As I buckled into my seat for an 8+ hour flight to speak at a conference overseas, I had everything planned: slides polished, notes prepped, and, of course, ChatGPT loaded up to keep my creativity flowing mid-air. But then it happened. The airplane Wi-Fi, the so-called "high-speed" connection, decided it had other plans. My lifeline to ChatGPT was reduced to a buffering wheel and a lot of frustration.
It hit me—what do I do when I can’t rely on ChatGPT? How do I tackle ideation and creativity without my trusty AI sidekick?
Let’s face it, ChatGPT has become more than a tool for me—it’s like a creative partner. I don’t just lean on it for grammar fixes (because, let’s be real, my grammar often has the finesse of a 5th grader), but I also use it to bounce ideas around and get feedback in seconds.
On that flight, with no reliable connection, I was forced to dive into my own thoughts unfiltered, unassisted, and entirely human. At first, it felt like walking into a pitch-black room without a flashlight. But soon enough, something strange happened. My brain, without its digital crutch, began to work overtime.
What I realized on that flight is something we all know but often forget: creativity is like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. But if you rely too much on AI (or anything else), that muscle can atrophy.
Without ChatGPT on hand, I had to get creative about being creative. I grabbed the notepad from the seat pocket in front of me, and I started jotting down every thought, idea, and half-formed concept that came to mind. Yes, my handwriting looked like chicken scratch, and yes, I could barely read it afterward. But something magical happened: ideas started flowing.
This experience reminded me of my shower thought moments—you know, the ones where your brain connects dots out of nowhere and you’re convinced you’ve just solved world peace. I often find myself racing out of the shower, dripping water all over the floor, just to scribble my thoughts onto the nearest piece of paper.
And here’s the thing: those barely legible notes are gold. Later, when I’m back at my desk, I take a picture of my messy notes and let ChatGPT help translate them into something coherent. It’s like having a personal editor who gets me, no matter how rough my starting point is.
Let me be clear—bad Wi-Fi is my kryptonite. As someone whose strength lies in ideation and thought creation rather than perfectly worded prose, ChatGPT is my superpower. It takes my raw, messy ideas and helps me articulate them in a way that makes sense to others. But when that Wi-Fi signal disappears, I’m reminded of the power of going analog, even if just for a while.
I’ve learned that moments without AI force me to dig deeper. They remind me to exercise my creativity and sharpen the tools that I sometimes take for granted.
Here’s a takeaway for when you find yourself without access to your AI assistant:
The truth is, I don’t see AI as a replacement for my creativity—it’s an amplifier. But moments like that flight remind me that I need to keep my creative muscles sharp. Relying too much on AI without challenging yourself to think independently can leave you stuck when technology fails.
So, yes, ChatGPT gives me a superpower. But every now and then, it’s good to step away, let your brain do the heavy lifting, and remember just how much you’re capable of on your own.
Co Founder of Merged Media & Co Owner of Chatello.ai
He is the co-founder of Merged Media, an award-winning digital marketing agency specializing in AI-powered strategies. A sought-after speaker and educator, Jason teaches "Leading Change in Digital Tourism" at George Brown College and has presented at major events like Affiliate World and AdWorld. From his unique journey as a Japanese rockstar to building a successful agency, Jason combines creativity and innovation to help businesses worldwide scale their growth and achieve transformative marketing results.