AI is Like the New College Grad Who Thinks They Know Everything
Remember your first job? Maybe you saw outdated processes and thought,
“This is dumb. I can fix everything.”
Then you actually worked there and realized… oh, there’s more to this than I thought.
This is exactly how AI operates. It sees patterns but doesn’t understand culture, nuance, or experience.
Example: Ryan’s Dunder Mifflin Infinity Disaster
• He was the new guy with big ideas and wanted to make the company “modern.”
• He built a new website that was supposed to revolutionize paper sales.
• But he didn’t understand how the company actually worked.
• It failed spectacularly.
AI works the same way. It suggests “optimizations” that sound great but don’t always work in reality.
AI is like Ryan—it thinks it knows everything, but it needs human experience to guide it.
AI Can Imitate, But It Can’t Create From Experience
AI can only learn from what already exists. It can’t live, experience, or reflect.
Real Human-Driven Creativity:
J.R.R. Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings
• AI could analyze fantasy books and spit out a “new” story.
• But Tolkien’s masterpiece was shaped by his real experiences in World War I—the trenches, the loss, the camaraderie, and the horrors of war.
• The depth of Middle-earth isn’t just fantasy—it’s rooted in history, mythology, and personal pain.
Douglas Adams and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
• AI might say, “Write a funny sci-fi book.”
• But Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide wasn’t just comedy—it was a satirical editorial, much like Gulliver’s Travels.
• His bizarre humor and absurd observations came from real life—being broke, traveling, working weird jobs, and seeing the contradictions of modern life.
• No AI could write that. It wasn’t a formula—it was his perspective.
AI can’t replace lived experience. It can remix, summarize, and mimic—but it can’t feel, struggle, or see the world in new ways.
AI’s Limitations in Decision-Making
AI making bad decisions isn’t just hypothetical—it’s happening right now.
Real-world AI failures:
• Amazon’s AI hiring tool eliminated qualified candidates because it was trained on biased data.
• AI-generated health information has led to dangerous misinformation spreading online.
• Google’s AI Overviews told people to put glue on their pizza.
Why AI struggles with decision-making:
• It doesn’t understand impact.
• It can’t predict real-world consequences.
• It lacks moral reasoning.
AI doesn’t think—it processes. But great decision-making requires ethics, judgment, and critical thinking.
Why Business Owners Should Trust Their Own Thinking Over AI
AI can be helpful, but blindly following AI-generated business decisions is like letting Ryan the intern run the company.
AI should assist your thinking, not replace it.
Data is valuable, but human wisdom is what makes decisions work.
Just because something is “optimized” doesn’t mean it’s right.
Example:
• AI may say “Eliminate 50% of customer service reps to cut costs.”
• But a real leader knows that great customer service drives loyalty and long-term revenue.
Data-driven decisions still need human oversight.
AI Lacks the Human Ability to Push Past Boundaries
• AI can summarize great thinkers like Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, or Elon Musk—but it could never be one of them.
• AI can only remix what already exists—it doesn’t dream, it doesn’t take risks, and it doesn’t think for itself.
If you want to create something truly great:
• Think beyond what’s already been done.
• Question everything—even the data AI gives you.
• Use AI as a tool, not a replacement for human creativity.
Final Thoughts: Why Original Thinking Still Wins
AI can help with efficiency, analysis, and automation, but it will never replace original human thought.
If you want to stay ahead in the AI era:
• Think for yourself.
• Use AI wisely, but don’t let it take over.
• Infuse your work with your unique experiences, insights, and voice.
Want to sharpen your thinking?
• Writing to Learn (Affiliate Link)
• Tiny Experiments (Affiliate Link)
• The Art and Business of Online Writing (Affiliate Link)
The future isn’t AI vs. Humans—it’s AI-powered Humans. Make sure your voice stays at the center of what you create.