How to tell if you’re using AI too much | Terrence "TJ" Nealy | TEDxCharlotte

Creative technologist Terrence "TJ" Nealy discusses how reliance on AI can gradually replace personal judgment and creative instinct. He describes noticing that he often turned to AI before trusting his own ideas, from sorting 400 family videos to dropping a design concept he had not tested. The talk introduces the idea of Creative Sovereignty, a framework for using AI critically and ethically. It also covers distinguishing cloud and local AI models, setting personal creative non-negotiables, and the value of deliberate inefficiency.

• Recognizing when AI use shifts from a tool to a default voice
• The Creative Sovereignty framework for critical, ethical AI use
• Distinguishing cloud and local AI models
• Setting creative non-negotiables and practicing deliberate inefficiency

What if the most advanced technology in your workflow is quietly making you less of yourself? Creative Technologist TJ Nealy opens up about a pattern he didn’t notice until it was already happening — defaulting to AI before trusting his own instincts. From sorting 400 family videos to abandoning a bold design idea he never even tested, TJ traces the subtle ways AI can shift from a tool into the voice we trust most. This isn’t an anti-AI talk. It’s a wake-up call. In this talk, TJ introduces the concept of Creative Sovereignty — a framework for using AI critically and ethically without surrendering your perspective, your instincts, or your creative identity. You’ll learn how to distinguish between cloud and local AI models, define your own creative non-negotiables, and why practicing deliberate inefficiency might be the most productive thing you can do. If you’ve ever accepted an AI suggestion without knowing exactly why — this one’s for you. Terrence “TJ” Nealy is a creative technologist who leads at the intersection of storytelling and emerging technology. Over the past decade, he's directed creative and marketing teams for organizations ranging from The Walt Disney Company to community development centers, earning W3, Telly, and Webby Awards for work that demonstrates how technology amplifies—rather than replaces—human creativity. As Owner/Creative Director of MODD Creative Agency, Nealy has pioneered AI integration frameworks and innovated internal systems for small startups and fortune 500 companies. Beyond his agency work, he teaches STEM and digital literacy to 200+ underrepresented youth annually, bridging the digital divide and cultivating the next generation of creative technologists. Rooted in Charlotte, North Carolina, Nealy's work is driven by a clear conviction: when story, strategy, and technology are aligned, they create opportunities that transform lives and communities. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx