Disclaimer: This post is for reflective and educational purposes only. I don’t condone or promote using deceptive tactics to access paid software or services. In the end, no circumvention worked, and no terms were violated.

🤖 Why I tried to trick Google for free AI access

Dear Invisible Friends:

It all began with a ping from a friend: a supposed “hack” to unlock Google AI Pro for free. Students could get the Google One AI Premium plan for free for 15 months. This plan includes Gemini Advanced, NotebookLM Plus, and more. The deadline was: TODAY!. The premise was deceptively simple – just pretend you’re a U.S. college student. Use a VPN. Spin up a burner .edu email. Toss in a fake U.S. address. Fool the system, get the goods.

Curiosity can be such a sneaky motivator – and in my case, it definitely got the best of me. But to be honest, what fueled my moves wasn’t just curiosity – it was the ticking clock. The application deadline for the free Google AI was closing in fast. That manufactured sense of urgency drowned out my better judgment. I found myself shifting into autopilot. I was more focused on beating the clock than on whether I actually wanted or needed the access. It felt almost brainless, like I was just scrambling to not miss out, not pausing to ask myself why.

Step by step, everything seemed to fall into place. It was a very warm day, and maybe that’s why I wasn’t thinking straight. I was one click away from victory. Then reality hit. I had to type in my billing address. Of course, it wasn’t anywhere in the U.S. Without thinking, I entered my actual details. Instantly, the whole illusion shattered. I was exposed as a non-student from another continent. The system shut me down.

Yet even after being caught out, stubbornness flared. What about setting up another Google account? This time, though, phone verification brought me up short. My real number had been flagged as used. All the burner options were either unreliable or just blocked outright. Finally, for the first time, I stopped and really thought: “Why am I even trying this?”

🦠 The role of FOMO in Ethical blind spots

Honestly, I wasn’t chasing Gemini Advanced or Veo 3 because I needed them. I wasn’t out to save money, either. It was pure, unfiltered FOMO. There was a sense that everyone else online was unlocking these shiny new superpowers. I felt like I was being left behind.

“AI is everywhere!” screams the internet. “Jump in! Don’t get left behind.”

Amid all the tutorials and viral content, a voice in my head spoke. It said that not using these tools was some new form of irresponsibility. It felt like missing out on destiny. I imagined everyone else sprinting ahead on a creative shortcut. Meanwhile, I stood there paying full price. There were no hacks and no clever workarounds.

But as I sat in front of my laptop, I was halfway through my digital masquerade. The truth landed hard. The real price wasn’t money – it was integrity. I could pay if I wanted. I didn’t need the service. And it didn’t sit right to lie for something that ultimately just didn’t matter that much.

🍃 The Environmental and Ethical cost of Free AI Tools

That rare moment of pause led to deeper thinking: What does it mean to use AI with intention and responsibility?

The personal cost looms, too. Pretending to be someone you’re not has an aftertaste that’s hard to shake. This isn’t due to legalities. I didn’t finish the hack, and I didn’t benefit from it. It’s because it leaves a mark on your sense of self. I value honesty, with others and with myself. I aimed to lead by example in my post about Logo design. I also want to demonstrate the same commitment to transparency and ethical conduct when discussing AI ethics.

Universities, both in the US and internationally, are currently dealing with significant budget cuts. Students are a vulnerable population. They face a lot of uncertainty and pressure. That reality hit me hard. I realized I didn’t want to take advantage of their limited privilege.

And there’s also the question of purpose. Creating an image requires significant resources. Producing a video consumes even more. Both processes eat up serious amounts of electricity and water. Shouldn’t that output serve a real need, rather than just satisfy some passing curiosity or vanity? I learned something important in a course called “Writing with and without ChatGPT” at Radboud in’to Languages. True AI literacy doesn’t stop at knowing how to use the tools. It’s about choosing which ones to use, and if you should use them at all.

🔑 A lesson in Integrity and Digital Responsibility

I didn’t stop because I was caught – I stopped because I decided to. Looking back, I’m genuinely glad.

No scandal here, just a quiet moment of clarity. It’s all too easy to toss aside core values for the illusion of keeping up.

I closed the tab. I deleted the second attempt’s decoy account. Then I opened a blank page to write this—the only worthwhile output of the whole ordeal.

And that first Gmail account? The one created before reality hit? I kept it. Not as a trophy of deception, but as a reminder: even missteps can be redirected ethically. Now it handles blog emails and DeepSeek logins – small, honest tasks that require no disguise.

Would free AI tools be nice? Absolutely. But I’d rather use them on my terms, not as a digital impostor…

I used ChatGPT-4 to help clarify my ideas. Initially, I started on a standard ChatGPT “Canvas.” Later, I moved my text to Sider AI’s “AI Writer.” This is another type of “Canvas” that allows free typing and AI-assisted co-writing. I selected my entire text (as I’m still exploring this tool) and generated an AI image – how ironic! Is it just me, or does the image seem completely unrelated to my post? Even AI tools can miss the mark, like this image missing my point.

(This content is not sponsored, I’m just sharing my opinion.) I pay $10 per month to access multiple models on Sider AI. If I find the motivation, I might write a post sharing my experience and use case.

If this echoes your struggles, share it. Let’s normalize talking about digital ethics – one honest choice at a time.

RoxenOut!