It's Not About What AI Can Do—It's About What You Need
The real challenge isn’t AI’s capability. It’s our creativity in knowing what to ask for.
Today, we’re diving into a simple, powerful truth: AI isn't the limiting factor—you are. Most people are standing at the gates of limitless technology... wondering if they remembered to pack snacks.
Welcome to another edition of the best damn newsletter in human-centric innovation.
Here’s what we’re covering today:
→ Why "Can AI do this?" is the wrong question (and what to ask instead)
→ The real first step to AI adoption: defining your needs, not chasing cool tricks
→ How to turn AI from a party trick into a real productivity engine
Let’s get into it. 👇
We’re standing at a strange crossroads with AI. It’s more powerful, more accessible, and more capable than ever—yet so many people feel completely stuck. The problem isn’t the tech itself; it’s that most people don’t know how to start the right conversation with it.
Asking the Wrong Question
Most people approach AI like it’s a magic show.
👩💻 “Can it write a blog post?”
👨💼 “Can it design my pitch deck?”
👩🔬 “Can it build a customer journey?”
Spoiler alert: Yes.
AI can already do far more than most people realise. But the problem isn’t what AI can do—the problem is people don't know what they actually need it to do.
Instead of asking "Can AI do this?", the better question is: "What outcome am I trying to create, and where am I getting stuck?"
Think of it this way: asking “Can AI do this?” is like walking into hardware store, staring at a wall of power tools, and asking the cashier if any of them are good.
Good for what? Building a birdhouse? Installing kitchen cabinets? Digging a bunker for the AI apocalypse?
Without a clear goal, every tool looks equally confusing.
Define the Problem, Not the Technology
If you want to actually get value from AI, start here:
✅ What is the bottleneck you need to unblock?
✅ What repetitive task is sucking your time and energy?
✅ What problem could you solve faster, better, or cheaper with a little help?
AI works best when you frame it around a job to be done—not just a flashy capability to be admired.
Here’s a simple framework to guide you:
Identify the friction. (Example: “I spend hours a week writing LinkedIn posts.”)
Define the outcome. (Example: “I want three good posts in thirty minutes.”)
Use AI as a strategic partner. (Example: Use ChatGPT to draft options, then edit for tone.)
The power isn’t in what AI can do. It’s in what you choose to apply it to.
Turning AI Into a Productivity Engine
When people finally figure out where they actually need AI, magic happens.
✨ An entrepreneur builds a custom AI that generates 80% of her client proposals.
✨ A solopreneur trains a GPT to write newsletters that sound just like her, saving eight hours a week.
✨ A team automates first-draft social media posts, so their humans focus on strategy.
But notice the pattern: the AI didn’t suggest the tasks—the human did.
You don't need to wait for AI to inspire you. You need to tell it what matters.
(Otherwise, you’ll end up like a kid at a birthday party with a balloon animal—happy for five minutes, and wondering what to do next.)
So, What’s Next?
If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or even a little intimidated by AI, it’s not because you’re not "technical enough." It’s because you haven’t framed the problem clearly enough yet.
👉 Start by asking: What work would I LOVE to offload today?
👉 Then ask: Could AI reasonably handle 80% of that with the right setup?
👉 Finally: What would that free me up to do?
The future of AI belongs to the people who know what they need—not the people waiting to be dazzled.
Ready to move from overwhelmed to empowered?
You don't have to figure this all out alone.
Join our Group Coaching sessions at the Netropolitan Academy—where you can bring your real-world AI challenges to the table and get real-time advice, support, and personalised guidance.
→ Feeling stuck defining what you actually need from AI?
→ Unsure how to turn a tool into a productivity engine?
→ Need a sounding board to shape your next steps?
We meet live every other week for open, supportive coaching calls designed to help you cut through confusion, move forward faster, and stay inspired.
Come as you are. Leave with insight, direction, and community support.
👉 Book your spot now and join the next session.
Because sometimes the best way to start the right conversation with AI... is to start the right conversation with yourself (and a few good humans too).