Think AI kills creativity? You’re using it wrong 

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I’m not one to jump on every shiny new tool just because it’s trending. Some tech tools, gadgets, and software have transformed my life for the better (like the Meta Quest), and some ventures did not fare so well (I will ignore Apple Watch’s reminders to stand until the end of time).  

But AI? It’s different. AI isn’t in the same league as the other tech you know and love. This is not just another tool, it’s a shift in how we think, create, and operate. At Quantious, we’ve dedicated the past few years to learning everything there is to know about AI, and we’ve embraced it not as a crutch, but as a catalyst.  

As a longtime agency owner, I know the importance of finding ways for my team to work smarter, faster, and more creatively. So, here’s why I encourage my employees to use AI every day. 

1. AI allows us to be better creatives 

We keep up with the news—we know some are saying that AI will kill creativity and make us dumber. At Quantious, we prefer to give our employees ownership to explore firsthand how AI tools can fuel fresh ways of thinking and offer new angles. Our designers leverage AI while prototyping, our copywriters lean on it to work through creative blocks, and our strategists use it to analyze massive amounts of data effortlessly.  

Through experimentation and education on responsible AI practices, we’re seeing that AI isn’t replacing our creative instincts, it’s sharpening them. We’re breaking through limits, unlocking ideas we never considered, and pushing creative boundaries in our work like never before.  

2. AI keeps us at the top of our game 

AI is only going to get more advanced, more complex, and more intelligent. By weaving AI into our daily processes now in ethical and responsible ways, we’re future-proofing our team and staying ahead of the curve.  

AI literacy will soon be table stakes for business leaders and employees looking to stay at the top of their game. We’re already “bridging the gap between awareness and applied proficiency,” a goal organizations must embrace to remain competitive. 

Most importantly, we’re cultivating a workplace culture that thrives on change instead of fearing change. We prioritize ongoing training, fostering a culture where our teams feel empowered to experiment with AI, and excited to discuss tips, tricks, and findings. This isn’t just a valuable mindset to have—it’s our edge.  

That said, our team knows better than to fully rely on AI tools. We’ve asked ChatGPT to pull trending news articles, to which it created fake URLs to nonexistent stories. We’re not just using AI, we’re understanding its quirks, its limitations, and how it’s evolved over time.  

3. AI supports remote (and hybrid) work 

Quantious is fully remote, with employees worldwide, so staying aligned and organized is crucial to our success. We now generate advanced spreadsheet formulas in minutes to streamline our workflows, saving our teams countless hours. We get AI-generated meeting note summaries after internal meetings, a simple yet effective way to document our company procedures and keep everyone in the loop.  

AI has made our remote work more productive, seamless, well-documented, and so much more. We’ve crossed a threshold—AI has redefined teamwork, and there’s no going back 

There are endless AI tools that can help you do everything from managing tasks to improving your public speaking skills. Without taking the time to learn about these tools, you’ll never know what you’re missing out on. 

At the end of the day, AI is just another tool. How we use it is what counts most. Encouraging my team to explore AI is not about replacing talent or even “working smarter, not harder” (though I’m not against the latter). It’s about cultivating a positive workplace culture alongside a team full of curious, adaptable, and continuous learners. My team and I refuse to sit on the sidelines while the industry evolves. Instead, we’re here to shape how it grows.  

Lisa Larson-Kelley is founder and CEO of Quantious. 

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