Why built-in software AI features don't fit real work
Generic software AI tools are added just to stay relevant rather than matching daily workflows or communication-heavy demands. Because the features are disconnected from how people actually work across multiple tools, professionals ignore them entirely except for basic note synthesis.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- This comes up 79.2× more often in r/projectmanagement than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Training external models like Claude to interact directly with multiple tools simultaneously via APIs and MCP serversDid this help you?
- 2Ignoring native AI features built into existing platformsDid this help you?
- 3Custom building internal workflows or relying on general-purpose assistants like Co-PilotDid this help you?
- 4Looking at alternative solutions like Ninja, Level, or Action1.Did this help you?
- 5relying on a small set of basic reports and default viewsDid this help you?
- 6using a small set of simple fields and linear automations instead of complex workflowsDid this help you?
- 7exporting data to a spreadsheet when custom reports are neededDid this help you?
- 8Staying in Salesforce Classic instead of migrating to LightningDid this help you?
- 9Leaving the platform or job due to lack of support for foundational productsDid this help you?
- 10manually enable date entered and time in stage properties per newly created pipeline stageDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Why do we have Ideas out there for 10+ years for functionality that is NEEDED??? We're still sitting in Classic because Lightning doesn't have all the functionality our customers/partners need.”source ↗
“All the while, their foundational products get left behind and lack impactful development and feature upgrades.”source ↗
“Unfortunately, development resources are being dedicated to Agentforce and other AI initiatives. FYI… this is why I left Salesforce this year.”source ↗
“HubSpot has stopped automatically calculating "date entered" and "time in stage" properties for newly created pipeline stages. You have to enable it per stage and it applies to anything with a pipeline.”source ↗
“The data was never recorded, so the gap is permanent for that period.”source ↗
“Not sure I need the AI built into the software if it’s not the only software I use.”source ↗
“Jira added a bunch of AI features and I don't touch any of them. They're just adding it to stay relevant, not because it actually fits the workflow.”source ↗
“The only things I can really use AI for is to synthesize my notes and help me figure out the best way to present data. Other than that.. I’m not sure how else it can be utilized in a beneficial way for me given the heavy communication focus of the job.”source ↗
“the built in dashboards, they looked great during demos, but day to day I mostly care about a few basic reports and whether my pipeline is moving”source ↗
“I overvalued custom fields and reporting flexibility.”source ↗
“I thought the drag-and-drop pipeline editor was must have but is just sitting there looking pretty since we got everything set up months ago”source ↗
“Custom dashboards/reports are the classic one, they demo beautifully, feel essential during evaluation, and then most people settle into checking the same 2-3 default views daily and never touch the builder again.”source ↗
“Can't paste text, making remote support a pain. Can't see both remote screens at same time. Reporting was problematic. Inventory was also pretty messy. Patch management not in the ballpark with others.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 16Why won't my store data update through the API?
- 39Why does every software update make things slower and harder to find?
- 13How to test if a software integration actually works
- 7Why does every software platform keep shoving AI down our throats?
- 7Locked out of cloud service partner center after deauthorization
- 30Why is accounting software like QuickBooks so bad?