We can explain it well. Unfortunately, most concepts never get off the ground before they fail. The reason is not because they’re bad, but because no one likes them. It’s happened to all of us—coming up with brilliant ideas on the back of a napkin and watching those ideas never take off. Why? Enthusiasm doesn’t stand in for approval. Assumptions do not represent real evidence. Trying to make something just because it sounds impressive is usually not successful. Then validation becomes crucial, and with AI, it can be done very efficiently if used properly.
Start With the Pain, Not the Product
What issue did you discover that led you to your invention? Not the first summary you included in your pitch deck. That kind of pain. Those people complain about being late at night on Reddit or in reviews on Amazon. This should be the beginning of your planning process, with AI tools, practice having natural conversations with imagined potential users. Follow up for a second answer and ask why as often as needed. Usually, the heart of the matter lies far beneath what seems to be the problem. Most people do not openly explain their pain in front of others. Also, sentiment analysis should be used to go through Twitter responses and niche forums. What most often frustrates users? What new solutions are they testing? Those are clear signs that something needs correction. You’re still in the early stages of design. You’re listening, learning, and investigating. Ideas that work come from finding and addressing a real and often emotional issue, not from listing features. Identify the first thing first.
Reality Check: Who Wants This?
Believing your idea is perfect can be simple, but it’s usually not until you test it out with others that you find out otherwise. At that point, it becomes clear what’s happening. What’s the best thing to do? Make sure you are interested before you start designing the project. Here’s how:
- Organize and examine the real answers people give using AI. You can use ChatGPT and FeedHive to scout Reddit, Twitter, or dedicated support forums.
- Put surveys out fast and in a way that avoids biased results. Using GPT, you can form pointed, neutral questions. You can use Google Forms or Tally.
- Use AI to design a minimum viable product on one page. You can create your prototype with Typedream or Framer. Follow your video with an explainer and then request viewers to take action.
Mock It Before You Make It
Before starting your coding, draw out your idea with a mockup. Seriously. Use artificial Intelligence to design images for your products, create example text, and plan how users will interact with your site. It takes less time, costs less, and gives you much more useful information than going directly to coding. With a carefully created mockup, your idea becomes real so others can respond with more than a simple nod. When your design looks real enough, let some test users check it out. Don’t only ask if they enjoy it; you might end up arguing instead. Drop a mention of the price and see how they react with their bodies or thoughts scrawled across their faces. You’ve reached your point. When reactions are strong and signals are clear, that’s the right time to hire dedicated software developer to bring it to life. Make three pitches using GPT, send each to a different group, and compare the response patterns. That feedback is invaluable because of the patterns you find in it.
Pivot or Go: What the Data’s Data’s
While AI can gather the information, sort the answers, and see what’s trending, it can’t decide on a course of action for you. That’s your responsibility. After the mockups are set and feedback arrives, you must find out what people seem to like.
These three signals offer a lot of useful information:
- Emotional response: Are people genuinely excited? Are they asking when it’s launching, or just saying “cool” and moving on?
- Problem clarity: Are users repeating the pain you aimed to solve unprompted?
- Behavioral proof: Did anyone click, sign up, or ask to test it? Talk is cheap—action matters.
It’s Not About Being Right — It’s About Learning Fast
Most of the ideas we form go through change over time. Some break. Some turn into things that are even more useful. Nothing to be ashamed of—it’s all part of changing. Artificial Intelligence can’t fix poor ideas, but it will allow you to reach the right conclusion much sooner than relying on chance. Creating the ultimate solution isn’t the real advantage right away—the speed at which you can test, learn, and adjust matters greatly. Be curious about the world, not about being told that you are correct. If everything feels real and you’re still excited as you adjust and change your idea, that’s your sign. Now, you don’t need to guess. Your evidence supports you.