Many professionals today ask the same question: Will AI make analytics obsolete?
It is a fair concern. With AI generating charts, summaries, and dashboards faster than ever, it is easy to assume that analytics skills are no longer needed. Tools like ChatGPT, automated insights, and low-code platforms make it feel like everything is handled for us.
But the truth is: AI is changing analytics, not replacing it.
In this post, we will look at what AI can and cannot do, and why human decision-making and data understanding are still critical.
What Can AI Do, and Will AI Make Analytics Obsolete?
Artificial intelligence has made tremendous progress in helping professionals speed up their work with data. Today, AI can:
Scan and process large data sets
Generate visualizations in seconds
Summarize insights
Highlight trends and outliers
Suggest next steps based on patterns
These features make AI an incredible assistant. But relying on them alone creates new risks.
Let’s return to our core question: Will AI make analytics obsolete? Not if you understand what still requires human thinking.
What AI Still Cannot Do
Even the best AI tools cannot replace your business context, judgment, and communication skills.
Here are five things AI cannot do well:
Ask the right questions AI can give you answers, but only you know what matters for your business or role.
Judge data quality Is the data biased? Outdated? Misleading? Humans still need to verify.
Filter signal from noise Not all charts or KPIs matter. Humans decide what is truly actionable.
Explain results to stakeholders AI can output stats. You provide meaning and relevance.
Challenge assumptions AI does what it is told. Critical thinking still comes from people.
So, if you are wondering, will AI make analytics obsolete? Remember that analytics is not just about tools. It is about how you think.
The Future of Analytics Is Human-Guided
Asking, “Will AI make analytics obsolete?” is similar to asking if GPS made geography obsolete.
GPS helps you get where you are going. But if it breaks or gives you the wrong route, you need basic map skills to get back on track.
In the same way, AI helps with data. However, without human guidance, it can lead to shallow insights or wrong conclusions.
Eric Sandosham, a respected analytics leader, put it like this:
«Even if AI becomes as smart as a human, you still need to communicate with it clearly. That starts with structured thinking.»
How to Stay Valuable in the Age of AI
AI will continue to grow in power and usefulness. But to use it well, you still need foundational analytics skills.
You do not need to be a data scientist. You need to:
Understand how analytics supports decisions.
Know what questions to ask.
Read a chart and see if it makes sense.
Use tools like Excel, Google Data Studio, or dashboards.
Communicate data clearly to others.
These are the skills that will never go out of style. AI might help speed things up but cannot replace your thinking, strategy, or leadership.
So, Will AI Make Analytics Obsolete?
No. It is the opposite. The professionals who will thrive in the AI era are those who know how to think with data.
If you want to build those skills, I created a course that gives you exactly that:
How to use fundamental tools, without needing code
No fluff. These are just fundamental skills you can use immediately.
Final Thoughts
So, back to the big question: Will AI make analytics obsolete? Not if you know how to ask better questions, challenge what you see, and make decisions that matter.
AI is a tool. You are the thinker. That will always be your edge.
