AI Made Us Faster at Solving the Wrong Problems

Presented at Cloud Native Days Austria 2026. The presentation breakdown is available at https://blog.marceloancelmo.com/page/speaking

Are we optimizing for speed, or are we just accelerating bad ideas?

In this 30 minutes presentation, we break down the most dangerous habit of the Generative AI era: jumping to solutions before we understand the problem. This presentation focus on harnessing AI for effective problem solving, and moving beyond speed to understanding.

When someone says, "The AI says we just need to do X," and everyone agree, you haven't innovated: You've just solved the wrong problem. This talk addresses how GenAI amplifies System 1 thinking and fuels the Dunning-Kruger effect. By understanding that while AI accelerates some decisions, it can mislead problem-solving efforts. It demostrates the value to shift from fast, confident decisions to a reflective understanding to solve the right problems effectively.

If you enjoyed these slides, please let me know at https://marceloancelmo.com. On my website, you can find for more insights on Enterprise Architecture, Solution Architecture, Enterprise Content Management, DevOps, Java, Performance Analysis, Risk Management, Team Building, Digital Transformation, Organizational Transformation, Technology Strategy, Technical Leadership, and the occasional war story from the trenches.

Transcript

1. Cloud Native Days Austria 2026 AI Made Us Faster... …at Solving the Wrong Problems PRESENTER Marcelo Sousa Ancelmo Head of Solution Architecture KPMG Switzerland
2. KPMG. Make the Difference. We have never been faster at solving problems. © 2026 KPMG AG, a Swiss corporation, is a group company of KPMG Holding LLP, which is a member of the KPMG global organization of independent firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. Document Classification: KPMG Public 2
3. KPMG. Make the Difference. Nothing is broken. Everything is faster. And yet... © 2026 KPMG AG, a Swiss corporation, is a group company of KPMG Holding LLP, which is a member of the KPMG global organization of independent firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. Document Classification: KPMG Public 3
4. KPMG. Make the Difference. Sounds Familiar? Source: https://imgflip.com/i/asc6eq © 2026 KPMG AG, a Swiss corporation, is a group company of KPMG Holding LLP, which is a member of the KPMG global organization of independent firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. Document Classification: KPMG Public 4
5. KPMG. Make the Difference. And We Get Something Like This as a Result Source: https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/simpsons/images/0/05/TheHomer.png/revision/latest?cb=20090908145331 © 2026 KPMG AG, a Swiss corporation, is a group company of KPMG Holding LLP, which is a member of the KPMG global organization of independent firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. Document Classification: KPMG Public 5
6. KPMG. Make the Difference. We Celebrate the Win, and Move On Source: https://imgflip.com/memegenerator/This-Is-Fine © 2026 KPMG AG, a Swiss corporation, is a group company of KPMG Holding LLP, which is a member of the KPMG global organization of independent firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. Document Classification: KPMG Public 6
7. KPMG. Make the Difference. Yet, Something Feels Wrong Source: https://lanredahunsi.com/actions-have-consequences/ © 2026 KPMG AG, a Swiss corporation, is a group company of KPMG Holding LLP, which is a member of the KPMG global organization of independent firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. Document Classification: KPMG Public 7
8. KPMG. Make the Difference. Why This Happens? Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/hampered-heuristics-piper-harris/ © 2026 KPMG AG, a Swiss corporation, is a group company of KPMG Holding LLP, which is a member of the KPMG global organization of independent firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. Document Classification: KPMG Public 8
9. KPMG. Make the Difference. AI is Fast ... Source: https://imgflip.com/i/asc745 © 2026 KPMG AG, a Swiss corporation, is a group company of KPMG Holding LLP, which is a member of the KPMG global organization of independent firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. Speed ≠ Progress Document Classification: KPMG Public 9
10. KPMG. Make the Difference. AI Have Confidence! Source: https://medium.com/@tarifabeach/the-confidence-trap-how-ai-supercharges-the-dunning-kruger-effect-in-the-workplace-7d865da19773 Or Have You Just Outsourced the Dunning-Kruger Effect? © 2026 KPMG AG, a Swiss corporation, is a group company of KPMG Holding LLP, which is a member of the KPMG global organization of independent firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. Document Classification: KPMG Public 10
11. KPMG. Make the Difference. Sometimes, AI is just Wrong! Source: https://orlybooks.com/books/building-ai-with-html © 2026 KPMG AG, a Swiss corporation, is a group company of KPMG Holding LLP, which is a member of the KPMG global organization of independent firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. Document Classification: KPMG Public 11
12. KPMG. Make the Difference. © 2026 KPMG AG, a Swiss corporation, is a group company of KPMG Holding LLP, which is a member of the KPMG global organization of independent firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. Source: https://imgflip.com/i/b25qdf Document Classification: KPMG Public 12
13. KPMG. Make the Difference. An Efficient Inefficiency © 2026 KPMG AG, a Swiss corporation, is a group company of KPMG Holding LLP, which is a member of the KPMG global organization of independent firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. Document Classification: KPMG Public 13
14. KPMG. Make the Difference. Do not let AI Hijack your Thinking Source: https://thenewstack.io/50-50-the-future-of-human-ai-collaboration-for-innovation/ © 2026 KPMG AG, a Swiss corporation, is a group company of KPMG Holding LLP, which is a member of the KPMG global organization of independent firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. Document Classification: KPMG Public 14
15. KPMG. Make the Difference. What is Really Happening The solution we are building The problem we haven't defined Source: https://www.complexsystemsframeworks.ca/framework/iceberg-model/ © 2026 KPMG AG, a Swiss corporation, is a group company of KPMG Holding LLP, which is a member of the KPMG global organization of independent firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. Document Classification: KPMG Public 15
16. KPMG. Make the Difference. In a world where answers get cheap Questions become valuable! Source: https://platforms.substack.com/p/when-answers-get-cheap-good-questions © 2026 KPMG AG, a Swiss corporation, is a group company of KPMG Holding LLP, which is a member of the KPMG global organization of independent firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. Document Classification: KPMG Public 16
17. KPMG. Make the Difference. What problem are we actually solving? © 2026 KPMG AG, a Swiss corporation, is a group company of KPMG Holding LLP, which is a member of the KPMG global organization of independent firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. Document Classification: KPMG Public 17
18. KPMG. Make the Difference. The Four Moves STOP Reflect and resist the gravity of the fast answer. THINK Distinguish symptoms from root causes. Map consequences before committing. ASK What problem are we actually solving? REFRAME Use AI to explore the solution space, not define the problem. © 2026 KPMG AG, a Swiss corporation, is a group company of KPMG Holding LLP, which is a member of the KPMG global organization of independent firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. Document Classification: KPMG Public 18
19. KPMG. Make the Difference. You Move Away From Fast, to Slow and Reliable By slowing down for five minutes, you save five months of “fixing the fix”. Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/quintessence-quality-testament-success-every-detail-hisham-said-mxocf/ © 2026 KPMG AG, a Swiss corporation, is a group company of KPMG Holding LLP, which is a member of the KPMG global organization of independent firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. Document Classification: KPMG Public 19
20. KPMG. Make the Difference. The best AI prompt! The smartest automation! The fastest deployment! All Worthless. If you are solving the wrong problem. © 2026 KPMG AG, a Swiss corporation, is a group company of KPMG Holding LLP, which is a member of the KPMG global organization of independent firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. Document Classification: KPMG Public 20
21. KPMG. Make the Difference. Will you be the person who asks: What problem are we actually solving? © 2026 KPMG AG, a Swiss corporation, is a group company of KPMG Holding LLP, which is a member of the KPMG global organization of independent firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. Document Classification: KPMG Public 21
22. KPMG. Make the Difference. Your next meeting is your first test! © 2026 KPMG AG, a Swiss corporation, is a group company of KPMG Holding LLP, which is a member of the KPMG global organization of independent firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. Document Classification: KPMG Public 22
23. “A problem well stated is a problem half solved.” Charles Franklin Kettering @marceloancelmo #daretodo #together #forbetter #problemsolving Photo by Ondrej Supitar on Unsplash © 2026 KPMG AG, a Swiss corporation, is a group company of KPMG Holding LLP, which is a member of the KPMG global organization of independent firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. Document Classification: KPMG Public 23
24. Cloud Native Days Austria 2026 How was the talk? Your feedback is welcome! AI Made Us Faster... …at Solving the Wrong Problems PRESENTER Marcelo Sousa Ancelmo Head of Solution Architecture KPMG Switzerland