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Why a good AI Assistant takes more than a week to be build

Writer's picture: Matthias ZwingliMatthias Zwingli

Updated: Feb 5

The Messy Library Problem.


 Imagine walking into a library where books are scattered across the floor—no labels, no system, just chaos. Would you bother searching for what you need? Probably not.


A cluttered room with books stacked haphazardly on the left vs. an organized, modern library with neat shelves on the right. “VS” graphic in the center.
Messy library (=bad AI answers) vs. clean library (=concise AI answers)

This is precisely how a poorly trained AI assistant feels to customers—disorganized and frustrating.

Despite the appeal of quick AI deployments, rushing to build an AI assistant often leads to failure.

Why?

Let’s explore the key reasons and learn how to build a smart AI assistant the right way.


01.Data is the foundation: Curating a knowledge library

Retrieval Augmentation Generation (RAG) —the technology behind generative AI that accesses your knowledge library—works best with well-organized, accurate data. Without it, an AI assistant is like that messy library—filled with irrelevant or outdated information.


Take the time to

  • Curate the library think Quality over quantity – With GenAI, the focus shifts from sheer volume to precision. A well-curated library ensures the model finds accurate, relevant answers, making quality far more important than quantity.

  • Remove outdated data to avoid misinformation.

  • Organize the knowledge base to ensure GenAI achieves the highest performance.


Air Canada was one of the early adopters of GenAI Chatbots. Unfortunately they did not do a clean job here, and left outdated or wrong information in the databank. Which let to very favorable answers when it came to flight cancelation. - A strong foundation of reliable data could have prevented this.


02.The human touch: Guiding AI’s growth

Even the most advanced AI can’t replace the nuance of human understanding. Think of AI as a talented intern—it’s eager to help but needs mentorship.


Here’s how human involvement enhances AI assistants:


  • Real-world testing

    Use feedback from customer interactions to refine AI responses.

  • Define boundaries

    Clearly determine what AI handles versus when to triage to a human.

  • Build it for humans

    Customers often ask incomplete or context-heavy questions. Your AI must handle this gracefully.


We experienced this last issue when building an AI assistant for the Longines CSIO, an international horse tournament. Spectators frequently asked, ‘Who won the tournament?’ The assistant searched the library and responded with last year’s winner. Technically, it wasn’t wrong—the question was open-ended, and the trophy even had a different name this year. But clearly, it wasn’t the answer the spectators were looking for.



03.The customer experience: Quality over speed

Your AI assistant is often your brand's first impression, and a bad experience can drive customers away for good.

Picture this: I lost my car keys on a deserted beach in Brazil and desperately needed help. Localiza car rental's chatbot trapped me in endless loops, offering no solution or human contact option. The result? I’ll never use their services again.


Text highlights pitfalls of chatbots with red crosses: irrelevant answers, repeating "I don't understand," and endless loops. Contrasts benefits of well-designed AI with blue checks.
Common pitfalls of rushed Chatbots or AI Assistants

04.The hybrid model: Humans and AI working together

The belief that AI can handle everything alone is a myth.


Human hand and robot hand reaching to touch fingertips against a blue background, symbolizing connection between humans and technology.
AI and Humans working together










Like e-commerce and in-store shopping, a hybrid model often works best:


  • AI handles routine tasks: FAQs, password resets, basic troubleshooting, etc.

  • Humans tackle complexity: Addressing emotionally charged or difficult issues.

  • Collaboration ensures quality: AI offers speed and scalability; humans bring empathy and understanding.


Let’s go back to Connect AI started, stranded on a deserted beach in Brazil with a stolen car key. Localiza’s (the car company) decision-tree chatbot couldn’t solve my urgent problem and offered no way to contact a human. If they had used a hybrid model, the AI could have quickly identified the complexity of my situation and escalated it to a person who could help. This approach—AI efficiency combined with human support—is how you build a AI Assistant that truly serves your customers.

05.Why rushing leads to disaster

When AI development is rushed, it often leads to:

  • Messy data: Confusing both AI and customers.

  • Missed testing opportunities: Gaps and errors remain hidden until it’s too late.

  • Higher long-term costs: Fixing a poorly implemented AI assistant can cost more than building it correctly.


Short-term gains like reduced call volumes may seem like a success, but they often come at the cost. Making it harder for customers to reach you might lower tickets, but it risks losing them.


Invest the time and resources to build a solution that truly helps, ensuring sustainable satisfaction and loyalty.


Conclusion: The road to a reliable AI Assistant 

Building an AI assistant isn’t just about deploying a model—it’s about understanding your customers and business processes to design a solution that truly works. The goal is clear: provide fast, straightforward answers that solve problems without making customers search endlessly or get stuck in frustrating loops.

When done right, customer support becomes a true USP for your company.

Rushing the process only leads to frustrated users, wasted resources, and a damaged brand reputation.


 

The Connect AI Method: Building AI that delivers

At Connect AI, we approach AI assistant development with precision and care:


  • Data first: We curate your knowledge base for clarity and reliability.

  • Customer-focused design: We tailor solutions to your audience’s needs.

  • Hybrid teamwork: We combine AI’s efficiency with human expertise for best performance.



Ready to create an AI assistant that works for you and your customers? Let’s build it—together.






 

Disclaimer: Created by the thinkers behind Connect AI—polished with a touch of AI

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