The McKinsey Problem

When different options give you the exact same result, you will always choose the most famous brand. Imagine giving the same business data to five different companies. Even if all their reports are equally good, you will automatically trust McKinsey because their name promises quality. The exact same thing is happening with AI today. People naturally trust a tool from OpenAI more than a random free alternative, even if the answers are exactly the same. Trust is rarely about the actual data. It is about the label on the box.