AI tools are a mess, and it’s time we stop pretending otherwise. Here’s the hard truth: most AI products are frustrating to use because they’re designed by engineers who are more in love with their algorithms than with actual human beings. I recently tried out a “cutting-edge” AI writing assistant that promised to revolutionize my workflow. Instead, it felt like I was trying to coax a toddler into writing a novel. The interface was cluttered, the suggestions were off-base, and half the time, I had no idea what the AI was trying to do.

This isn’t just a one-off bad experience; it’s a pattern. AI companies are obsessed with cramming in as many features as possible, thinking that more is always better. But what they fail to realize is that users don’t want a Swiss Army knife—they want a tool that does one thing well. The result is a user experience that’s confusing, overwhelming, and ultimately, ineffective.

The root of the problem is simple: AI developers are too focused on the tech and not enough on the people using it. They need to step back, simplify, and put the user first. Until they do, AI tools will continue to be more trouble than they’re worth.

AI needs to stop trying to be everything and start being useful.