Last year, I was in full learning mode. Head down. Absorbing everything I could.

This year feels different.

It’s still learning… but now it’s learning while implementing, which is a whole other experience—because you start to see just how wildly broad the “AI knowledge gap” really is.

Not in a judgy way. In an eye-opening way.

Because depending on who you’re talking to, “AI” might mean:

Same word. Entirely different universes.

And that’s the part I can’t stop thinking about.

Here’s what I’m noticing in conversations across Atlanta—with founders, operators, creatives, nonprofit leaders, corporate folks, and everyone in between:

Some people are using AI like a fancier Google.

Some people are using it like a smart assistant.

Some are using it like an operations layer—a way to redesign how work gets done.

And a small (but growing) group is using it like infrastructure: automations, agents, internal tools, and systems that fundamentally change speed, cost, and capacity.

If you’re only seeing one slice of that, it’s easy to assume you “get AI.”

But the truth is: you don’t know what you don’t know.

And honestly? None of us do—because the surface area is expanding daily.

A recent episode of AI Daily Brief really resonated with me because it put language to something I’ve been feeling:

There are moments where I’m explaining what’s possible… and it feels like I’m speaking a language the other person hasn’t learned yet.

That can feel lonely.

It can also feel a little scary—because the implications are big. Not “doom” big. Just… reality big.

Like: how are we all not talking about this more?

Not in a hype-y way. In a “let’s not leave people behind” way.

Because if you’re a solopreneur, small business, or team wearing ten hats, the difference between “AI as a novelty” and “AI as leverage” is the difference between:

A lot of people freeze because they think they need to “learn AI.”

That’s like saying you need to “learn the internet.”

Where do you even start?

Here’s a better goal:

Build baseline awareness of what’s possible—then get consistent reps using it on real life.

Small steps. Daily. Like going to the gym.

You don’t walk in and deadlift 300 pounds on day one.

You show up. You build a habit. You learn form. You gain strength. Then you realize you’re capable of way more than you thought.

Same thing here.

One of the most useful prompts I’ve built into my own workflow is ridiculously simple:

Before I do a task, I ask: Is there a faster, better, smarter way to do this?

That’s it.

Then I take 60 seconds to describe:

That “why” matters more than people think—because AI can’t improve what it doesn’t understand. And sometimes, once you state your “why” clearly, you realize the whole process should change.

Then I ask a tool (yes, the obvious ones) to improve it.

And here’s the key:

Don’t stop at the first output.

Treat it like a conversation, not a vending machine.

If you’re a business owner (or honestly, a human who does tasks), try this 3-step drill:

“Here’s what I’m about to do. Here’s my process. Here’s the outcome I need. How can I do this faster, better, smarter?”

“Good. What am I not thinking about? What would an expert do differently?”

“If I hired a top consulting firm like KPMG to redesign this process, what would they recommend? Give me the approach, the steps, and what I should measure.”

This does two things:

That’s the compounding effect people miss.

A quick reality check:

AI looks very different depending on your context.

AI might be your copywriter, research assistant, proposal drafter, admin helper, and brainstorming partner.

AI might reduce internal bottlenecks: faster content, quicker reporting, streamlined customer comms, better internal documentation, and fewer repetitive tasks eating your week.

AI becomes process redesign, governance, data strategy, risk management, automation, and operational efficiency at scale.

Same technology.

Different leverage.

Different risk.

Different opportunity.

That’s why it feels like we’re all talking about “AI” but describing completely different things.

Before AI, one of my favorite resources was Untools—decision matrices, mental models, frameworks… the kind of stuff that helps you reason better.

That still matters.

AI doesn’t replace your judgment.

It amplifies it.

So if you already use frameworks (decision matrices, prioritization models, OKRs, etc.), AI can help you:

The win is not “using AI.”

The win is using AI to make your thinking and execution sharper.

This isn’t an article telling you to become an AI expert.

It’s the opposite.

It’s me saying:

You don’t have to know everything. But you do need to start.

Because the only truly risky position right now is staying unaware.

So here’s your challenge—Atlanta edition:

For the next 7 days, pick one task you do regularly (email follow-ups, scheduling, invoices, a social post, a client update, a planning doc).

Before you do it, ask:

“Is there a faster, better, smarter way to do this?”

Then run the 3-step prompt sequence above.

That’s it.

Not a course. Not a certification. Not a new personality.

Just reps.

Where are you on the AI spectrum right now?

Hit reply / drop a comment and tell me what you’re experimenting with—and what feels overwhelming.

Because the fastest way we keep Atlanta businesses from getting left behind is doing what we do best: share notes, compare experiments, and move together.