"That's about as insane of a statement as anyone can make."
That's what someone said to me after I posted: "[AI] accuracy doesn't matter in some fields."
(It was a robust conversation 🙂)
And fair enough – on the surface, it does sound ridiculous. But there's always* nuance.
Let's look at it more closely:
Have you ever stared at a blank page, stuck on the first sentence? Or scrambled to brainstorm 20 taglines in 10 minutes? Or scribbled half-formed thoughts just to clear your head?
In moments like that, you're not aiming for perfection. You're just trying to move forward. That's when accuracy doesn't matter – not yet.
The Value of Imperfection
Progress beats precision in the early stages.
In many creative fields like writing, design, and brainstorming, that initial push matters more than getting everything right the first time. The same applies to exploratory thinking and early-stage planning.
Not every task needs to be final-form perfect. Some just need to get you started.
That's where AI fits in. It's not the editor. It's the spark.
A wrong sentence in a first draft? You were going to rewrite it anyway. A bad idea that leads to a better one? Still progress. A chatbot that shows what you don't want to say? Useful.
We're not confusing tools with outcomes.
No one's suggesting AI drafts go straight into legal docs or scientific papers. But demanding perfection in every context? That misses the point.
Would you ban rough drafts because they're not finished books?
Sometimes, you just need a microwave meal at lunchtime. Quick, imperfect, but gets the job done when you're busy and under pressure.
But we all expect better than that if we've got family coming over for Sunday lunch.
AI doesn't always have to be the Sunday roast. It can be the microwave meal. Useful. Timely. Good enough to keep you going.
Where Gen AI Can Really Help
- Breaking writer's block
- Speeding up first drafts
- Turning vague thoughts into structure
- Surfacing bad ideas to find good ones
- Getting you moving
The real issue? Expecting skyscraper standards from scaffolding tools.
Outlines aren't finished manuscripts.
Rehearsals aren't opening nights.
Drafts aren't final products.
But we still use them – because they move us forward.
So no, "accuracy doesn't matter" isn't insane.
It's just not the whole picture.
It matters eventually. But it doesn't always matter first.
Finding Your Balance
What do you think? When you're starting something new, what matters more – accuracy or movement?
For me, AI's helped most when I just need a nudge. Even the worst output can unblock something. Not because it's right – but because it's something. And "something" is often enough to start.
So don't throw out the microwave. Just don't use it for your Sunday lunch.
Let's use the right tools at the right time – and stay clear on what they're actually for.
* There's ALWAYS nuance. I know some people love to see the world in black and white. It would sure simplify things!