The Illusion of Knowing: Why AI Can't Replace Strategic Judgment
“When I’m unsure what to do, I just ask ChatGPT.”
I’ve heard this line — or something close to it — from multiple founders, product leaders, and even executives in the last few months.
It’s well-intentioned. But it also reveals something quietly dangerous: a growing reliance on AI in place of strategy.
AI tools are extraordinary at surfacing information, pattern-matching, and accelerating execution. I use them daily. But they don’t know what game you’re playing, what outcome you’re optimizing for, or what tradeoffs are acceptable in your context.
That’s your job.
If you’re unclear about the objective, how will you recognize a good answer when you see one?
MIT Sloan’s recent research lays this out well in what they call the EPOCH framework — a set of five human capabilities that AI simply can’t replicate:
Empathy: Understanding the nuance behind the need
Presence: Building trust through real connection
Opinion & Ethics: Making value-based decisions in gray areas
Creativity: Inventing something beyond what’s already in the data
Hope & Leadership: Inspiring action when the path forward is uncertain
These aren’t soft skills. In high-stakes decisions, they are the difference between mechanical answers and meaningful progress.
Klarna’s recent AI pivot is a good case study. They replaced 700 employees with AI, then reversed course and began rehiring customer support roles — realizing that humans weren’t just answering questions. They were building relationships.
Leaders today need to treat AI like a co-pilot, not an autopilot. It can help you go faster — but you still need to know where you’re going, and why.
At ilimcraft, we help founders and executives build the clarity, frameworks, and decision-making discipline that AI can amplify — not replace.
Because strategy isn’t a script.
It’s a leadership act.
Want to explore how to make better decisions in the age of AI? Let’s talk.