Human Assistants vs. AI in Web3: The Hidden Costs of Going All AI

Choosing between a human Assistant vs. AI agents/assistants is a relatively new concern for web3 BUIDLers. After the launch of deepseek in 2025 and ChatGPT in 2022, it’s now a common factor in the space from market analysis to content creation.

But can AI agents/assistants really replace the work of a human web3 assistant?

If you’re a web3 founder looking to elevate your business and currently weighing between an AI assistant and a human one, read carefully:

Human assistant or AI assistant, which would it be?

Alex was about to experience something big and exciting in the history of his project’s growth. His web3 startup was about to launch a groundbreaking DeFi product that promised to redefine the space. In his office, Alex maintained an air of calm resolve.

I had to ask, "Hey man, how do you manage to stay so composed through all this chaos?"

He smiled warmly and said, "It’s all thanks to Emily, my incredible assistant. She’s been the backbone of our success."

"What assistant"? As far as I knew all he had was that AI assistant. AI has developed that far?

He smiled.

In the beginning, Alex wore many hats—CEO, operations manager, marketer, and even recruiter. The pressure was overwhelming, and he was stretching too thin and always tired. Realizing he couldn’t handle everything on his own, Alex decided to seek help.

Guess what he did 🤔

Intrigued by the promise of efficiency, Alex turned to an AI-powered assistant. The AI was remarkable initially at managing routine tasks with speed and precision. It handled data entry, automated responses, and even provided market insights. Yet, as days turned into weeks, Alex began to notice glaring shortcomings and he needed to delegate more tasks.

What a boomer...

This could be you, if you go all AI on your project.

The Struggles with his AI

1. Lack of Emotional Intelligence: The AI could process data (awesome), but it couldn’t grasp the subtleties of human emotions. During high-stakes investor meetings or team morale issues, the AI’s responses felt cold and mechanical, leaving Alex to navigate sensitive situations alone.
2. Inflexibility: Faced with unexpected challenges, the AI struggled. It operated within its predefined parameters, unable to adapt to new, unforeseen circumstances. Alex found herself longing for a creative problem solver who could think and have foresight.
3. Impersonal Communication: Communication with the AI was efficient but impersonal. Important relationships with clients, investors, and team members suffered because the AI couldn’t engage in meaningful conversations or build rapport.
4. Limited Context Understanding: The AI missed the context behind many decisions. It lacked the deep understanding of his vision and values, leading to misaligned actions that sometimes created more work than they saved.

Alex needed more to keep his project afloat.

Tired of the forth and back with the AI assistant, Alex hired Emily. Emily was more than just an administrative aid—she was a strategic thinker, a problem solver, and an excellent communicator. She had an innate ability to understand his project’s vision and making decisions that were always in perfect harmony with the company’s ethos.

Emily’s presence was transformative. She handled the day-to-day tasks with ease, from scheduling meetings and managing social media to preparing for investor pitches. With Emily by his side, Rachel could focus on innovation and strategy, knowing that the operational aspects were in capable hands.

AI vs human assistant, which is it for you?

Emily’s ability to understand, empathize, and adapt was invaluable. She provided the emotional intelligence, flexibility and creative problem-solving skills that the AI assistant lacked. Emily’s personal touch fostered strong relationships with clients, investors, and team members, creating a supportive and collaborative work environment.

The Bottom Line

Alex’s journey underscored a vital lesson for any web3 founder: while AI assistants are incredible tools for efficiency, they can’t replace the human touch.

Investing in a human assistant, like Emily, brings emotional intelligence, flexibility, deep understanding of founder’s vision, creativity, and a level of understanding that is crucial for navigating the complexities of the business world.

So, take a page from Alex’s playbook—don’t go all AI on your project while AI agents/assistants are awesome, they can’t do it the way human assistants can.

Act now and your project will thank you.

PS: If your human assistant has no indepth knowledge on how the Blockchain, crypto and web3 industry works, it’s time to find a replacement quickly.

I’m Nwadiuto (Gienie), the only web3 assistant you will need to keep your project’s operations afloat.

Let’s connect.