Is AI here to replace your creativity, or just help you work faster?
AI is showing up everywhere. From writing tools to customer service bots. But not all AI is the same. Before we hand over the reins, let’s take a closer look at how it actually helps (or doesn’t).
Everyone’s talking about how AI can help us communicate better. I figured I’d share my take - keen to hear what you think too.
There are two main ways AI is being used to improve efficiency: creative AI and programmatic (agent) AI.
Creative AI - Augments, but doesn’t replace skilled people
AI isn’t ready (yet) to replace subject matter experts in creative roles. It’s most helpful as a tool to support human creativity, not take it over. In practice, it often struggles with context and produces outputs that need editing or rework. It’s great for brainstorming or exploring ideas, but thinking it can fully replace skilled professionals is a mistake.
Programmatic (Agent) AI - Automates simple decisions at scale
This type of AI works more like a decision tree or rule-based system. It’s used to automate routine tasks, often with AI helping decide what happens next.
Example use case:
- If a customer email sounds positive → ask for a review.
- If the tone is negative and it’s about pricing → send a discount.
- If the tone is negative and not price-related → escalate to a human for follow-up.
This programmatic (Agent) AI isn't particularly intelligent, but it’s effective at handling repeatable tasks. When scaled across large teams or customer bases, this kind of automation can reduce costs - something that appeals to stakeholders focused on efficiency.
What’s been your experience with AI so far, is AI more about creative help or just automation? Share a comment and let’s talk about it.
