Let me start with a fact - AI is the most transformative technology in our human kind. Period.
Yet, 99% of people are either scared, clueless, or outright wasting its potential.
Some people are completely ignoring it. Others treat it like a gimmick.
And then there are professionals and companies banning AI tools, thinking it makes them look noble.
Let me be blunt - this is the biggest mistake of the decade.
- If you're not using AI, you're leaving money, time, and opportunities on the table.
- If you're scared of it, you're about to watch others eat your money.
- And if you think AI is just some passing fad, you've got a rude awakening coming.
But here's the good news - it's not too late.
The technology is still new, new AI tools are evolving, and you can still be ahead if you stop wasting time and start using AI right.
Note: This post is part of my AI Made Simple newsletter, where I cut through the noise and deliver real-world AI use cases and step-by-step guides.
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With that said, let me show you how.
The "real misconceptions" holding people back
Before we get into the strategies, let's talk about some myths that are holding people back:
1. AI will take my job:
People see AI as a threat.
But the reality? AI isn't here to replace you; it's here to make you more productive and make more money.
The ones who learn how to use it will be more valuable than ever. Think of AI as a teammate, not a competitor.
2. AI isn't reliable:
Sure, AI isn't perfect. It hallucinates, it can make mistakes, and it needs guidance.
But when you know how to use it effectively, its output can rival and sometimes surpass human performance.
3. Using AI is cheating:
Let me ask you a question - when a farmer uses a tractor instead of bullocks, does anyone accuse the farmer? No, right?
It actually reduces the farmer's work, makes them more productive, and make more money. The same happens when someone uses AI.
The sooner you understand it, the faster you'll grow.
4. AI is too complex:
You don't need to be a machine learning engineer to use AI. I am not the one.
Tools like ChatGPT, Notion AI, MidJourney, and more are made for individuals like us to become more productive, and carry out more work.
I spent some of my free time learning about AI and using AI tools, and it helped me a lot.
And now, I have a free AI newsletter, AI Made Simple, to help you. Subscribe here.
How AI is changing everything
To be honest - there are tons of examples of how AI is changing the field.
But let me give you a simple and short example so you can easily understand.
Just two years ago, building a customised CRM system need months of effort, even if you were an expert.
It's because - there was too much to go through to build one.
I know this because I'm a web developer and have been building products for over 4 years now.
But today? You can build a fully functional, personalised CRM within a couple of hours, even if you're not a coding expert, thanks to AI.
Yes, that's the power of AI.
Even big CEOs and companies know this. That's why the smartest ones are racing to integrate AI into their systems.
The same applies to literally everything, from healthcare to marketing to writing, and more.
But how people are wasting AI?
In the previous section, I told you how AI has changed the programming world, but most individuals out there are simply wasting it or using AI like a noob.
And that's the reason they don't make themselves productive and can't make money.
Here are some ways people are misusing AI:
1. Ignoring it completely:
I've seen this everywhere.
Writers refusing to use it because "it's cheating." Companies banning AI tools because they're scared of data leaks. Regular folks thinking, "Oh, this doesn't apply to me."
Here's the problem - AI doesn't care what anyone thinks. It's still going to automate jobs, create billion-dollar companies, and leave the non-users behind.
Ignoring AI is like refusing to use the internet in the '90s.
2. Using it the wrong way:
Now, I've seen a lot of people who are using AI but treating it like a toy.
They are:
- Asking ChatGPT to write a poem about their cat.
- Using AI art generators to make a funny meme.
- Copy-pasting low-quality outputs without thinking critically.
If that's you, you're missing the point.
AI isn't just a couple of tools - it's a superpower, really - but it's only as smart as the person using it.
3. Being paralyzed by fear:
Some people hear "AI" and immediately think "Terminator."
They're scared of job loss, misinformation, or some sci-fi dystopia.
And look, I get it - there are risks. You should be cautious. But banning AI or refusing to using it isn't caution; it's fear-driven inaction.
How 1% of people are actually using AI right
Now let me talk about how just the 1% of the individual are using AI the right way.
And no, don't think they are quitting their job and spending their complete time learning about AI, using new AI tools every day, and more.
They are using actually AI to solve tedious problem in their business or profession, they are using AI to build side hustles and more income streams, and they are using AI to make themselves more productive.
With that said, here are some of the ways you can use AI:
1. Use AI to solve real problems:
If your use of AI is limited to drafting emails, generating poems, or asking it trivial questions, you're underutilising its power.
Instead you can:
- Automate repetitive tasks in your business or profession: You can use AI for automating the process of data entry, scheduling, generating PPTs or meeting summary, and even customer service.
- Build tools that generate revenue: For instance, create or use an AI-driven chatbot for your website that solves the customer issues and converts visitors into paying customers.
- Build online businesses out of it. Here's an example.
They are more such use cases like this.
2. Combine human creativity with AI efficiency:
We all know that AI can write, design, and calculate, but it lacks the human touch.
And that's the main difference.
But there is a sweet spot. You can combine your creativity or expertise with AI's efficiency.
Here are some examples:
- Writers are using AI for research or generating first drafts, and then polish the content with their own expertise to add a unique voice.
- Designers are using AI to create mockups or brainstorm ideas, then refine them for final delivery. Even without being a designer, I'm using AI to generate product thumbnails, flow charts, book covers and more for my digital products. Here are some examples of covers that I generated with AI.
- I'm even in contact with a number of individuals who are using AI and hiring some freelancers from Fiverr to build a money-making business.
3. Train AI for your specific needs
Now let me be honest, if you use AI chatbots and ask them to generate a post about a topic, it will generate some BS or generic AI outputs.
Why? Because it doesn't have info about what you want specifically.
And that's where you can train the AI chatbot by providing a more detailed prompt, explaining in detail what you want, and more.
Even one can use tools to fine-tune APIs to train AI models on your company's style, customer preferences, or unique data.
After training AI for your specific needs, you can create customized workflows. For example, you can train AI to respond to specific customer queries in your tone of voice.
4. Leverage AI for speed AND quality
Now let's be honest - it doesn't worth it if you use AI tools and end up spending more time producing the output.
It won't be ideal and doesn't make sense.
The main use case of an AI tool is to provide quality output with 10X to 100X speed.
If used correctly, AI can give you both - but only if you know how to prompt it effectively.
Be detailed in your prompts: Instead of saying, "Write a blog post," ask it to "Write a 500-word blog post explaining why AI is essential for small businesses, using real-world examples."
Iterate: Use AI to generate multiple drafts and refine them to perfection.
Here's a great post that you can read.
5. Stay ahead by experimenting & learning
I know none of you have the time or energy to spend another 3 to 4 hours every day using AI tools and learning about them.
And that's the reason - you can subscribe to an AI newsletter that provides you with the needed info within minutes.
For instance, there is an AI newsletter called "The Rundown AI" that gives the latest info in the field of AI.
Then there is an AI newsletter called "AI Made Simple" that provides real-world AI use cases and step-by-step guides for anyone.
You can subscribe to both of these newsletters to get latest & complete information about new tools and different use cases explained in a step-by-step guide format.
And then, you can experiment with new tools, and use it in your profession.
Hope you like it.
That's it - thanks.
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