Hey there,

You've probably felt it by now.

That moment when ChatGPT generates a SQL query faster than you could type it. Or when AI creates a visualization that would have taken you an hour.

The little voice in your head whispers: "Am I becoming obsolete?"

Here's the truth: You're not less valuable because AI can write SQL faster than you. You're MORE valuable because you can think about whether that SQL actually answers the right question.

But - and this is important - that doesn't mean you can ignore AI.

Let me explain the paradox we're living through.

AI is incredible at technical execution. Give it clear instructions, and it'll generate code, create visualizations, and process data faster than any human. And yes, it's getting better every day.

But AI is terrible at understanding people, context, and the messy human realities that actually drive business decisions.

When stakeholders push back on your recommendations, AI doesn't understand why. You read the room and realize they're not questioning your data - they're worried about things that don't show up in spreadsheets. Opportunity costs. Reputational risks. The human impact of change.

Think about your current role.

Think about when you feel most valuable at work. Is it when you're cranking out code? Or when you're:

• Asking 'Wait, does this analysis actually make sense for the business?' - even when the numbers are perfect
• Figuring out the politics and other implications before you present your findings
• Catching bias that algorithms miss
• Explaining complex stuff in ways that make people feel confident and enlightened, not confused
• Reading the room and knowing when to pivot your approach

These skills are your competitive advantage.

And they're becoming MORE valuable, not less, as AI handles most of the technical stuff.

BUT you still need to learn how to use AI (and make it work for you).

Here’s a strategy you can try:

Use AI for the preliminary work:

• Prompt AI to handle routine data cleaning
• Let AI write the first draft of code
• Use AI to generate initial visualizations and analysis

Save your human energy for what actually matters:

• Understanding the bigger business picture and what could go wrong
• Questioning whether your analysis actually solves the right problem
• Building trust with people who are nervous about AI-generated insights
• Reading between the lines of what stakeholders are really asking for

It's not about becoming an AI expert overnight. It's about being smart with your energy.

Think of it this way: Instead of spending 2 hours building charts manually, let AI create them in 10 minutes. Then use those saved 110 minutes for real conversations with stakeholders about what the data means for their teams.

The professionals who are thriving treat AI like a really efficient intern. They delegate the time-consuming technical work and focus on the senior-level stuff - strategic thinking, stakeholder management, and making sure the analysis actually solves the right problem.

The growing pains are real. Learning new tools while developing people skills feels overwhelming. Start small, build on wins, and remember it's a marathon.

As AI takes over routine work, people are actually craving more human connection and insight.

When you can cut through the chaos, make sense of messy situations, and figure out how to actually get things done in your organization, you become invaluable.

AI can process data, but it can't replicate the judgment you've built from years of dealing with real business challenges.

What do you think?

What's one AI tool you're experimenting with, and what human skill are you working to strengthen alongside it? How are you finding the balance between efficiency and humanity in your data work?

That's it for this week.

Keep being amazing,
Donabel

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P.S. Speaking of being valuable - you do incredible work, but does your manager actually see it?

I created the FREE Introverted Analyst's 5-Day Guide to Professional Visibility specifically to address this invisibility issue that so many data professionals face. Five minutes a day, career-changing impact.

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