How Stories Happen The metaphor and the magic: My take on AI in 2026
Feb 16, 2026
A spirited rant about AI and creativity, using a car-and-flashlight metaphor to call out shallow marketing uses. A critique of relying on AI for content instead of crafting experiences. A case for owning a clear premise to attract the right people. A warning that correctness from AI is not the same as human resonance and that loving the creative process matters more than shortcuts.
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Car And Flashlight Metaphor
- Jay Acunzo compares inventing the car to people praising the trivial flashlight feature instead of the whole invention.
- He uses this story to show how discourse around generative AI fixates on small, shallow use cases like content generation.
Content Is The Flashlight, Not The Car
- Jay argues generative AI is being reduced to content creation, which is a minor use compared to its broader capabilities.
- He asserts that focusing on trivial outcomes masks the deeper opportunities and harms thoughtful craft.
Leaving Corporate To Follow Craft
- Jay recounts his career shift from corporate marketing and VC to independent work focused on craft and creativity.
- He explains leaving NextView Ventures and going independent allowed him to speak his truth and attract aligned people.
