Knowing When to Use AI (Part 5): The Times to Hit Pause

We’ve talked a lot about how AI can help—brainstorming, summarizing, unblocking, translating, curating. It’s a powerful tool when used right. 

But there are moments when AI isn’t the right answer. In fact, it might actively get in the way. 

Let’s talk about those.

When You’re Supposed to Struggle

Some work is meant to be hard.
Learning a new concept. Crafting your message. Wrestling with a tough decision. 

If you shortcut that struggle, you also shortcut the growth. AI can help explain, guide, or even coach—but it shouldn’t carry the load when the point is the load. Don’t miss out on your “aha” moments.

When Accuracy Really Matters

AI is powerful, but it’s not perfect. Especially when you need something to be 100% correct—think legal language, financial statements, medical guidance—you need a human in the loop. (And ideally, an expert one.) 

The problem isn’t just the occasional error. It’s that AI sounds confident even when it’s wrong. It can “hallucinate” facts that look and feel legit—and that’s dangerous in high-stakes work.

When You Don’t Know Its Limits

AI doesn’t fail like a human does. It might agree with you too much. It might invent facts. It might sound super helpful… and be completely off base. 

You don’t have to be an expert to use AI—but you do need to be aware of how it fails. If you’re new to it, start small. Watch how it behaves. Don’t blindly trust the first thing it says.

When the Work Deserves a Human

Some work just shouldn’t be outsourced to a machine. Performance reviews. Conflict resolution. Thoughtful communication in sensitive moments. 

Yes, AI can write beautifully. But it can’t care. It can’t empathize. And in situations where people need to feel seen, heard, and respected—that matters more than polish.

When AI Is Just… Bad

Sometimes AI is just bad at a task, and there’s no clear reason why; 

• Counting letters in a word 

• Maintaining logic across a 3-page report 

• Staying consistent in complex multi-step reasoning 

 AI is weirdly great at some things and hilariously bad at others. You’ll only find those edges by using it. (And swapping stories with peers who’ve hit the same weird walls.) 

AI Is a Tool, Not a Crutch 

Use it to move faster, spark ideas, and streamline the stuff that doesn’t need your full brainpower. But save your judgment, care, and focus for the work that does. 

The wisdom isn’t just in using AI well—it’s in knowing when to step back and do the work yourself. 

If you would like to read more about this topic, you can read this article by Ethan Molluck.