Let’s start with what I now consider an established fact: the idea that “if we let machines do the work, they will replace us” is simply not true. In fact, the opposite is closer to reality. Technologies such as generative artificial intelligence have become valuable tools in everyday operations. They do not replace people—they enable them to work differently. Sometimes they improve what we do; other times they simply make our work more efficient.
In my view, their greatest strength lies precisely in their ability to compensate for some of the natural and inevitable limitations of the human mind.
Take a simple example that everyone encounters in everyday business: writing emails.
AI does far more than correct grammar or choose the appropriate verb tense. It can analyze the overall structure of a message, reorganize ideas into a logical and coherent sequence, and eliminate unnecessary complexity or confusing passages. It does not replace human thinking; rather, it organizes, structures, and clarifies it. Even people who consider themselves effective communicators often discover that their emails are too concise or insufficiently structured.
In situations like these, AI becomes an invaluable assistant. You are still the one writing the email, and you will probably spend roughly the same amount of time doing it, because only you know exactly what to ask a supplier and which information is needed to obtain the response you are looking for. The difference is that, in most cases—though certainly not all, because generalizations are rarely accurate—the final email will be more effective. It will make life easier for your recipient, who will most likely receive all the information needed to provide precisely the answer you need. And I can assure you, that is far from guaranteed.
This naturally leads to another important question:
How much—and when—can we trust what AI produces?
In my opinion,
the best answer is another question:
How much—and when—can we trust our own minds?
Our brains work through networks of synapses that create associations and patterns. Yet what we remember or perceive is not always accurate. Machines operate differently. They do not forget. They are not affected by distractions, fatigue, or cognitive biases. If you happen to overlook an important detail because you are distracted, AI will not make that same mistake. Its memory is extraordinary: it can tell you exactly what you purchased, when you purchased it, and how much you paid.
It is like comparing a person running to a scooter. No matter how fast you can run, the scooter will always be faster. In the same way, AI possesses capabilities—such as memory, information processing, and data organization—that surpass our own.
That said, these obvious advantages do not mean we should trust AI blindly.
They mean we should understand its strengths and learn how to use them consciously and effectively to our advantage.
AI should not replace human intelligence—it should amplify it.
