Working with AI: Creating the Playbook for World Zakat and Waqf Forum 2025

A recent post on LinkedIn lamented how we are “farming out our thinking to AI.” It is a fair concern, but not one I share.

When I prepared for my Plenary Session at the World Zakat and Waqf Forum, I worked extensively with Sky (my name for ChatGPT). Yet the thinking, analysis, and final judgment were always mine. AI served as a tool and a sparring partner, helping me to see patterns, refine structure, and pressure test ideas, but never replacing discernment, empathy, or intuition.

This is what the process actually looked like.

1. Start with Understanding

I began by reading widely and taking notes using the Cornell Method. This helped me identify the “shape” of my session,  who the audience was, what they needed, and what I wanted them to remember. I then reorganised my research into Context, Trigger, and Response buckets. At a breakfast meeting with fellow panellists, I tested the outline and refined it through discussion until we agreed on our focus areas.

2. Deepen with Research

Next came the deeper dive. I met subject matter experts, read books and journal, and listened to podcasts and talks. I used search engines and Sky to filter information efficiently. In this process, AI functioned as one of my research assistants, not the only one.

3. Write It All Down

I wrote everything out on a single page to see the big picture. Then I stepped away for a few days to let the ideas percolate. During this time, I also spoke with more people to gather alternative perspectives and test assumptions. The pic below is from the notebook that I used for this step.

4. Refine Through Dialogue

When I returned to Sky, I used it to develop my deck and test tone, structure, and pacing. The back-and-forth process sharpened the clarity and flow of my presentation. I used prompts to simulate different audience reactions and refine my key messages.

5. Validate and Visualise

I fact-checked every source and reference. Although not required, I designed my own slides because I find it helps me internalise the material. I rehearsed out loud, and even used Sky’s video call function to simulate a critical audience. This helped identify weak points long before stepping onto the stage.

6. Ground It in a Human Touch

Finally, I visualised the opening and closing moments, selected what to wear, planned my body language, and wrote my key points by hand to reinforce memory. Then I showed up and delivered the session.

At every stage, the process was led by human thought, not automation. AI accelerated research, improved structure, and offered perspective, but the analysis, judgment, and storytelling remained entirely human.

There is no single right or wrong way to use AI. But if one simply feeds a topic into a tool and copies the result, the limitation lies with the user, not the technology. AI is only as good as the person using it. The quality of the output depends on how we prompt, process, and apply what it produces.

If you would like to see what this process produced, you can download my final playbook for the session here. 

Overcoming Challenges and Ethical Considerations

While AI presents numerous opportunities, it also poses challenges and ethical considerations. Issues such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the digital divide need to be addressed to ensure equitable and fair use of AI technologies.

By remaining informed and advocating for responsible AI practices, we can help shape a future where AI benefits everyone. Continuous dialogue and collaboration between technologists, policymakers, and the public are essential for navigating these challenges effectively.