Rule your tools, not the other way around! Evaluate the “rightness” of tools (including AI agents) for project management and even for research via 3 ways:
- Take advantage of trial runs. Most software allow you to download a free version for a fixed period of time. Be intentional about using that period to experiment + evaluate the tool.
- Be aware of hidden costs. Any tool is usually marketed at an affordable price, but its lifecycle cost can more than double the initial investment, such as warranty, upgrades, premium features, technician support, companion apps, and storage.
- Don’t be wooed by fancy features! For example, some people use MS Project like Excel because a spreadsheet is all they need or know to create. If you can’t take full advantage of a powerful project management tool, go for a simpler (and usually less expensive) tool.
Now that AI agents are more commonplace, stay open-minded as they can possibly supercharge your work. The approach to evaluate AI agents is not too different from before: Experiment, clarify the lifecycle cost, and fancy features ≠ your fandom.
This mindset applies to evaluating research tools, such as data analysis software. CAUTION: when using AI for research, plagiarism should NEVER be what to use these tools for and AI hallucination can be a career-ending problem if researchers do not build guardrails and verify the information.
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