ChatGPT Isn’t Google. And It’s Not You.

AI is everywhere and accelerating fast. From the Builder.ai fiasco, to Duolingo’s fickle AI strategy, to Salesforce’s fire-and-hire frenzy for Agentforce - it's clear that firms continue to bet big on automation. The message? AI isn't just a tool. It's being pitched as a full-blown replacement for human effort.

Meanwhile, AI tools continue to weave themselves into our daily lives. “Just ask ChatGPT” is now arguably more common than “Google it.” Whether it’s drafting emails, writing code, summarising reports, or offering advice, ChatGPT seems to do it all with impressive speed and convenience.

But let’s be clear: ChatGPT is not a substitute for human judgement and critical thinking. It’s not even a replacement for Google.

Google vs. ChatGPT: Different Purposes, Different Strengths

Google is fundamentally a search engine. It indexes the web and points you to sources, perspectives, and raw data. ChatGPT, on the other hand, is a language model - a predictive system trained to generate coherent, contextually appropriate text based on patterns in data. 

Google excels when you're looking for:

• The latest news
• Primary sources or original research
• Diverse viewpoints
• Real-time information or local search results

ChatGPT is best used for:

• Summarising or explaining content
• Brainstorming ideas
• Drafting copy or communications
• Getting quick first-pass answers or conceptual explanations

Treating ChatGPT like a search engine can lead to hallucinated facts (i.e., confidently stated but incorrect information), outdated information, or lack of citation. Using Google where synthesis is needed can result in information overload.

AI Doesn’t Think, You Do

ChatGPT can sound confident, articulate, even wise. However, it doesn’t know anything. It has no beliefs, understanding, or self-awareness. It simply predicts what words are most likely to come next and not what's correct or true.

In contrast, human thought brings:

• Contextual understanding
• The ability to weigh evidence
• Ethical reasoning
• Emotional intelligence
• Creativity rooted in lived experience

Delegating thinking to AI risks accepting shallow answers and avoiding critical reflection. As professionals and lifelong learners, we have a responsibility to interrogate information, not merely consume it. 

The Danger of Over-Reliance

When we outsource too much to AI, we risk:

• Losing communication and critical thinking skills
• Spreading misinformation
• Reinforcing bias
• Undermining our own expertise

Just as calculators didn't make math irrelevant, AI won’t make thought irrelevant. However, it does raise the stakes. In today's world, knowing how to use AI is the new literacy.

The Future Is Hybrid

When paired with Google’s reach and human discernment, AI becomes a force multiplier, not a crutch.

Rather than pursuing cost-cutting through replacement of human resources, leadership of firms such as the aforementioned would be better served by strategising how AI can boost productivity. They’ll treat it not as a replacement, but as an amplifier.

The future belongs to those who can:

• Cross-check AI with credible sources
• Interpret nuance and read between the lines
• Know when to automate, and when to ask better questions

Final Thought

ChatGPT is a phenomenal tool. But it’s not the oracle. It’s not Google. And it’s not you.

So use it wisely and intentionally. But don’t lose yourself in it. The world still needs your judgment, your curiosity, and your voice.

Let’s Continue the Conversation

How are you using ChatGPT or other AI tools?

Where do you draw the line between helpful automation and human insight?

I’d love to hear your perspective in the comments!

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are my own and do not represent those of my current or any previous employers.