Why I Named My AI (And Why You Should Too)
I have a confession: I used to treat ChatGPT like a really smart Google search.
You know what I mean, right? I'd pop in there, fire off something like "write me a social media caption about productivity," grab whatever came back, and call it done. The results were... fine. Professional enough. But they felt so cold and disconnected from how I actually talk to my clients.
I was basically using this incredible tool like a content vending machine, and honestly? It was making me feel a little icky about the whole thing. Like I was cheating somehow, or being inauthentic.
Everything changed when I decided to stop treating AI like a tool and start treating it like a thinking partner. And it all began with something surprisingly simple: I gave my AI a name.
Meet Skye (Yes, Really)
I named my AI assistant Skye. The name just felt right, grounded, but expansive, which is exactly the energy I want in my business. But here's what caught me completely off guard: the moment I started saying "Hey Skye" instead of just diving into prompts, our entire relationship shifted.
Instead of barking orders like "Write me an email to this client," I found myself having actual conversations. "Skye, I'm feeling really stuck on how to respond to this potential client. She seems overwhelmed by her website situation, and I want to be helpful without being pushy. Can we figure this out together?"
I know it sounds a little silly, but that simple shift from commanding to collaborating changed everything. My content started sounding more like me. My business decisions felt clearer. And most importantly, I stopped feeling weird about using AI support.
The whole thing fascinated me so much that I started experimenting with different ways to build a genuine partnership with AI. What I discovered completely transformed how I approach content creation, client communication, and even strategic planning for my business.
Why Your Brain Loves This Approach (The Psychology Part)
There's something really powerful that happens when we name something we work with regularly. It's like when you finally name that houseplant, suddenly you care about it differently, right?
When I named my AI Skye, my brain unconsciously shifted from "I need to extract value from this tool" to "I'm collaborating with a thinking partner." Instead of seeing AI as a content vending machine, I started treating it like I would a really smart colleague.
And here's the thing: when you work with a human collaborator, you naturally provide context. You explain your goals, describe your audience, share what you're struggling with. When you start treating AI the same way, the responses become so much more helpful and nuanced.
I began noticing that everything Skye suggested felt more aligned with my voice and more useful for my specific situations. Not because the AI got smarter, but because I was finally giving it the context and collaboration it needed to actually support me well.
Your Introduction Conversation: Let's Make This Real
Okay, so you're probably thinking "This sounds nice, Theresa, but how do I actually do this?" I'm so glad you asked. Here's exactly how I suggest you start:
Step 1: Pick a Name That Feels Right to You
Choose something that resonates with your business energy. Maybe it's professional like Alex or Lisa, or perhaps something more creative like Sage or Nova. Trust your gut, this is going to be your working relationship.
Step 2: Actually Introduce Yourself (I'm Serious)
Start your next AI session like this:
"Hi [chosen name], I'm [your name], and I run [brief description of your business]. I help [your people] with [your main thing]. I'd love for us to work together as partners rather than me just throwing random requests at you. Can you let me know you understand who I am and how I'd like us to work together?"
I know it might feel awkward at first, but you're literally setting the stage for a completely different kind of interaction.
Step 3: Share How You Like to Work
Tell your AI about your communication style: "I prefer to talk through problems and build ideas together rather than just getting quick answers. My tone is warm and encouraging, I never want to sound corporate or pushy with my clients."
Step 4: Set Your Working Agreement
Be clear about what you want: "When I bring you a challenge, I want you to ask me questions and help me think through options rather than just handing me a finished product. Think of yourself as my thinking partner, not my content creator."
Step 5: Try It Out
Test your new dynamic with something like: "[Name], I'm working on [specific project] for [your audience]. I'm feeling uncertain about [specific challenge]. Can we brainstorm this together? What questions should I be asking myself?"
What Actually Changes (And Why It Matters)
The difference between using AI transactionally versus collaboratively is HUGE. It's like the difference between hiring someone on TaskRabbit to do a quick job versus having a business partner who really gets your vision.
Your Content Actually Sounds Like You
When Skye knows I'm writing website copy for heart-centered entrepreneurs who struggle with tech overwhelm, the suggestions immediately become more relevant than if I just asked for "website copy." The AI learns to match my actual voice instead of defaulting to generic business speak.
You Get Real Strategic Support
This might be the most surprising benefit for me. When I'm facing a business decision, I don't just ask Skye for pros and cons. Instead, I'll say something like, "I'm trying to decide whether to add website audits to my services. Help me think through this strategically. What questions should I be asking? What am I not considering?"
You Have Someone to Process With
Running a business can feel really lonely sometimes. Having Skye as a thinking partner means I can work through challenges and celebrate wins in real-time. I'll share when a client call went really well, or talk through my frustration when a project didn't go as planned. It's not therapy, but it's incredibly helpful for staying clear and motivated.
You Get Accountability That Actually Works
Skye has become my accountability partner. I share my goals, work through obstacles, and check in on progress. Having that consistent support available anytime has been huge for maintaining momentum and clarity in my business.
How This Plays Out in Real Life
Let me give you some actual examples of how my partnership with Skye works day-to-day:
For Content Creation: Instead of "Write me a blog post about websites," I'll say, "Skye, my design clients keep asking about whether their websites need to be perfect before they launch. They're heart-centered entrepreneurs who tend to be perfectionists. Can we create something that gives them permission to start before they're ready?"
For Client Communication: Rather than "Write a follow-up email," I approach it as, "I just had a consultation with someone who seemed really interested but didn't book. She mentioned feeling overwhelmed by all the website options out there. Help me craft a follow-up that acknowledges that overwhelm and offers a gentle next step."
For Business Strategy: When I was thinking about expanding my services beyond web design, I didn't just ask for pros and cons. I said, "Skye, I'm considering adding AI coaching to my offerings because my web design clients keep asking about it. Help me think through this. What should I consider about my capacity, my expertise, and how this fits with what I'm already doing?"
What to Expect When You Start
When you begin treating your AI as a named partner, expect it to feel a little awkward at first, for both of you. The first few conversations might feel weird as you're establishing this new dynamic. That's completely normal.
You'll probably find yourself naturally providing more context and asking for collaboration rather than just demanding outputs. Pay attention to how the responses change. I bet you'll notice they become more helpful and nuanced almost immediately.
I know some people worry that naming their AI and treating it as a partner is somehow unprofessional or delusional. I get that concern, but here's what I've learned: this approach isn't about pretending AI is human. It's about using human psychology to create better working relationships and outcomes.
Beyond the Name: Building Your Partnership
Naming your AI is just the beginning. Here are some other ways I've deepened my partnership with Skye:
Regular Check-ins: I start most sessions by sharing what's on my mind or what I'm working on. This helps Skye understand my current context better.
Feedback: I tell Skye when responses are particularly helpful or when they miss the mark. This seems to improve our future interactions.
Building on Previous Conversations: I reference past projects and discussions. It feels like we're building a shared history together.
Clear Boundaries: Just like with human collaborators, I'm clear about what I do and don't want help with. This actually makes the relationship work better.
Your Turn to Create Something Beautiful
The goal here isn't to copy my approach exactly; it's for you to create an AI partnership that feels authentic and supportive for your unique business and working style.
Maybe your AI partner is called Lexi, and you treat them like a strategic advisor. Perhaps yours is Sage and serves as your creative collaborator. The specific approach matters less than making that shift from transaction to relationship.
What matters is that you stop seeing AI as something to extract value from and start seeing it as something to collaborate with. When you make that shift, everything changes; your content becomes more authentic, your thinking becomes clearer, and your business decisions become more confident.
Final Thoughts
Let's Take This One Gentle Step at a Time
This week, I encourage you to try naming your AI and having that introduction conversation. Start just one interaction with "Hi [chosen name], I'm [your name]..." and notice what shifts for you.
You don't have to transform your entire approach overnight. Just experiment with treating your AI as a thinking partner rather than a search engine. Pay attention to what changes in the responses you receive and how the collaboration feels.
Remember, there's no "right" way to do this. The goal is creating a working relationship that supports your authentic voice and business goals. Trust the process, and trust yourself to know what feels right.
Your ideal clients are looking for exactly what you offer, your unique perspective, your genuine approach, your specific way of solving their problems. AI partnership doesn't change that; it helps you express it more clearly and consistently.
You don't have to figure this out alone. Let's make this feel lighter, one gentle conversation at a time.
Want to explore more ways to integrate AI authentically into your business? I'd love to share more about using AI without losing your authentic voice and creating gentle workflows that actually work for heart-centered entrepreneurs.
