Using AI can save time, friction and money, when used wisely. AI won't replace experts and craftspeople though. Here is why (not how, though, that would be another post) and how to explain to our customers what AI can do and what it can't.
Can AI make a Website in 2 Days?
"AI can do a website in two days" isn't web design and development. It's called prototyping. Web designers, project managers, and web developers fear those customers who don't know what they want, but who'll tell you what they didn't want only after their work has been done.
Are you that type of Client?
If you're that type of customer, you can leverage AI to sort your thoughts and do some sketches and click dummy mock ups. AI isn't great at producing quality code or taking responsibility, but it's good at producing anything that you can look at and talk about. AI won't get tired and doesn't charge you hourly rates (at least not yet at the time of writing) for discussing over and over verbosely and trying to answer the most basic questions.
Hallucination, Stubbornness and Alternative "Facts"
As ChatGPT, Claude, and other AI services tell you in their fine print, AI can make mistakes. AI is quite likely to make mistakes. AI is known to hallucinate, tell you what you want to hear or else insist on a made up random claim not sustained by any facts.
Too long, too often
When AI says "often", it often means "always" or "never" or "maybe, I don't know". When you see a word like "often" or "many", take it as a guess or ask to elborate and research, if it matters. Often, it doesn't. AI often makes too many words and you don't have to read it all.
Cliffhangers
AI tends to ends its wordy answers with cliffhangers offering additional things it can do for you. That's a trap. Even when it's free or paid with a flat rate plan, you still pay with your time.
Understanding the Limits
You don't need to understand AI any more than you need to understand the inner workings of your car or your smartphone. But you should know how to use it and what it can do and what it can't.
AI is neither Creative nor a Craftsperson
AI is no creative, but a remixer. AI is no craftsperson, it's only well-read. AI has likely read 90% of everything relevant that has been published in recent years, including everything that's outdated now.
Prototyping as Basic Preparation
Using AI is like discussing an idea with your brother or reading a book from your local library to understand some basic concepts. Not bad for a start. You'll get an idea, proceed on your creative path and have smarter questions to ask when you meet with a real expert.
That can save everyone a lot of time, friction and money.
Discussing AI with Coworkers and Customers
AI can be helpful in certain situations. Accepting that as a fact can help us clarify what it can do and what not and why. AI can't replace creative professionals (unless for basic requirements) but telling customers and coworkers how to use (and not overuse) it, can give us back more time to focus on the real work that requires human expertise.
How do you handle AI in the creative process? Do you discuss using AI with your customers at all?
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