Are You Feeling Tired of Generative AI?
We’re hearing the term “generative AI fatigue” more often. Recent news reports that an increasing number of executives and managers are feeling exhausted before even using it, falling into analysis paralysis without knowing how to apply it.
This phenomenon is far from rare. In my own AI consulting work, I frequently hear clients say, “I can’t keep up with the conversation” or “I don’t know which tool to choose.”
However, stopping your thinking here is a huge missed opportunity. Because generative AI can definitely contribute to operational efficiency and become a weapon to enhance competitiveness. The problem is that it’s not clear “where to start.” This article explains specific methods to overcome AI fatigue and move into action.
Why Does AI Fatigue Happen?
The causes of AI fatigue are information overload and “perfectionism.” New AI tools and features are announced almost daily, and the pressure to understand all of them exhausts executives and back-office managers.
Also, the excessive expectation that “introducing AI will dramatically change our work” ironically creates confusion about “what to tackle first.” This can be seen as a phenomenon between the “peak of inflated expectations” and the “trough of disillusionment” that always occurs when new technology spreads.
As pointed out in a Nikkei XTECH article, the increase in cases where people fall into analysis paralysis without knowing how to use AI is precisely because they are standing at the entrance of this “trough of disillusionment.” However, whether you give up here or take a step forward will greatly change your future competitiveness.
“Small Steps” to Break Through Analysis Paralysis
As the case of Ebara Corporation shows, the key to successful generative AI adoption is “starting small.” Their project promotion method involves engaging both the field and management departments, using AI within a manageable scope, and accumulating results.
Specifically, the following steps are effective.
First, list the “most tedious, repetitive tasks” in your work. For example, drafting emails, summarizing meeting minutes, or simple data aggregation. These are areas where generative AI excels.
Next, choose just “one” from that list and actually try using an AI tool. Free trials (like the free versions of ChatGPT or Claude) are sufficient. The important thing is to “try it out” without aiming for perfection.
I myself started with a small task: “drafting social media posts.” As a result, I successfully saved 30 minutes per day, and that success experience led to applying AI to other tasks.
Specific AI Tools and Cost of Implementation
So, which tools should you actually choose? For executives and back-office managers, I recommend the following three.
The first is ChatGPT. It’s the most popular generative AI, and even the free version performs well. It’s ideal for writing, summarizing, and simple data analysis. The paid version ($20/month) enables more advanced analysis and image generation.
The second is Claude. It’s particularly strong at processing long texts and complex instructions. It’s suitable for handling business documents like contract reviews and report creation. The paid version starts at $20/month.
The third is Grok. Developed by xAI (founded by Elon Musk), it excels at real-time information gathering. It’s useful for analyzing the latest news and market trends. It’s available with an X Premium subscription, starting at around $10/month.
By combining these tools, you can achieve more effective operational efficiency. I myself use these three AIs together, spending about $140 per month to create value equivalent to approximately $50,000 per year. You could say the barrier to entry is very low.
Don’t Forget Cybersecurity Measures
When advancing AI adoption, you must not forget security measures. Cybersecurity in the AI era involves different threats than before. For example, there’s the risk that confidential information entered into AI could leak externally as training data.
As pointed out in an ITmedia article, keep the following points in mind as necessary measures for any company.
First, clearly define a policy for using AI tools. Establish clear rules within the company about what kind of information can be entered into AI. In particular, strictly ensure that confidential information such as customer data and management strategies is not entered as a rule.
Next, check the security settings of the AI tools. Many tools offer settings to opt out of using data for training. For business use, be sure to enable this setting.
Finally, conduct internal AI literacy education. Fostering personnel who understand the characteristics and risks of AI and can use it appropriately will lead to long-term competitiveness.
What Lies Beyond Overcoming AI Fatigue
AI fatigue is a natural phenomenon that everyone experiences in the process of new technology adoption. However, instead of falling into analysis paralysis, it’s important to take small steps.
It’s okay to start with just one tool, one task. By actually using it, you can feel the possibilities and limitations of AI firsthand, and the next steps will become clear.
As seen in the case of Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture, even at the municipal level, operational efficiency using generative AI is progressing. Private companies should be able to implement it even more flexibly.
Beyond overcoming AI fatigue lies not only operational efficiency but also great potential, such as improved employee engagement and the creation of new business opportunities. Please start your “small step” today.
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