I’ve always cared about two things when I write: providing pragmatic, useful content and maintaining high-quality writing. I like clarity, structure, and making sure every word earns its place.
Recently, I’ve been using AI chatbots like ChatGPT to help me write. They help me generate ideas faster, structure the writing, and polish phrasing. With their assistance, I can often produce better, more useful content.
But there’s a catch. Because I care about quality, I tend to slip into maximizer mode. The chatbot suggests another tweak, a clearer phrasing, a punchier lead. And then another. And another. Before I know it, I’m spending much more time polishing my writing than I can afford — chasing diminishing returns.
It’s a balancing act: using AI to amplify your writing without falling down a rabbit hole of endless tweaks. I have to constantly remind myself to be a satisficer, watchful for when good is good enough while still benefiting from the insights a conversation with a chatbot provides.
(The idea of “satisficing” in decision-making was first proposed by cognitive psychologist Harry Simon in the 1950’s. The term “maximizer” came later, and was popularized by Barry Schwartz.)
I’d love to hear from you. How do you use AI chatbots to write well without going too deep down the rabbit hole?