🎙️ Smart Curiosity, Not Fear: A Real Talk on AI Safety & Ethics📝
- Tami West, PhD
- Mar 18
- 6 min read
Welcome to Consider Yourself Hugged! Click below to watch or Click here to listen to Episode 203.
*Disclaimer:
The information in this show is not intended to be therapy or to address your individual situation. It is information based on experiences, opinions, and research. If you need further help, please reach out to one of the resources at the end of the show notes, or others in your area.
In this final installment of our AI mini-series, we dive into the heart of the conversation: AI safety, ethics, trust, and how to use this powerful technology responsibly. With real-life stories, fascinating examples (including a fake AI-generated podcast!), and thoughtful questions, this episode is your guide to being smart—not scared—about AI.
We’re not tech experts, and we don’t have to be. What we bring you is real talk from curious, cautious, and caring humans just like you. You’ll walk away with practical tools, deeper insight, and a renewed confidence to explore AI with your eyes wide open.
🧭 In This Episode:
📢 AI is Everywhere: Why people are talking about it more than ever—and why it’s divisive
🐶 The Puppy Podcast Surprise: AI fooled us all with a completely fake but convincing audio
🔐 The Real Concerns: Deepfakes, fake news, and identity theft
🤖 Hallucinations & Bias: When AI "makes stuff up" or mirrors societal prejudices
👩⚕️ Human Use, Human Choice: A look into healthcare, education, and business applications
🧠 Trust and Verification: Why your personal review still matters
💡 Practical Tips: How to stay curious, cautious, and clear-headed
🧍♀️Human Connection AI: Why tech can help—but never replace—empathy
🎓 Lifelong Learning: How to stay ahead of inevitable workplace shifts
🛠️ Tami’s Light Clamp Moment: What a desk lamp taught her about change and simplicity
📋 AI Safety & Ethics Takeaways:
These 7 areas can serve as a Personal AI Safety Check-In (included as a downloadable guide in the show notes):
A. Privacy & Surveillance
Worry: Is AI spying on me?
Tip: Turn off voice assistants and review microphone settings if privacy is a concern.
B. Data Use & Consent
Worry: What happens to my data?
Tip: Understand what tools like ChatGPT store (your data may train the model). Read the disclaimers—yes, really.
C. Accuracy & Hallucinations
Worry: What if it’s wrong?
Tip: Double-check AI-generated info, especially for health, legal, or sensitive decisions. Hallucinations are real.
D. Deepfakes & Fake News
Worry: How do I know what's real?
Tip: Always verify content sources, especially if they influence your beliefs or actions. Use safe words/emojis for family.
E. Job Security & Shifting Roles
Worry: Will AI take my job?
Truth: Some jobs will change. Others will be created. Adaptability and ongoing learning are your superpowers.
F. Human Relationships
Worry: Can AI replace real connection?
Reminder: AI can mimic empathy but not feel it. Use it to enhance—not replace—human connection.
G. Creativity
Worry: Will AI steal my creative spark?
Insight: AI can support your creativity… or stifle it. Regularly reflect: is it helping or hindering your originality?
💡 Reflection Questions:
What’s one way AI has helped me simplify my life?
Where might I be relying too heavily on it?
How can I stay informed without becoming overwhelmed?
Who do I trust to help me verify information online?
📎 Links & Resources:
Google’s Notebook LM – AI-generated podcasts and summaries
AI in Business Podcast – Michelle’s recommendation for deeper learning
Visuals: Then vs. Now AI-Generated Images (below)
2025 Image 2020 Image
Bonus Download: Personal AI Safety Tool (below)
👀 Next Week Teaser:
We're talking to Tami’s sister, a 911 dispatcher in Nashville, to kick off our Mental Health Resource series for next season. Learn about the real work behind the scenes at 911.
📄 BONUS: AI SAFETY & ETHICS DOCUMENT (Above)
Title: Smart Curiosity: A Practical Guide to AI Safety and Ethical Awareness
Purpose: To help everyday users navigate the rapidly changing world of AI with confidence, caution, and clarity.
🛡️ Core Principles:
Informed Use
Understand how the tools you use store, use, and protect your data.
Take time to review privacy settings and terms (or find trustworthy summaries).
Trust but Verify
Use AI to brainstorm, organize, or summarize—but fact-check critical info.
Know what “AI hallucinations” are: confident but false information.
Respect for Human Dignity
AI can mimic empathy; it cannot feel. Never let it replace real human connection.
Use AI to support—not substitute—mental health or interpersonal care.
Transparency
Be open if content was generated or co-created with AI.
Give proper attribution and disclose AI use in public materials when relevant.
Equity and Inclusion
Acknowledge that AI can reflect biases in training data.
Actively instruct AI to include diverse perspectives when appropriate.
Lifelong Learning
Stay informed about developments in your industry or profession.
Look for opportunities to grow skills that support your adaptability in an AI-enhanced world.
Responsibility
You are accountable for what you publish, even if AI helped write it.
Be cautious about automating high-risk decisions (e.g., medical advice, legal action).
💬 Join the Conversation!
💭 Have you used AI for mental and emotional well-being? Organization? How do you feel about AI becoming a bigger part of daily life? Michelle and I would love to hear your thoughts!
📌 Subscribe, Review, Share & Stay Connected
🙌 If this episode helped you, send it to someone who might need it too! 💙
Follow Us:
🔗 Website: www.tamiwest.com
📘 Private Facebook Group for Women! Consider Yourself Hugged Community
📺 YouTube: Check out our video episodes!
👥 Want to join us on a retreat? Let us know in the comments!
As we've always asked in the past, please pass the show link along to your friends and subscribe, download, and review wherever you are listening. If you’re a woman and you haven’t joined our private FB group A Place for Women, please do that now! It’ll be your source of encouragement. I'd love for you to follow my Tami West Seminars Facebook page as well. If you'd like to know more about my Mental Health First Aid Courses, contact me at 615-497-7714 or tamiwest@tamiwest.com.
And next time, Consider Yourself Hugged 😘🤗
Mental Health Resources:
Michelle Kixmiller, MSN, MAE, RN, APN, PMHNP-BC
Michelle Kixmiller is a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Licensed Educator. She works with children and adults with mental health needs including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, ADHD, autism, schizophrenia, and obsessive compulsive disorder. Michelle served as a public school teacher and science department chair for over a decade when a family tragedy pulled her in a different direction. The death of her younger brother after a multiple year battle with depression and alcoholism led her to pursue a career in the mental health field. She went back to school to become a registered nurse graduating and gaining experience as a critical care nurse at a level 1 regional burn center prior to completing a graduate degree to become a mental health nurse practitioner. Her vision is holistic care through teamwork to create a more peaceful school environment for students and staff alike. No one should have to struggle alone. Michelle currently works full time for a non-profit community mental health center at an outpatient clinic and works PRN for an inpatient crisis stabilization unit. When not at work she loves spending time with family, traveling, watching movies (not scary ones), running (slowly), and Crossfit. Contact Michelle at Silver Lining Psychiatric Solutions, 615-378-7713 or mkixmill@gmail.com.
Tami West, PhD
Stress and Mental Health Expert Dr. Tami West uses her entertaining and compelling style to shine a new light on how to transform your life and discover solutions to life’s challenges.
Tami has worked in a variety of industries including healthcare, school nutrition, corporate sales, and 10 years as a public-school teacher. In 2013 she received her PhD in Human Development, studying the connections among stress, emotions, and identity.
Dr. West has spoken in 48 states across the US, as well as the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. In any given year, Tami speaks to groups with audiences consisting of anywhere from 100 to 3,000 people.
Dr. West is the author of several successful publications including three books: The Stress Club, Life Without the Monsters and Thrive. When she's not speaking or writing, you might find her with her traveling with her husband and family, reading historical fiction, or watching Big Bang Theory.
Tami connects with audiences through real experience, cutting edge research, and transparent stories – all sprinkled with humor! She will make you laugh, cry, and shine a refreshingly new light on life's challenges.
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Contact Tami at tamiwest@tamiwest.com
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