It’s 2pm on a Tuesday. You were supposed to be working on your important project. Instead, you’ve been testing the latest AI tool you discovered on LinkedIn for the past three hours. “Just trying it out,” you thought. Now you’ve spent $50 on credits, lost the afternoon and the project is still on hold.
This scene is repeated every day in countless offices and home offices. AI tools promise to make us more productive. But for many people, they become the biggest obstacle to productivity. What starts as harmless experimentation quickly turns into a time and money pit that costs both individuals and companies millions.
As the author of this article, I must admit that I, too, have fallen into this trap. This month, I was shocked to discover that I had invested a large four-digit sum in AI tools. The many small investments — 20 euros for credits here, 50 euros for a premium subscription there — added up to an eye-opening total at the end of the month.
