What a Vietnam Helicopter Pilot Taught Me About AI Accountability
I used AI to turn an old photo into a tribute slide for my father-in-law, and the room gave him a standing ovation. On the drive home I learned the pilot in the photo wasn't him. The lesson is the one I had just taught: we have to own our output.
Last night, I had the incredible opportunity to speak for the Rotary Club of Big Canoe. My good friend Greg Whitaker, the club president, invited me to speak and said I could talk about anything I liked. I appreciated Greg's trust in my ability to deliver a meaningful message, but I also appreciated his transparency about his secondary motive. My in-laws recently moved to Big Canoe and are active Rotarians in Michigan; Greg had them firmly in his crosshairs for membership in his club.
If you follow me on LinkedIn, you've probably noticed that for the past few years, I've talked about little else than the challenges and opportunities that Artificial Intelligence presents. So, as I thought about what I would speak on, delivering a shortened version of my keynote, Responding Heroically to the Challenges of AI, felt like the logical choice.
Hero, Villain, Guide, or Victim
In my talk, I shared my journey from the music world with THIRD DAY into the business world with my marketing and creative work. I emphasized something I've learned in both: the importance of not merely attracting customers, but building a tribe of loyal fans.
Then, I explained how, when ChatGPT first arrived, I felt an initial fear about what AI could mean for my livelihood as a marketer and creative. But over time, I've learned to use it as a tool to multiply my creative output rather than diminish it.
With the table set, I then framed the AI challenge inside the Hero's Journey, encouraging the audience to choose which character they would be in the story: Hero, Villain, Guide, or Victim.
Speaking of Heroes
Framing it that way gave me a perfect moment to honor my father-in-law, Don, who heroically served two tours in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot.
I said, "Speaking of heroes, I'd like to take a moment to introduce my father-in-law," and presented a slide of a young, strapping helicopter pilot standing proudly in Vietnam. I had discovered the photo on a thumbnail from a hard drive Don had given me, and used Google's Nano Banana tool to stylize it into a beautiful slide. The room rose to its feet in a standing ovation. The smile on Don's face gave me confidence that he wasn't embarrassed by the moment and accepted the honor I was directing toward our family's patriarch.
I continued with the presentation, demonstrating ethical and unethical uses of AI and emphasizing one of the most essential themes of the night: accountability. AI is amazing, but not always accurate. We have to take responsibility for our creative output. We can't blame the robots when we get it wrong!
The meeting wrapped with a video I created in Flow and Kling, which tied the whole message together and ended the evening on an inspirational, but fun note. It's amazing what you can make without ever taking out a camera.
The Drive Home
Later, during the drive home, I checked in with Don to make sure the attention hadn't made him uncomfortable. Smiling, he told me it was absolutely fine. Especially because the pilot in the photo wasn't actually him. It was his lifelong friend, Hayden Decker, who once saved his life in a rescue mission when Don's helicopter was shot down in the jungles of Vietnam.
Any potential embarrassment for Don had vanished instantly when he looked up and saw his friend's face on the screen. He was filled with gratitude and memories rather than awkwardness or embarrassment. We all had a good laugh at my innocent mistake. In my attempt to surprise and honor my father-in-law, I had neglected to fact-check whether the photo was actually him.
Own the Outcome
This morning, my takeaway became crystal clear. Just as I taught in the keynote, we have to take accountability for our output. All of our output. AI can provide incredible support, but we cannot abdicate responsibility for accuracy. We must check our work, verify our sources, and own what we publish.
My story had a happy ending because the mix-up only stirred joy and a meaningful memory. But the lesson stands:
We have to own our output, even when AI helps us create it.
So I have a question for you
Where in your work is AI producing output that nobody on your team is actually checking?
If your organization is navigating how to use AI with accountability intact, that is exactly what my keynotes, workshops, and leadership sessions are built for. Learn more at taianderson.live/keynotes.
Originally published on LinkedIn, December 5, 2025.
