How To Ethically Use AI

How AI Fits Into DECA Prep

There I was on the plane to ICDC with ten pages of seven-point font printed out. All of it was AI explaining complex marketing terms I thought I might use in my roleplays. It looked insane. I’m pretty sure the guy next to me thought I was studying for the bar exam. But that packet became my secret weapon. That was when I realized AI wasn’t just helpful, it could actually level me up.

Your built-in practice partner

AI is basically the chapter member who never sleeps. You can run a roleplay with it at 11 p.m., ask it to be the judge, and it’ll give you instant feedback. It doesn’t care if you stumble or if your plan makes no sense. It just keeps going. And the more reps you do with it, the more natural the real event feels. It’s like sparring before the actual match.

Rubrics finally stop being cryptic

You know how DECA performance indicators always sound like they’re written by someone trying to win Scrabble?

AI fixes that. You can paste the indicators in and say, “Explain these like I’m new to marketing,” and it’ll break everything down so it’s actually useful. Then you start seeing exactly what the judge wants instead of guessing.

Research doesn’t take forever anymore

If you’re doing a written event, you know the grind. Industry trends, target markets, strategies, it adds up fast. AI makes the early research way quicker. You ask for ideas, trends, or different angles, and suddenly you have twenty solid directions you can build on. You’re still doing the project, but it feels less like digging through a mountain and more like assembling something with the pieces already laid out.

Prep room panic gets easier to handle

AI can’t help you in the actual ten-minute prep room, obviously. But the prep you do with it changes how you think under pressure. After enough practice rounds with AI, your brain starts organizing the scenario faster. You learn how to build a plan without staring at the page like it personally offended you. And when you walk into the judge’s room, you feel way more steady.

It grows with whatever you need

The best part is that AI adjusts to you. Want a quick definition? Done. Want a full roleplay scenario with feedback? Also done. Want to break down a cluster exam topic the night before state? Easy. It’s like having a coach that adapts to every direction you go in.

The real win

AI doesn’t do the work for you. It just helps you learn faster and walk into competition feeling stronger. All those printed pages on the plane didn’t magically win me anything, but they did make me understand marketing way better. And that confidence carries over into every round.

So if you ever feel stuck before a competition, remember you’ve got a tool that can help you get unstuck in minutes. Use it to prep, ask questions, and build your skills. That’s where the real advantage is.

Written by Bennett Ganshorn, Region 3 President