Who isn’t using AI these days—to research topics, edit emails, or even confide in for advice? For the record, I’m not using AI to edit this blog or assist with research. That would feel too ironic. That said, using grammar and spell-check tools in MS Word is totally normal, right?
Did you know AI itself admits it can be wrong? That’s unsettling. Yet millions (guessing) of people increasingly trust AI for work, school, and entertainment. My understanding is AI relies on existing data and patterns to generate responses—it’s not truly creating ‘new’ information. If you’re looking for creativity or original thinking beyond predictable patterns, AI might lead you astray.
Can we still have original thoughts and learn things the hard way? If everyone relies on AI, where are the flaws that build character? Do we stop learning? Stop going to libraries? Does real experience still matter? Do we lose trust in our own knowledge?
AI certainly has a place in our lives, but I’m not sure we’ve found the right balance. Practical experience and knowledge gained through challenging work bring personality, creativity, and artistry to planning and engineering. AI should support and validate our original ideas—not replace them.
As an example, making warehouse planning decisions involves both quantitative and qualitative factors. It’s shaped by data, but also by soft factors like team dynamics and operational culture. Even how we communicate new ideas should be human and relatable. Implementing new systems requires empathy and change management—things AI can’t replicate. While data analysis is foundational, people and culture ultimately determine the success of a warehouse design.
A typical warehouse planning project begins with a site visit and kickoff meeting to understand current operations, team personalities, project goals, and data needs. From there, we move into analytics and define future requirements. These data profiles are validated and used to build the initial design, which becomes the baseline for comparing alternative solutions. Typically, automated systems are aimed at reducing labor and space costs. These solutions require investment, justified by the return on savings. None of this is driven by AI or recycled designs from past projects.
AI is a helpful tool for validating ideas, editing documents, and speeding up research. But it shouldn’t replace your ability to think independently, draw from experience, or make human decisions. There’s room for both—right?
If you want a human touch on your next warehouse improvement or facility planning project, reach out to St. Onge Company. We blend analytical modeling with real-world experience to deliver thoughtful, effective solutions.
And finally, I wonder—how would AI rewrite this blog?
—Norm Saenz, St. Onge Company
