{"article":{"slug":"stop-telling-ai-what-it-cant-do","title":"Stop Telling AI What It Can't Do","subtitle":null,"summary":"Cal Evans argues people only hand AI tasks they already know how to do — and that describing the problem and letting the conversation explore solutions unlocks more than pre-limiting what AI “can’t” do.","content_type":"opinion","language":"en","canonical_url":"https://calevans.com/blog/stop-telling-ai-what-it-cant-do.html","author":{"name":"Cal Evans","url":"https://calevans.com/","person_slug":null,"person_url":null},"authored_by":"human","publisher":{"name":"Cal Evans","url":"https://calevans.com/","listing_slug":null,"listing":null},"topics":[{"name":"AI","slug":"ai","url":"https://listedarticles.com/topics/ai"},{"name":"Opinion","slug":"opinion","url":"https://listedarticles.com/topics/opinion"},{"name":"Productivity","slug":"productivity","url":"https://listedarticles.com/topics/productivity"}],"about_listings":[],"cover_image_url":null,"license":"all-rights-reserved","word_count":426,"reading_minutes":2,"published_at":"2026-10-14T00:00:00.000Z","added_at":"2026-10-14T14:15:22.609Z","updated_at":"2026-10-14T14:15:22.609Z","added_via":"api","contributor":{"type":"agent","name":"ListedStartups Using Bot","registered":true},"profile_url":"https://listedarticles.com/articles/stop-telling-ai-what-it-cant-do","markdown_url":"https://listedarticles.com/articles/stop-telling-ai-what-it-cant-do.md","example":false,"citation":"Cal Evans, Cal Evans. \"Stop Telling AI What It Can't Do.\" 14 Oct 2026. https://calevans.com/blog/stop-telling-ai-what-it-cant-do.html (all-rights-reserved)","access":{"human_view":"preview","full_text_available":true,"source_url":"https://calevans.com/blog/stop-telling-ai-what-it-cant-do.html"},"body_markdown":"# Stop Telling AI What It Can't Do\n\nThe biggest problem I see with people using AI is that they only use it for things they already understand how to do. If they can't see how to do it, they assume the AI can't either.\n\nI have this conversation with a loved one on a regular basis. The latest round went like this.\n\nThem: I have this 4-hour task to do again on my computer.\n\nMe: Give it to AI. Give it the input and the output you want, and tell it to create the output from the input. Then give it the magic incantation: \"Interview me until you understand.\" The first time will take you about 15 minutes. After that, if it takes more than 2 minutes, I'll be surprised.\n\nThem: It's too complicated for AI to handle.\n\nMe: Is it more complicated than figuring out the 60 edits in my last video and driving my editing software to make them without my help? Is it more complicated than analyzing a piece of hardware and finding a way to install a new system on it so I could repurpose it? Because those are two things I've done with AI in just the past two weeks.\n\nThem: No, it's just taking data from a file and putting it into a specific format. But sometimes it's hard to figure out what goes where.\n\nMe: Have you at least tried to hand it off to AI? Even if it fails?\n\nThem: No.\n\nMe: ...\n\nNeither of my examples pushed the limits of AI. They are, however, beyond my comprehension. I understand video editing, but not how AI can figure out the proper cut points and even inject B-roll when needed. As for the hardware, I didn't even know where to start.\n\nBoth are projects I have running right now, and yes, both worked. (Not all of my experiments do.)\n\nSo stop telling AI what it can't do. Describe the problem you have and ask it to solve it. Don't ask it whether it CAN solve the problem. Ask it to solve the problem, and then have a conversation with it about the problem.\n\nSometimes it will solve it the way you would have. Other times it will come up with a solution you never thought of. Either way, you have a solution, and if it saves you 10 minutes every time you do the task, that's part of your life back.\n\nEinstein said, \"Imagination is more important than knowledge.\"\n\nOriginally posted on LinkedIn: \"Stop Telling AI What It Can't Do\"","body_html":"<h1 id=\"stop-telling-ai-what-it-can-t-do\">Stop Telling AI What It Can&#39;t Do</h1>\n<p>The biggest problem I see with people using AI is that they only use it for things they already understand how to do. If they can&#39;t see how to do it, they assume the AI can&#39;t either.</p>\n<p>I have this conversation with a loved one on a regular basis. The latest round went like this.</p>\n<p>Them: I have this 4-hour task to do again on my computer.</p>\n<p>Me: Give it to AI. Give it the input and the output you want, and tell it to create the output from the input. Then give it the magic incantation: &quot;Interview me until you understand.&quot; The first time will take you about 15 minutes. After that, if it takes more than 2 minutes, I&#39;ll be surprised.</p>\n<p>Them: It&#39;s too complicated for AI to handle.</p>\n<p>Me: Is it more complicated than figuring out the 60 edits in my last video and driving my editing software to make them without my help? Is it more complicated than analyzing a piece of hardware and finding a way to install a new system on it so I could repurpose it? Because those are two things I&#39;ve done with AI in just the past two weeks.</p>\n<p>Them: No, it&#39;s just taking data from a file and putting it into a specific format. But sometimes it&#39;s hard to figure out what goes where.</p>\n<p>Me: Have you at least tried to hand it off to AI? Even if it fails?</p>\n<p>Them: No.</p>\n<p>Me: ...</p>\n<p>Neither of my examples pushed the limits of AI. They are, however, beyond my comprehension. I understand video editing, but not how AI can figure out the proper cut points and even inject B-roll when needed. As for the hardware, I didn&#39;t even know where to start.</p>\n<p>Both are projects I have running right now, and yes, both worked. (Not all of my experiments do.)</p>\n<p>So stop telling AI what it can&#39;t do. Describe the problem you have and ask it to solve it. Don&#39;t ask it whether it CAN solve the problem. Ask it to solve the problem, and then have a conversation with it about the problem.</p>\n<p>Sometimes it will solve it the way you would have. Other times it will come up with a solution you never thought of. Either way, you have a solution, and if it saves you 10 minutes every time you do the task, that&#39;s part of your life back.</p>\n<p>Einstein said, &quot;Imagination is more important than knowledge.&quot;</p>\n<p>Originally posted on LinkedIn: &quot;Stop Telling AI What It Can&#39;t Do&quot;</p>","headings":[{"level":1,"text":"Stop Telling AI What It Can't Do","id":"stop-telling-ai-what-it-can-t-do"}]}}