My beta users asked for AI. I'm saying no. Here's why.

I'm in the middle of a private beta for my first product, Toad, a purposefully simple grid organiser. The feedback has been fairly positive so far, and one theme has come up a few times: "You should add AI to help create the grids!"

On the surface, it's a tempting idea. AI is the hottest thing in tech, and an "AI Grid Generator" sounds powerful and futuristic.

But after thinking about it, I've decided against it. In fact, I believe that adding AI would be a strategic disaster for the very people I'm trying to help.

The Problem with AI for a "Simple" Tool

The entire philosophy of Toad is to provide relief from complex software. It's for when your brain has too many tabs open and you just need a clear, simple grid to get your thoughts in order.

An AI feature, while powerful, introduces the exact complexity I'm trying to fight against:

It adds friction, not removes it. Instead of just starting with a clean template, the user has to think of a prompt, type it, wait for the AI, and then evaluate (and probably edit) the result. It turns a one-click action into a multi-step cognitive load.

It's a "Convenience" play, while Toad is a "Fidelity" play. As Kevin Maney describes in The Trade-Off, you can either be convenient (do the work for the user) or have high fidelity (be a high-quality tool that empowers the user to do their best work). Toad is a high-fidelity tool. It's designed to be a simple, beautiful instrument for your own thinking, not a machine that thinks for you.

Templates are the "Thoughtful" AI

The real "magic" in Toad isn't an algorithm; it's the Template Gallery. My "AI" is the human intelligence that goes into crafting the perfect "Revision Planner" or "Job Application Tracker."

When a user is overwhelmed, they don't need an AI to guess what they want. They need a clear, proven starting point that solves their problem instantly. Templates are the simple, honest, and more effective solution.

My Ask for the IH Community

This is my bet: that in a world obsessed with adding AI to everything, there's a huge market for a tool that is confidently, purposefully simple.

Has anyone else felt the pressure to add AI or other trendy features to their product? How do you decide which trends to ignore to stay true to your core vision?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

The Offer:

As always, any fellow Indie Hackers who want to try a simpler way to organise can sign up for the beta and get a free lifetime Personal account.

You can check it out here: https://www.meettoad.co.uk/

Cheers,

Tom