The way most people use AI today reminds me of how we used the internet in the 1990s.
Open it.Look something up.Close it.
A few days ago, I was speaking with a professional who told me he uses Claude only when he needs help drafting an email or answering a question.
Nothing wrong with that.
But it made me realise how much the conversation around AI is still focused on answers, while the real value is shifting towards actions.
The turning point for me was seeing how AI tools are no longer limited to chat windows.
Today, they can search emails, summarise inboxes, analyse documents, generate spreadsheets, browse websites, create visualisations, and execute repeatable workflows.
Instead of asking AI for information, you can ask it to find what needs attention.
Instead of creating reports manually, you can have them generated automatically.
Instead of repeating the same instructions every day, you can build reusable systems that work for you.
That changes the role of AI completely.
It stops being a tool you consult and starts becoming a system that supports how work gets done.
The biggest productivity gains won’t come from better prompts.
They’ll come from building workflows where AI handles the repetitive work, leaving people free to focus on decisions that matter.
How are you using AI today: as a search tool, or as part of your workflow?