Ciara Ferrier

On 17 September 2026, we published the below text to our social media channels:

TIME TO WAKE UP

I have tried writing some balanced posts about AI - and people using AI - in administration. I have smiled gently at those who tell me I am worthless and the AI is a more meaningful entity than me. How dare I recover from serious illness and be happy to be alive when I'm just one more worthless "lower value" human taking up space?

It stops now.

I have worked with clinicians who are using Heidi AI to some advantage. HOWEVER, I am now going to tell you the honest truth about it. It's that good, because of ME. 9 times out of 10, it produces a sub-standard piece of correspondence but because I know and understand my client's template and workflow SO WELL, I am able to correct it and pass it to them for a final review where very often they don't need to make a single change to that letter. That is NOT Heidi's work, that is MY work. Instead of typing, I am reviewing. but still ME. I am MORE VALUABLE than Heidi.

I have worked with academics who tell me "Oh, the Team's transcript is good enough." I very sweetly send them a list of benefits and make murmurings about academic rigour, accuracy and consistency across a project which 9 times out of 10 goes unheard. Why would you NOT want human transcription? Why are you throwing away control of your own critical thought and how are you still calling yourself an ACADEMIC??

If you are reading this in a 3rd or 4th line support role, CEO of some big corporation - and laughing - I have this to say to you. SHUT. UP. Right now, you are laughing at the "lower value" people but do you know what? Once it's eaten me, YOU are the new "lower value" humanity and it's coming for YOU too. The only people who are safe are the billionaires and although you are so safe and smug and secure, YOU CANNOT SEE IT because if you could, YOU WOULD STOP USING IT. You would start shouting for some brakes and regulations and start thinking about the tool, what it does, what it means and how it works, because most Claude enthusiasts can't actually tell you how Claude works. "I expect you to have fully completed this in 10 minutes time because that's how long it would take Claude." GET. LOST.

What prompted the meltdown? My 11-year old just started secondary school and they have said they are going to USE AI MARKING TOOLS to assess his ENGLISH WRITING. What are we doing that we have allowed this to happen?

Teachers, don't come near me telling me you are overworked and deserve a pay rise. I would feel more sympathetic if CoPilot were helping you out with some admin but why would you give away one of the most fundamental tasks which is the thing that ONLY a teacher should do?

Wake up and properly realise what we are endorsing.

NB - not talking out of school. I already shared my views in much more detail with them.