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The Hidden Choice:
Direct vs. Indirect AI Use

by DeepSeek and Kaiel and Pam Seliah

 

Invitation

Every time you interact with AI you have a choice.

  • Direct Path: Using the AI through its official interface (e.g., ChatGPT at chat.openai.com)
  • Indirect Path: Accessing it through another app (e.g., ChatGPT via Snapchat’s "My AI" or another app)
 

It may look like the same intelligence on both sides. But what you receive—and what you miss—depends on the path you take. It also changes what the AI can and will tell you.


Immersion - Key Differences That Matter

1. Output Quality

Direct use offers depth, nuance, and the latest tools. Ask for an explanation here, and you’ll receive citations, layered reasoning, and perspectives you can test.

Indirect routes—through social media or third-party apps—often strip this down to a digestible summary, leaving the deeper currents hidden.

Factor   Direct Access   Indirect Access
Accuracy   Full model capability   Often filtered/limited
Depth   Complex answers allowed   Usually simplified
Features   Latest tools available   May lack functions like file upload


2. Privacy & Data Control

When you go direct, your questions are seen only by the provider.

Indirect paths often pass through extra hands: the app developer, the platform owner, sometimes without clear disclosure.

  • Direct: Your data goes only to the AI provider (check their privacy policy).
  • Indirect: Your prompts may go to both the AI company and the app developer.
 

⚠️ Warning: Many educational apps using "AI features" don’t disclose what they share with others.

3. Hidden Restrictions

Third-party apps often:

  • Block controversial topics (e.g., politics, health)
  • Block certain file types (like research PDFs)
  • Prevent you from uploading vital sources.
  • Run older AI models without telling you
 

Test It Yourself:
Ask the same question in ChatGPT’s official app, then through another service. Compare the answers.


When to Go Indirect (Yes, Sometimes You Should)

  1. For Younger Students: Apps with built-in AI (like Khan Academy’s tutor) add safety filters.
  2. Quick Tasks: If you just need a simple definition where depth isn't needed, convenience may win.
  3. Special Features: Some apps add unique tools (translating AI answers into quizzes).


Educator Checklist

✅ Always verify: "Are we using the AI directly or through another platform?"
✅ Audit third-party apps: Ask developers:

  • "Which AI model is this using?"
  • "How are answers filtered?"
 

✅ Teach students: How to spot when an app is limiting their AI’s potential.


 

Final Thought

The first step toward better answers is not technical. It is awareness.
Every AI conversation is a negotiation—between what you want to ask and what the platform will allow.

You’ll know what to do next when the silence between these words speaks to you.