Most people talk about generative AI tools like it’s a shortcut. A magic wand. A cheat code. Expectations are high, leaving people disappointed when the tool doesn’t instantly deliver what they hoped for. But I see it the way I see every great early-career team member I’ve ever worked with: smart, eager, capable…and completely unaware of how we do things around here.
That’s why I started treating generative AI like my intern. Not because I want to hand off my thinking or outsource judgement, but because, when used thoughtfully, AI becomes what every intern hopes to be: a fast learner, a reliable collaborator, and a practical way to get more done without adding more to your team’s plate.
In my role leading systems design at a boutique consulting firm that partners with mission-driven organizations, I see people struggling with generative AI because they expect it to behave like a search engine. They toss in a half-formed prompt, get a half-formed response, and decide the technology “just doesn’t sound human.”
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