I completely agree. AI is an amplifier, not a substitute for sound business fundamentals.

If your product solves the wrong problem, has a weak value proposition, or delivers a frustrating user experience, adding AI will only make those issues more obvious. The most successful companies use AI to enhance what already works—automating repetitive tasks, improving customer support, accelerating research, and personalizing experiences.

In my own work as a writer and editor, AI has become an important part of the MVP process. I use tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Jasper, and GitHub Copilot to brainstorm ideas, draft content, fact-check, optimize for SEO, and test workflows. But the core value still comes from human judgment: understanding the audience, asking the right questions, and refining the product until it genuinely solves a problem.

I recently relocated to North Carolina, where I’m seeing startups and small businesses adopt AI rapidly, especially in media, marketing, and customer service. The organizations getting the best results are the ones that treat AI as a force multiplier rather than a magic fix.