The Generative AI Trap: Why You Must Check Before You Wreck

The Generative AI Trap: Why You Must Check Before You Wreck                                     

Now that we’ve properly introduced this topic.. let’s get to it!!!

Generative AI is like my son… he has an answer for everything but occasionally takes "creative liberties" with the truth. Yes, it can write your meeting notes, draft your emails, and even plan your team’s next offsite—but left unchecked, it might also schedule you a "Funnel Optimization Birthday Party" or attribute groundbreaking ideas to a mysterious "KPI Fairy."

The Hallucination Problem

AI doesn’t just make mistakes—it hallucinates. That’s the technical term for when it confidently generates completely false information, like inventing non-existent acronyms (looking at you, MGFs) or citing a study from “The Journal of Unjudicial Science.” If you wouldn’t trust a human who’s "making it up as they go," you definitely shouldn’t trust AI without double-checking its work.

The Comedy of Errors: AI Gone Wild

Let’s explore a few scenarios where failing to review AI-generated content could turn your professional life into a sitcom:

Meeting Notes from Another Dimension:

• Prompt: "Summarize our meeting about Q1 goals for marketing and sales."
• AI Output: "Align Q1 MGFs with aggressive ROI KPIs from the PMT."
• Problem: Nobody knows what MGFs or PMTs are, but everyone’s too afraid to ask. (Spoiler: Neither does the AI.)
• Guidance: Clearly specify the expected structure and key topics to include in the summary.

The Misguided Memo:

• Prompt: "Draft a memo about the new company reorganization."
• AI Output: "We’re excited to embrace a matrix structure where everyone reports to everyone!"
• Problem: Employees are confused about their reporting lines, and HR has a meltdown fielding questions.
• Guidance: Specify organizational changes and the tone, e.g., "Highlight new leadership roles and reassure staff about reporting clarity."

Creative Job Descriptions:

• Prompt: "Write a job description for a software engineer with blockchain experience."
• AI Output: "Looking for a code ninja with 10+ years of experience in quantum blockchain karaoke."
• Problem: Applications come from karaoke enthusiasts and one person convinced blockchain is a band.
• Guidance: Use clear, standard industry terms and avoid jargon that could be misinterpreted.

Situations That Demand Extra Vigilance

Not every business task is equally susceptible to AI blunders, but some areas demand extra caution:

• Contracts and Legal Documents: AI can make compelling arguments, but you don’t want a clause that reads, “The contractor agrees to provide services in perpetuity, including [insert something you did not intend here if requested.”
• Client Communications: While AI might draft a polite email, it might also sign off with “Warmest hugs” depending on its training data.
• Marketing Content: A catchy tagline like “Disrupting the industry one oops at a time” might be clever, but not quite on brand.

The Bottom Line

Generative AI is an incredible tool, but it’s not infallible. Think of it as a very smart assistant who occasionally forgets what planet they’re on. Review, revise, and reality-check everything it generates—because while "quantum blockchain karaoke" might be hilarious, it’s probably not going to close any deals.

So, next time your AI drafts something, take a moment to pause and ask yourself: Is this genius, or is this gibberish? The answer might save your reputation—and your next team meeting.

Connect with Tracey Meyer on LinkedIn for expert insights on Copilot and tune into "Tuesdays with Tracey" for professional AI tips and commentary!