Why AI is a Tool, Not a Business Objective

Juan Esteban Chaparro Machete
COO
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Tres Astronautas
March 21, 2024
2 min
Key Points:
  • Business objectives are the results a company aims to achieve, while AI is a tool to help achieve these objectives.
  • Making AI an objective can lead to unnecessary implementation and misalignment with business goals.
  • Businesses should identify their objectives first, then explore how AI can help achieve them.
  • AI is most effective when it's used to enhance business strategies and improve operational efficiency.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionized various sectors, from healthcare to retail, by automating tasks, providing insights, and enhancing customer experiences. However, it's important for businesses to understand that AI is a tool, not a business objective.

A business objective is a result that a company aims to achieve. It may include increasing market share, improving customer satisfaction, or boosting profit margins. AI, on the other hand, is a means to achieve these objectives. It's a technology that can automate processes, analyze large volumes of data, and provide predictive analytics to help make informed decisions.

Consider this analogy: if your objective is to drill a hole, the drill is not the objective but the tool you use to achieve it. Similarly, AI is the tool that helps businesses achieve their objectives more efficiently and effectively.

When a business mistakenly makes AI an objective, it runs the risk of implementing AI without a clear purpose, resulting in wastage of resources and misalignment with the company's goals. Instead, businesses should start by identifying their objectives and then explore how AI can help achieve them.