Clarity
Consider what the message actually communicates.
Use GenAI to compare the sender’s intended meaning with the meaning conveyed by the text, identifying ambiguity, missing context or wording that may support unintended interpretations.
The CoConsider Guide
A practical framework for using generative AI as an Interpretation Mirror before sending important text-based communications.
The CoConsider Guide helps users consider not only what they intend to say, but also how their message may be interpreted, felt, acted upon or understood in a wider social context. The five principles are designed to be simple enough for everyday practice while remaining adaptable across different situations, professions, disciplines and communication settings.
Background
Consider how interpretation changes across perspectives.
Use GenAI to examine the same message from different relevant roles, backgrounds or levels of knowledge, identifying where interpretation depends on assumptions that may not be shared.
Emotional Impact
Consider what tone the message carries.
Use GenAI to identify emotional signals created by the wording and whether the message may communicate pressure, criticism, dismissal or other unintended affective meanings.
Behavioural Expectations
Consider what action the message implies.
Use GenAI to test what different receivers may understand they are expected to do, and clarify responsibility, urgency, timing and desired outcomes where interpretations diverge.
Social Sensitivity
Consider what wider social meanings the message may activate.
Use GenAI to surface possible stereotypes, biases, exclusionary assumptions or socially sensitive interpretations, while treating these outputs as diagnostic prompts for human judgement rather than definitive conclusions.
Keep human judgement central
Across all five principles, GenAI should be used to widen consideration rather than provide a final judgement. Its outputs may be incomplete, inaccurate or unsuitable for a particular context, so the sender remains responsible for interpreting the feedback and deciding what, if anything, should change.