Three Observations from Using AI in My Business

As artificial intelligence becomes more accessible, many professionals are experimenting with it in their daily work. Over the past year, I’ve incorporated AI tools into my own (small) business as a complement to how I work. That experience has led to a few important lessons that may be useful for project managers navigating AI adoption.

1) The market is crowded with vendors and questionable claims.
Every week seems to bring a new AI product promising dramatic productivity gains or autonomous decision-making. In practice, many of these tools offer incremental value at best. The real benefit comes from a small number of reliable platforms that integrate well into existing workflows. I’ve found that the most effective tools are those that behave less like magic solutions and more like dependable collaborators. These are the tools you need because they consistently support your work.

2) There is a meaningful difference between my own work and AI
I write my articles in my own words and use AI the way I use Grammarly or a critical editor to review, challenge, and refine what I’ve already created. When AI generates explanatory paragraphs from scratch, the output is competent, but the voice is noticeably different. Flow, nuance, and intent reflect my lived experience, judgment, and personality, the things that AI does not provide. Prompting for a more academic or conversational tone can change the style, but the substance is still not what I would naturally produce. This distinction matters, especially for project leaders whose credibility depends on clarity and authenticity.

3) AI offerings vary widely in purpose and maturity.
Some tools are excellent for summarization, others for analysis, and others for brainstorming or critique. Treating AI as a single capability is a mistake. The value comes from understanding what each tool is good at and applying it intentionally, rather than expecting one system to do everything.

Ultimately, using AI effectively is about judgment. The professionals who benefit most will be those who understand their own work deeply enough to decide when AI adds value and when it does not.