Let’s be real—AI is everywhere. It’s cracking formulas, summarizing reports, and automating workflows faster than we ever could. But does that mean we should just sit back, relax, and let it do all the thinking for us? Absolutely not!
AI: The Ultimate Performance Enhancer
For me, AI isn’t just about getting things done quickly—it’s about leveling up my own skills and extending my capabilities beyond what I thought was possible. In tools like Smartsheet, AI has transformed the way we work with data. We can now:
- Build dashboards faster
- Crack complex formulas in seconds
- Analyse and summarise data at lightning speed
Sounds incredible, right? It is! But here’s the catch…
A Shoe Is Just a Shoe Until Someone Steps In It
At ENGAGE in Seattle, I heard something in the keynote that stuck with me: “A shoe is just a shoe until someone steps in it.” The same goes for AI. AI is powerful, but it’s only as good as the human using it.
Yes, AI can:
🚀 Speed up processes
📊 Help you see patterns in data
🤖 Take the grunt work off your plate
But can it think strategically? Can it understand the impact of a workflow change? Can it replace real-world experience? Nope! That’s our job.
The Danger of Over-Reliance
Here’s the thing: practice makes perfect—but what happens when AI does all the practice for us? New professionals aren’t learning the hard-won skills we used to “pay the school fees” for. If we just let AI take the wheel, we risk losing those crucial problem-solving muscles that make us experts, not just operators.
AI + Human = Unstoppable
The real magic happens when we use AI as a tool, not a crutch. AI in Smartsheet (or anywhere else) helps us do more, better, and faster—but we still need humans in the loop to ensure:
💡 The right workflows are in place
🔍 Data summaries actually make sense
📈 AI-powered solutions align with real business needs
So no, AI hasn’t taken my job—but it has taken my job to the next level. And that’s the real win.
