Knowing When to Use AI (Part 2): When You Know Enough to Know Better

In Part 1 of our series, we looked at how AI is a game-changer when you need to generate quantity. Think brainstorms, lists, headlines, or anything where momentum matters more than precision. 

Now, let’s talk about a more nuanced—but equally powerful—use case: using AI as a smart assistant when you’re already an expert. 

The Sweet Spot: AI + Expertise 

Here’s a little paradox for you: AI is often most useful when you already know the answer. 

Sounds backward, right? But stay with us. 

Let’s say you’re a subject matter expert—a finance pro, a healthcare leader, a tech director. You’re deep in the weeds of your work, and you know what a wrong answer looks like. That’s exactly when AI becomes an incredible tool. You can use it to explore options, check your blind spots, or get a fresh take—and you’ll instantly know whether the output is on point or off the rails. 

AI Can Go Deep… But Not Always Accurately 

The newest models can tackle some pretty intense challenges. We’ve seen AI solve PhD-level problems and draft shockingly well-structured technical documents. But here’s the thing: it can also hallucinate (yep, that’s the technical term). It can confidently give you an answer that sounds perfect—and is completely wrong. 

If you’re not familiar with the subject, you might not catch that. But if you are? You can spot the gaps, dig deeper, and fine-tune the response to actually add value. 

A Smart Use Case 

Imagine you’re an IT director evaluating cloud backup solutions. You ask AI to compare options or summarize vendor documentation. It might miss a critical nuance, but you know what to look for—so you can quickly scan, fact-check, and reframe the results into something useful. Instead of replacing your knowledge, AI supports it—like a junior analyst who works fast, but still needs your review. 

TL;DR: AI Isn’t a Shortcut to Expertise—It’s a Tool for Experts 

AI won’t make you an expert overnight. But if you already know your stuff, it can save you serious time, give you alternative perspectives, and help you move faster with confidence. 

In Part 3, we’ll explore another sweet spot: when AI is helping you translate and summarize—but the stakes aren’t sky-high.