12 things I know about AI today

Leverage—May 5, 2025

1. I know AI is helpful for summarizing and parsing lots of data quickly.

2. I know that using AI to take notes for record saves time and creates tolerably accurate documentation.

3. I know that notes also help foster understanding and clear thinking; AI can actually get in the way of that.

4. I know that today’s AIs are much better editors than they are writers.

5. I know that AI is a great learning partner; curiosity and AI go very well together.

6. I know AI is a powerful tool.

7. I know AI is not equivalent to (let alone a replacement for) human intelligence, intuition, and instinct.

8. I know AI can do independent research, but you have to be skeptical and check the results carefully.

9. I know that chatbot user interface and personality matters. Pick one that you like—it’s just personal preference.

10. I know that you shouldn’t worry about the minor differences between chatbot features, capabilities, or benchmark scores. Just pick one and get to know it well; ride out the daily and weekly feature updates and model tweaks. Ignore that grass-is-greener feeling when another chatbot gets a new feature; soon enough yours will have it too.

11. I know that chatbots are only a small, but very visible, part of the overall AI landscape.

12. I know you should take everything you read, see, and hear about AI with several grains of salt. Most people are either over-hyping or under-estimating; I’ve been guilty of both.

This post’s format is inspired by 50 things I know by Sasha Chapin, who clearly knows a lot more than I do.

50 things I know