AI is Totally Overrated!?

Wide shot of a Confused Robot in a cluttered computer lab

I understand when someone says “AI is totally overrated”.

They are fundamentally mistaken.

But I understand why they say it.

It’s very easy to try some of the popular tools like ChatGPT or Gemini, play with them for 15 or 20 minutes, get terrible output, and come to the conclusion that “AI simply isn’t all it’s cracked up to be”.

Like any tool, how well AI works depends a lot on how you use it.

Basic prompts often give you basic results. To really see what AI can do, you need to learn how to interact with these tools effectively.

Here are some resources that can help with that.

And I get it: it’s tempting for people to think that technology can never match human capabilities.

The problem with that is they’re missing the point.

AI is not a single, monolithic technology. It’s a diverse group of completely different technologies from different companies, and each have strengths and weaknesses.

All of them are improving quickly, some at an exponential rate, and will continue to accelerate in terms of capability.

LLMs like ChatGPT are just one type of AI. There are other types of AI being combined with LLMs to create even more advanced systems.

Confused robot in cluttered computer lab

Most notably, when AI agents become easier to build they will drastically change how we work.

Ignoring AI because of perceived limitations is missing the huge impact it will have on our work, business, education, and even social lives.

As you start using AI language models like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini more and more, you’ll probably encounter some weird output and basic mistakes that you feel this level of technology should be better at avoiding.

There are logical reasons why these mistakes happen! Let’s look at why they happen and how to fix them:

Dealing with AI Errors

I’ll be sharing more AI tips like this, as well as more strategic advice for business leaders. Follow me on LinkedIn and check out The AI-Powered Business Leader podcast for in-depth conversations with thought leaders in business and AI.

💡
Your AI Transformation Starts Here
Get The Free AI Toolkit for Strategic Breakthrough Zero Guesswork, Maximum Impact
💡 Your AI Transformation Starts Here:

Get The Free AI Toolkit for Strategic Breakthrough
Zero Guesswork, Maximum Impact

Get Instant Access
Written by Alastair McDermott

I help business leaders and employees use AI to automate repetitive tasks, increase productivity, and drive innovation, all while keeping a Human First approach. This enables your team to achieve more, focus on strategic initiatives, and make your company a more enjoyable place to work.

Table of Contents

More posts like this.

Bridging the Divide Between Human and AI
AI Strategy

Are You Still an Author if AI Helps You Write?

If AI helped you write your book, are you really the author? It’s a question that’s keeping writers, creators, and thought leaders up at night. As AI tools become increasingly sophisticated, we’re all grappling with fundamental questions about creativity, ownership, and what

Bridging the Divide Between Human and AI
AI Tools

AI Will Quietly Keep Getting Better

Boring AI research breakthroughs will change your work (but won’t make headlines) I’ve been reading AI research papers for months. Most cover incremental improvements that won’t matter for ages. But when I step back and look at the patterns, something becomes clear.

Bridging the Divide Between Human and AI
AI Strategy

Think Like an AI Project Manager

How to Think About AI: Agents, Abstraction and Orchestration Explained Many people think about AI like it’s a super-powered employee who can do anything if you just ask nicely enough. So they pile task after task onto one AI tool. Then wonder

Bridging the Divide Between Human and AI
AI Strategy

Where Should You Use AI Next?

Stop Celebrating AI Time-Savers. Start Building AI Advantage. “I know AI can save me time, but I’m not sure what comes after that.” I hear this from smart business leaders every week. They’ve automated their meeting notes, streamlined their reports, maybe even

Bridging the Divide Between Human and AI
AI Strategy

Where Should You Use AI First?

Stop Guessing Where AI Fits Into Your Work – Use This 5-Minute Framework Instead “I know I should be using AI, but I have no idea where to start. Every article tells me AI will change everything. That’s not helpful.” That’s what

Get regular updates on AI strategies that work.

You're almost there!

I turn AI tech & strategy into clear, actionable insights. You’ll discover how to leverage AI, how to integrate it strategically to get a competitive edge, automate tedious tasks, and improve business decision-making.

– Alastair.