The Buzzword Trap

Not Every Solution Has to Sound Like AI

In today’s tech space, I’ve noticed something strange but familiar:

If your solution doesn’t sound futuristic, users think it’s not serious.

This pressure to brand every tool or report as an “intelligent agent” or “AI-powered system” has created a subtle but real shift in how technical work is perceived, especially by non-technical business users.

Let’s Take It Back to the Core:

Most business units like finance, operations, supply chain, customer service run on day-to-day reporting and simple validations.

Their lifeline is:

• KPIs being tracked accurately

• SLA monitoring

• Detecting discrepancies before customers or auditors do

But here’s the catch: if you deliver a simple, powerful SQL script or a no-frills Power BI report that meets their core need… many users still shrug. It’s not branded sexy enough.

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A Real-Life Example

Let’s say I write a SQL query that compares two data sources and flags mismatches. It works beautifully. But call it “a daily discrepancy tracker” and most people won’t blink.

Now rebrand that same logic as:

“An autonomous AI validation agent for exception reporting.”

Suddenly it’s hot cake, Same code. Same result. Different dressing.

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So I Ask:

1. Why do we find it hard to keep things simple?

2. Must a solution sound complicated before it’s taken seriously?

3. Is it the business side of tech that’s driving this mindset or just to sell more enterprise tools?

4. Are we, as tech creators, enabling this culture with how we present our work?

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Buzzword Inflation Is Real

We’re in an age where:

• Dashboards aren’t dashboards anymore; they’re insight engines

• Workflows aren’t automated; they’re AI-augmented

• Reminder bots are now cognitive agents

It’s great marketing. but is it honest?

My Honest Take

We need to balance marketing with truth. It’s okay to wrap a good solution in compelling packaging especially if it helps it get funded or adopted.

But when clarity is sacrificed for hype, we risk:

• Misleading users

• Confusing stakeholders

• And forgetting that the value is in the result, not the label

Let’s Normalize This

Sometimes, a simple SQL script is the most intelligent tool in the room.

Let’s give space for elegant simplicity and not always chase complexity just to sound like we’re in 2045.

What Do You Think? Have you ever had to rebrand a basic solution just to get buy-in?