I've watched this pattern play out dozens of times now: Someone gets feedback from an AI tool, doesn't like what they hear, and immediately accuses it of "twisting their words" or "making them look stupid."
Here's the truth: AI tools don't have an agenda. They're not out to get you. They're mirrors.
If an AI is pointing out contradictions in your argument, or showing you that your words don't match your intent — that's not manipulation. That's just what your words actually said. The AI is doing exactly what you asked: analyzing the information you gave it.
The defensiveness? That's the sound of cognitive dissonance.
Look, I get it. It stings when something reflects back flaws in our thinking. It's easier to blame the tool than to sit with the discomfort of "oh, maybe I wasn't as clear as I thought" or "maybe my logic has some holes."
But if your first instinct is to attack the messenger rather than examine the message, you're robbing yourself of one of the best uses of AI: getting objective feedback without human ego in the mix.
AIs aren't getting smarter to make you feel dumb. They're getting better at showing you what you're actually communicating versus what you think you're communicating.
That gap? That's where the growth happens — if you're willing to look at it.
