The AI Obsession: Searching for Problems to Solve, and Why That’s Not a Bad Thing

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere. Businesses across industries are rushing to integrate AI, sometimes appearing to force it into problems where it may not even be necessary. Critics argue that companies are trying to fit AI into tasks that don’t really need it, creating solutions in search of problems. But is this really a bad thing?

While it may seem like businesses are overusing AI, there's value in experimenting with powerful tools like it. Historically, when groundbreaking technologies emerge, we often find new ways to use them that weren't previously obvious. Some problems that seemed unsolvable suddenly become worth reconsidering. AI's capabilities—such as pattern recognition, decision-making, and learning—make it a tool worth trying in various scenarios, even where traditional methods might suffice.

Consider healthcare. Diagnosing diseases through medical imaging was once limited by human capability. Today, AI is detecting conditions like cancer with greater precision. The dream of self-driving cars, too, became realistic thanks to AI’s ability to navigate complex environments. These are just two examples of old challenges finding new solutions through AI.

While the hype around AI can seem excessive, it’s not without merit. AI enables us to tackle old problems in new ways and even opens up entirely new possibilities in fields like personalized medicine, climate modeling, and creative industries. The enthusiasm is less about solving every problem with AI and more about exploring the full potential of this transformative tool.

Ultimately, searching for problems to solve with AI isn't a flaw—it's a natural part of discovering how far new technologies can take us. Often, this process leads to breakthroughs in areas we might have dismissed before. Instead of viewing the AI obsession as overreach, we can see it as the drive to push boundaries and reimagine what’s possible.