If your feed looks anything like mine, you’ve probably seen it too.
A constant stream of “Top 10 AI tools you must try this week.”
Followed by – “Here is the ChatGPT alternative that’ll change your life.”
Then – “Avoid that tool at all costs. Use this one instead.”
It’s exhausting. I know. So why are we so obsessed with finding the perfect tool?
Is it the fear of missing out? Pressure to be seen as innovative? A desperate attempt to keep up in a space that keeps changing the rules?
Whatever the reason – tool-chasing is keeping a lot of smart, capable people stuck.
Instead of asking “What’s the best AI tool?”, we should be asking “What do I actually need help with?”
The great AI tool tsunami
We’ve been sold the idea that using more AI tools makes us more advanced. But in reality it usually makes us more overwhelmed. Somewhere along the way, we started believing that the more tools we use, the more advanced we are.
But that’s simply not true. Regardless of the 18,000 tools in circulation – we’re not gaining momentum. In fact, most of us are drowning in options.
Some tools are brilliantly engineered. Others were thrown together by bored teenagers at 2AM. Most won’t be around in six months. And yet they all show up in your feed with bold promises and sleek packaging.
Trust me – you don’t need more tools. You need the right ones for your needs.
For me, that’s ChatGPT (because it knows me better than most humans) and Otter.ai for transcriptions. Occasionally, I play around with PhotoLeap and Perplexity and test out others.
Ultimately, AI isn’t about collecting tools. It’s about finding flow. And tool-chasing is one of the fastest ways to lose flow and productivity. For many people, they wind up wasting more time playing around with different tools than focusing on the actual important day-to-day work.
The productivity trap no one talks about
Here’s the irony – AI tools are meant to make us faster, sharper, more efficient.
But according to Gartner, 77% of people say they’ve actually become less productive since introducing AI tools into their workflow.
That’s because the tools alone don’t solve anything.
Without a clear strategy, AI becomes just another distraction. Yep, something else to add to the to-do list. People end up fumbling through interfaces, unsure if they’re doing it “right,” second-guessing whether there’s a better tool they should be using instead.
And before they know it, they’re stuck in a productivity loop that looks a lot like procrastination.
Sound familiar?
Remember, most AI tools still rely heavily on human judgement. They’re not magic. They’re not perfect. And they often need more input, more context, and more corrections than most people expect.
So instead of helping, they just add another layer of complexity to our already-full plates.
Start with purpose, not products
So where should you begin?
Not with a list of trending tools. And definitely not with whatever’s being pushed on your LinkedIn feed this week.
Start by asking yourself –
🧠 What do I actually need help with?
⏳ Where am I losing time or energy right now?
🧩 What’s repetitive, frustrating, or draining that AI could potentially take off my plate?
That’s where the gold is. Once you have that clarity, then you can start looking for the best solution. And the best solution might just be the GenAI tool you’ve been using all along.
There’s no one-size-fits-all here. The most useful AI tools are the ones that support your way of working – not change it entirely.
So instead of chasing the most “impressive” tool, chase the one that makes you feel more focused, creative, or in control. That’s the one worth your time.
Test it. Don’t marry it.
Once you’ve found a tool that might be a good fit, treat it like a test run – not a forever decision.
You’re not looking for perfection. You’re looking for something that makes your work feel lighter, faster, or more creative. And that only becomes clear through real use – not hype.
Here’s what I recommend:
- Start small. Choose one tool at a time and focus on one clear use case.
- Pay monthly. If there’s a subscription, go month-to-month to begin with. That way, you’re not locked into a tool you end up ditching after two weeks.
- Track your usage. At the end of the month, ask yourself – Did this genuinely help? Or did I spend more time figuring it out than actually using it?
- Be okay walking away. If it doesn’t click, that’s not a failure. That’s a filter.
There’s no prize for using the most tools – only clarity in using the right ones.
Final thoughts
AI isn’t meant to be a badge of honour or a race to collect the most tools.
It’s meant to make your day-to-day life lighter.
To take a few things off your plate – not pile more on.
To give you back time, headspace, and maybe even a bit of sanity.
That’s the kind of productivity that actually matters.
Need help cutting through the noise?
I help leaders and teams figure out what actually works – without the tech overwhelm, jargon, or pressure to “keep up.”
If you’re keen to chat, email me at hello@humanedgeai.com with ‘LIMIT THE TOOLS’ to kickstart the conversation.
P.S. This article was produced in collaboration between ChatGPT and my human brain during a LIVE demo on 16 April 2025.
