I was a panelist on a panel about AI with Naturally NorCal yesterday.
I was a panelist on a panel about AI with Naturally NorCal yesterday. Here is what I learned while teaching.
I have had a thought bouncing around my head for a long while. Yesterday, it finally crystallized. A 2x2 came together in my head to help map out how we should actually be using these tools.
On one vector is my level of expertise. In some areas, like CPG financial operations, I am an expert. In others, I am less than a novice.
On the other vector is the criticality of the output. I use AI for strategic, foundational projects at Cultivar, but I also use it to make cartoons with my kids.
Here is how those quadrants break down:
1. Expert + Critical Output: When I know the subject matter deeply and the work matters, AI helps me 10x my productivity. It handles the heavy lifting so I can focus on the strategic edge.
2. Novice + Critical Output: This is where AI is dangerous. If you do not have the expertise to spot a hallucination or a systemic error in a complex P&L, AI alone is not sufficient. You still need to call in outside experts.
3. Novice + Non-Critical Output: When the stakes are low, AI is a wonderful way to play. For me, this is helping my kids unleash their imaginations by creating books and cartoons.
4. Expert + Non-Critical Output: When I am an expert but the output is not my primary focus, I find that using other experts' tools is the most productive use of time. For example, the team at Glimpse is helping us scale our trade spend management service line with their AI-powered deduction dispute tools.
We are all trying to find that balance between precision and speed. How are you using AI in your daily ops?
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Hi, I’m Pedro, CEO of Cultivar. We help CPG Founders feel confident about their finances by managing accounting, inventory, trade spend, and bev alc compliance so you can focus on growing the brand.