If AI Is So Smart, Why Can’t It Run a Project?

AI can draft an email, summarize a meeting, write code, and even crank out a blog post like this one (with help). But there’s one thing it still can’t do:

Run a real project.

We’ve tried. We’ve experimented with AI for status reports, timelines, risk assessments, and backlog grooming. It’s impressive—fast, helpful, and often accurate. But project management? That’s still human territory.

Here’s why:

1. AI can’t read the room.
Deadlines shift. Priorities change. A stakeholder’s “no big deal” tone in an email actually means “I’m about to escalate this.”
AI doesn’t catch nuance. It doesn’t read body language, office politics, or tension over Teams calls. Project leaders do.

2. Projects don’t follow scripts.
Even the best Gantt chart goes sideways by week two. People get sick. Budgets get cut. A client pivots.
AI is great at pattern recognition—but projects are often the opposite: messy, emotional, and unpredictable. Leading through ambiguity takes real-time judgment, not pre-trained algorithms.

3. Relationships still matter. A lot.
When things go south (and they will), people want to talk to someone they trust—not a chatbot.
A seasoned project lead knows how to listen, adjust, empathize, and reset expectations without blowing up the timeline—or the relationship.

4. AI doesn’t know your business.
It knows businesses in general. It doesn’t know your unique challenges, team dynamics, or what happened last quarter that’s still lingering in the background.
Good project leadership isn’t just about tasks. It’s about context—and context still requires a human brain.

That said—AI is an amazing co-pilot.
It can flag risks faster. Draft communication. Generate insights from sprint notes.
But it’s not leading the call, navigating egos, or rescuing a deliverable gone off the rails. That’s you.

So no, AI can’t run a project.

But it can help you run one better.

standardMay 6Tom SalonekAI

Your Best Consultant Might Be the One Who’s Not Billing (Yet)

In consulting, there’s a saying:
“If they’re not billing, they’re costing.”

That’s technically true. But it misses something bigger.

At Intertech, we’ve come to realize that our most valuable consultants aren’t always the ones billing every hour. Sometimes, the people on the bench are driving the most important transformation in our business.

Right now, that transformation is AI.

Here’s how we’re using bench time strategically:

1. Training on AI tools and frameworks
Rather than rushing consultants into the next project, we give them structured time to learn tools like GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, and AI-assisted test generation platforms. The result? They re-enter projects faster, more capable, and AI-enabled.

2. Standardizing AI in our dev process
We’re using bench cycles to build internal playbooks for applying AI—from proposal writing to automated documentation to code review. These aren’t “nice to haves.” They’re practical assets that increase velocity and quality across the board.

3. Prototyping with purpose
Benched consultants are experimenting with real-world use cases: generating scaffolding code, refactoring legacy modules, streamlining unit test creation, and integrating AI-driven analytics into apps. It’s hands-on R&D—without the overhead of a live project.

4. Supporting AI adoption across teams
Having AI-fluent consultants available helps us accelerate adoption across project teams. They’re building demos, advising PMs, and helping clients understand what’s possible. They’re our internal accelerators.

5. Staying ahead of client expectations
Clients are asking: “What’s your AI strategy?”
Our bench consultants are a big part of the answer. They’re not just staying billable—they’re making sure we stay relevant.

Bottom line?
A smart bench strategy isn’t just about cost control. It’s about innovation.
Done right, your non-billing consultants might be your most valuable team members—because they’re building the future you’ll soon be charging for.

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Afraid of AI? Here’s What to Do Instead

Take a walk through any office, wait online for others to join a Teams or Zoom call, or bump into an old co-worker at Starbucks——you’ll hear the same concern:

“Is AI going to take my job?”

It’s a fair question. Unless you’re in a profession that involves fixing plumbing, laying concrete, or replacing brake pads, it’s hard not to feel like the digital tidal wave of AI might wash you out of relevance.

But here’s the thing: AI isn’t just a threat. It’s a tool. One that’s already helping most of us—whether we realize it or not.

Like right now. You’re reading something that was written by a human (me) and shaped by an AI assistant. I still had to think, edit, and guide it. But it helped me get here faster—and better. It’s not a replacement. It’s a force multiplier.

Fear is normal. Staying afraid is optional.
The worst thing to do with AI is nothing. To bury your head and hope this all blows over. Spoiler: it won’t.

The second worst thing? To become a doomsday narrator in your own story.

The better option is this: get curious. Learn how to use it. Let it help you. Because once you stop seeing AI as a rival and start using it like an ally, everything changes. Along with helping you, look how it can help those who work with or for you. At Intertech, everyone, including the admin is reading a book or attending a course on AI for their job.

Here’s how to stay relevant—and even thrive—with AI:

1. Become a “human-AI hybrid.”
The people who succeed in the next decade won’t be the ones who avoid AI. They’ll be the ones who use it daily—and pair it with judgment, emotional intelligence, and common sense. Think you + AI = amplified value. For my software application development firm, like mine, AI represents the challenge that AI will reduce our billable hours. This is the reality of the future. Either we embrace it, or others will surpass what we can deliver.

2. Use it to eliminate the junk work.
AI is great at first drafts, summaries, idea generation, and repetitive tasks. Let it take care of the shallow work so you can focus on the deep stuff—strategy, creativity, relationships, leadership.

3. Focus on what AI can’t do (yet).
Things like building trust, mentoring a junior colleague, closing a deal with nuance, or navigating politics inside a client’s organization. That’s still very much human territory. Strengthen your relationships with clients, employees, partners, or others.

4. Stop waiting for perfect. Start experimenting.
Use ChatGPT, CoPilot, or others. Not sure where to start? Tell AI about your job and ask for feedback. Try an AI meeting note taker. Let AI generate a first pass on a report. You don’t have to be an expert. You just have to start. Every new skill starts with awkwardness.

5. Ask AI to help you with AI.
Open up to AI and share what you’re about, what you do, your goals, and where you have questions and want answers. Have it be a dialogue not a one-and-done question. Guide the AI on the journey not vice versa. Expect to be surprised. The more you interact with your AI, the more it learns about you and will guess what you want next. And, finally, a good thing about AI is to think how often it calls in sick, gets tired of you asking it to answer the same question, or doubts what it’s saying… zero.

Bottom line? Yes, I will change work. It already is. But it’s not coming to replace the people who adapt—it’s coming to help them outperform everyone else.

So the question isn’t “Will AI take my job?”

It’s “Am I willing to evolve with it?”

And if you’re already using AI to draft blogs, answer emails, and prep for meetings… congratulations. You’re not behind. You’re ahead.

standardApril 22Tom SalonekAI

AI Assistants by Category

General AI Assistants

  • ChatGPT (OpenAI) – General-purpose AI for writing, business insights, learning, and brainstorming.
  • Claude (Anthropic) – A thoughtful AI good for nuanced writing and discussions.
  • Google Gemini – Strong in research and fact-checking.

Math & Science

  • Wolfram Alpha – The best for solving complex math problems and equations.
  • Symbolab – Step-by-step solutions for algebra, calculus, and more.
  • Mathway – A calculator that provides solutions across different branches of math.

Business & Finance

  • BloombergGPT – AI for financial analysis, predictions, and stock market insights.
  • Tome – AI-powered business presentations and storytelling.
  • ChatGPT Plus (with plugins) – Great for summarizing reports and business strategy.
  • Notion AI – AI-powered note-taking and project management.

Coding & Development

  • GitHub Copilot – AI-powered code suggestions and automation.
  • Replit AI – Helps with coding in multiple languages in an interactive IDE.
  • Codeium – Free alternative to Copilot for AI-assisted coding.

Marketing & Content Creation

  • Jasper AI – Copywriting, blog writing, and ad copy.
  • Copy.ai – AI-powered content generation for sales and marketing.
  • Surfer SEO – AI for optimizing content based on search engine algorithms.

Design & Creativity

Life Coaching & Productivity

  • Replika – AI companion for mental well-being and life advice.
  • Coach.me – AI-assisted habit tracking and personal coaching.
  • Otter.ai – AI-powered meeting transcriptions and summaries.

Education & Learning

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Five Areas Not to Use AI

Here are the top five areas where you should not use AI in business, management, and technology, along with examples and reasons why AI is a poor fit.

1. High-Stakes Decision-Making Without Human Oversight

Example: AI suggesting layoffs, restructuring, or major strategic pivots
Why Not? AI lacks true contextual understanding and ethical reasoning. It can analyze data but doesn’t grasp the nuances of human impact, long-term cultural shifts, or moral implications. Major business decisions should be guided by human judgment, with AI as a support tool, not the final decision-maker.

2. Sensitive HR & Employee Relations Issues

Example: AI-driven hiring/firing decisions, performance reviews, or handling harassment complaints
Why Not? AI can introduce bias rather than eliminate it. While it can analyze trends, it lacks empathy, discretion, and the ability to account for unique personal situations. Using AI for performance evaluations or disciplinary actions can lead to unfair treatment, legal risks, and loss of trust from employees.

Example: AI drafting contracts, providing legal strategy, or ensuring compliance in highly regulated industries
Why Not? AI-generated legal advice can be outdated, jurisdictionally incorrect, or outright wrong. Misinterpreting regulations or compliance laws can lead to lawsuits, fines, and business risks. Always rely on human legal experts for critical matters.

4. Handling Customer Escalations & Crisis Communications

Example: AI responding to major customer complaints, PR disasters, or sensitive negotiations
Why Not? AI lacks emotional intelligence and nuance, which are crucial when de-escalating a crisis. A tone-deaf response (or worse, an incorrect one) can make things spiral out of control. A human should always handle high-stakes customer issues where trust, reputation, and relationships are on the line.

5. Innovation & Creative Strategy Development

Example: AI generating a company’s long-term business strategy or innovative new products
Why Not? AI can assist with brainstorming but lacks true creative insight, intuition, and visionary thinking. It pulls from existing ideas rather than breaking new ground. Great innovations come from human experience, imagination, and risk-taking—things AI just can’t replicate.

Final Thought

AI is a powerful assistant, but it shouldn’t replace human expertise, judgment, or creativity in these areas. Instead, it works best when used to augment human intelligence—providing insights, automation, and efficiencies while people make the final calls.

standardMarch 11Tom SalonekAI