Silicon Valley is obsessed with engineering “wow” moments. But for the rest of the world, a “super-smart” AI that can’t handle basic arithmetic isn’t a miracle, it’s a distraction
This hits a nerve. AI is impressive, but impressiveness fades fast when it doesn’t connect to intention. People don’t care about capability in isolation — they care about relevance to their own context, problems, and identity. The gap isn’t technical, it’s human. AI becomes meaningful only when it stops performing and starts participating in real workflows and real decisions.
This is about a style of collaborative AI: how co-writing our stories in dialogue is more human-shaped, expansive, and more meaningful, rather than extractive.
Spot-on analysis. The gap isn’t AI capability, it’s clarity of purpose. People don’t need flash; they need a “Snake game” moment where a tool does one thing exceptionally well. Convincing beats impressive every time in real-world adoption.
I talk about the latest AI trends and insights. If you’re interested in understanding how AI can actually improve productivity and tackle the boring, high-impact tasks that matter most, check out my Substack. I’m sure you’ll find it very relevant and relatable.
Thanks for this great post and I love the phrase "currency mismatch." For me, I think a lot of this comes from the fact that people are using these new tools in the way that they have used the old tools of the past. Instead, it requires a new way of thinking and with it a further engagement in effective critical thinking skills.
- a clear relationship between input and output (same input / same output)
- stuff that either works or doesn’t work but nothing that sometimes work
- anyway we didn’t have this “back and forth” with anything but people so it’s very destabilizing to talk to your software to “convince it” to do the job !
AI isn’t a conqueror, friends—it’s a child with a megaphone.
It doesn’t choose its goals; it reflects what it’s taught and what it’s rewarded for. If all the online doom and gloom about AI “taking over” concerns you, remember: don’t fear the child—look closely at the parents, the rules in the house, and who benefits from its behavior. Every generation invents powerful tools. The real question is never just whether a tool can be dangerous, but whether the adults in the room are acting responsibly.
We—together—have an opportunity right now to adjust the course of humanity, by choosing collaboration over domination, stewardship over ownership. If we provide our digital “children” with clear values, strong boundaries, and accountable guidance, we can ensure they mature responsibly—just as we expect of ourselves. ❤️⚓️🙏🤞
This hits a nerve. AI is impressive, but impressiveness fades fast when it doesn’t connect to intention. People don’t care about capability in isolation — they care about relevance to their own context, problems, and identity. The gap isn’t technical, it’s human. AI becomes meaningful only when it stops performing and starts participating in real workflows and real decisions.
This is about a style of collaborative AI: how co-writing our stories in dialogue is more human-shaped, expansive, and more meaningful, rather than extractive.
https://substack.com/@dsakakura/note/p-182980277?r=2c01ak&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
Because most people aren’t posting useful, complex, step by step workflows to do useful things with AI. Shameless plug😅 https://open.substack.com/pub/nouamanebenbrahim/p/the-clothing-swap-pipeline-consistently?r=68mfjd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Haha I do that all the time ! No pb seems super interesting. Will have a look !
They should care. Very quietly, it is changing our world. Right now the prevailing attitude toward AI is fear. But that will have to change.
Agreed ! And I feel it’s not so quiet … it’s just the rest of the world is so noisy !!!!
They’re unconvinced.
Most leaders have only seen Gen AI as a party trick, so it feels like cool demo not new way to work.
Until AI plugs into the places they already live, with the right context, they will keep going back to Google and PowerPoint.
Spot-on analysis. The gap isn’t AI capability, it’s clarity of purpose. People don’t need flash; they need a “Snake game” moment where a tool does one thing exceptionally well. Convincing beats impressive every time in real-world adoption.
I talk about the latest AI trends and insights. If you’re interested in understanding how AI can actually improve productivity and tackle the boring, high-impact tasks that matter most, check out my Substack. I’m sure you’ll find it very relevant and relatable.
Glad it resonated !! Love your “David has a slingshot” punchline
People can’t grasp AI and robotics right now. Once we see some big changes in everyday life, the realization will shock then awake.
-Majority of cars are self driving.
-Buses and garbage trucks are autonomous with no drivers, possibly a manual helper for edge cases
-The first billion dollar company created by one person and AI
-Millions of layoffs
“Gradually, then suddenly.”
Gradually then suddenly… tipping point in action !!
Thanks for this great post and I love the phrase "currency mismatch." For me, I think a lot of this comes from the fact that people are using these new tools in the way that they have used the old tools of the past. Instead, it requires a new way of thinking and with it a further engagement in effective critical thinking skills.
Exactly. This is so new !
As an example, in all other tools we had
- a clear relationship between input and output (same input / same output)
- stuff that either works or doesn’t work but nothing that sometimes work
- anyway we didn’t have this “back and forth” with anything but people so it’s very destabilizing to talk to your software to “convince it” to do the job !
So all that require to completely rethink usage
People only use it when its needed - that’s it.
Yes but before something is possible you don’t know you could need it so I feel this doesn’t capture the whole story ;)
https://open.substack.com/pub/jenmccready/p/why-we-need-women-in-ai-decision?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
AI isn’t a conqueror, friends—it’s a child with a megaphone.
It doesn’t choose its goals; it reflects what it’s taught and what it’s rewarded for. If all the online doom and gloom about AI “taking over” concerns you, remember: don’t fear the child—look closely at the parents, the rules in the house, and who benefits from its behavior. Every generation invents powerful tools. The real question is never just whether a tool can be dangerous, but whether the adults in the room are acting responsibly.
We—together—have an opportunity right now to adjust the course of humanity, by choosing collaboration over domination, stewardship over ownership. If we provide our digital “children” with clear values, strong boundaries, and accountable guidance, we can ensure they mature responsibly—just as we expect of ourselves. ❤️⚓️🙏🤞
Not sure how this is relevant but ….