Am I cheating?

When I write, I sometimes rely on AI to help me refine my work—whether it’s suggesting better ways to phrase things, offering tips to improve the overall flow of my piece, providing facts to strengthen my arguments, or pointing out areas where I might expand or clarify my points. I’m left wondering: Is that a form of cheating?

Would the situation be different if, instead of AI, I consulted a dictionary to find a better synonym or asked a friend to proofread my writing, provide feedback, or even help with editing? Is it still the same concept, or would it be less of a violation of authorship? What makes involving a machine in this process distinct from getting help from a person?

If I take the suggestions of an AI and apply them to my writing, does that mean the AI deserves some form of credit—co-authorship, even. Or would it be more like using a tool that assists with the technical aspects of writing? And how would that change if it were a friend or colleague who made those same suggest…