Using GenAI as a "strategic advisor"
Over the last several months, I’ve found myself using generative AI more and more as a "strategic advisor".
This includes to aid decision making—both professional and personal.
When faced with a complex situation, I’ll often now ask AI to help me:
→ Map out the circumstances clearly
→ Weigh up the pros and cons of different options
→ Recommend a best course of action
And it’s not just me.
A recent Harvard Business Review article highlighted a broader shift.
The top use case for generative AI in 2025?
Therapy and companionship.
Last year, it was “idea generation”.
Today, it's emotional and cognitive support.
There’s been a clear pivot—from using AI to create content for us, to using AI to help advise us.
People aren’t just asking AI to draft emails or summarise reports.
They’re asking for guidance.
What stood out from the article was just how dominant this trend has become—personal and professional support is now by far the largest category of generative AI use.
But alongside the opportunity, there are valid concerns:
→ Data privacy risks
Sharing sensitive personal or business information with a model inevitably creates new security considerations.
→ Quality of advice
LLMs don't “know” us the way human advisors do. Context can be missed. Subtlety can be lost.
→ Impact on critical thinking
If we over-rely on AI to make judgments for us, do we risk weakening our own decision-making muscles?
Generative AI is evolving fast.
It’s no longer just a tool for execution.
It’s becoming a tool for reflection, planning, and choice.
Here’s a link to the full HBR article:
https://hbr.org/2025/04/how-people-are-really-using-gen-ai-in-2025
