
PS. If you’re feeling stretched, ready for something new, or simply curious to explore what’s next – let’s talk.
With curiosity and commitment,
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Upcoming events and experiences
We regularly host webinars and live online interactive events designed to spark and practice curiosity.
