Title :
💡 Design thinking: the key to creating value in the age of AI
Introduction
Many people will waste 2026 testing AI tools, taking courses, and piling up side projects. Yet, the reason for their stagnation is simple: they are trying to solve the wrong problems.
In a world saturated with technology, it's not mastering the tools that makes the difference — but the ability to think clearly design thinking comes in .
Understand the real problem before solving it
Today's businesses are drowning in AI tools.
They test, experiment, integrate… without ever really knowing why .
The result: costly projects, little real impact, and great confusion.
The wise consultant, on the other hand, does the opposite: he starts by clarifying.
Before discussing ChatGPT or automation, he asks himself:
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Where does the real blockage lie?
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What are the human sufferings behind the technical problem?
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Which simple solution would have the greatest effect?
This is exactly the approach of design thinking .
Design thinking: a primarily human-centered method
Popularized by the firm IDEO, design thinking is based on a powerful idea:
Innovation does not begin with technology, but with humans.
Instead of starting from a tool (“we want a chatbot”), we start from a need (“our customers feel lost at the start”).
The method unfolds in five steps:
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Empathy — understanding people, their emotions, their frustrations.
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Definition — clearly rephrase the actual problem to be solved.
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Ideation — exploring different possible paths.
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Prototyping — creating a simple and quick version to test.
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Testing — gathering feedback, refining and improving.
By applying these steps, we avoid wasting months on false solutions and we align innovation with reality.
A typical example: “We want a chatbot”
A customer requests a chatbot.
But after discussing with his team and clients, it becomes clear that the real problem lies elsewhere: onboarding.
New users feel lost during the first week, which causes sales to plummet.
Thanks to design thinking:
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The problem is redefined: “New clients need clear and human support from the outset.”
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We can imagine several solutions: guided emails, interactive forms, mini welcome assistant, etc.
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We'll test the simplest one.
In a few weeks, sales increased — without even building the chatbot that was initially requested.
Why this is crucial in the age of AI
AI tools change every week.
But human understanding remains rare and precious.
The consultant or creator who masters design thinking then becomes a translator between technological complexity and the real needs on the ground.
He doesn't sell "features", he sells clarity .
And it is this clarity that companies pay dearly for.
Conclusion
Design thinking is not just a method for designers.
It's a work philosophy for anyone who wants to create value in the current chaos.
So before you rush to buy the next AI tool, ask yourself a simple question:
“Am I solving the real problem?”
That's where real innovation begins.