News brief

Filtering vendor hype when every AI pitch sounds urgent

How to read product announcements without letting fear-based marketing set your roadmap.

Every inbox has a new “AI transformation” offer. Most are not wrong—they are just not yours yet.

A simple filter

Before you book a demo, write one sentence about the job you need done:

  • Reduce time on repetitive customer email
  • Summarize internal docs for onboarding
  • Flag policy changes that affect your industry

If the vendor cannot map their pitch to that sentence in five minutes, pause.

Red flags worth noting

  • Guarantees about compliance without naming which rule set
  • “Everyone in Utah is adopting this” without sources
  • Bundles that hide per-seat costs behind annual contracts

Green lights

  • Clear data handling language
  • Pilot terms you can exit in 30 days
  • References from businesses your size—not only enterprise logos

When in doubt, wait one news cycle. Urgency is cheap; clarity is not.