Take the Long Way in the Age of AI

AI is genuinely useful, but useful technology and sustainable hype are not the same thing. I’ll keep using these tools, while remembering that speed alone does not replace judgement, empathy, taste or craftsmanship. In a moment when everyone feels pressured to move faster with AI, “take the long way when you’re in a hurry” feels surprisingly relevant.

AI is genuinely useful, but useful technology and sustainable hype are not the same thing. I’ll keep using these tools, while remembering that speed alone does not replace judgement, empathy, taste or craftsmanship. In a moment when everyone feels pressured to move faster with AI, “take the long way when you’re in a hurry” feels surprisingly relevant.

A few random thoughts before bedtime.

Lately, I’ve been getting a “glitch in the Matrix” sense of déjà vu.

Almost every digital product I use now has some sort of LLM bolted onto it. Existing tools are suddenly being rebranded as “AI-powered,” startups are adding AI to their pitch decks, and companies seem desperate to prove they’re part of the movement.

Heck, even LINE (Japan’s favourite messaging mega-app) now has an AI-generated reply option. So much for “personal” communication.

All this reminds me of the dot-com bubble.

AI is an amazing tool. I use it every day, mostly as a sounding board, and use it to get through work that might otherwise take days or even weeks.

I fully intend to keep using it and to keep learning better ways to work with it.

At the same time, I don’t believe every company adding AI will survive, every new feature will remain useful, or every investment being made today will look sensible in hindsight.

The technology is real. The current level of hype? I’m less convinced.

So I think it’s worth being ready for the possibility that the bubble bursts. Some tools will disappear, funding will dry up, expectations will reset, and some of the speed we’ve become used to may go with it.

I’m cool with that.

The highest level of service has never been about speed alone. Judgement, empathy and taste still matter, especially when the fastest answer is nothing more than the universal, perfectly tasteless average.

Now is the time when human craftsmanship is genuinely valuable.

So yeah, I’ll fire up “Chappy” tomorrow, or get to know Claude a bit more. They’re tools in my belt. But when the best answer takes longer, I’ll be more than happy to take the slower route.

One of my favourite Japanese sayings is “Isogaba maware” (急がば回れ), which translates to “Take the long way when you’re in a hurry.”

That’s probably the best advice to anyone feeling pressured to “use AI” in today’s crazy times.

*Photo by Mark König on Unsplash

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