Everyone Wants You to Use AI — But Nobody Shows You How
The workplace AI paradox and why creative productivity needs a roadmap, not just a rocket.
Create Smarter. Lead Better. Grow Boldly.
If you're building brands and creative work that matter, you're in the right place.
Subscribe for systems, strategies, and real talk on getting it done
In 2025, there’s one thing every company agrees on: you should be using AI.
Use ChatGPT. Play with Midjourney. Automate something. “Be creative,” they say. “Experiment. Take initiative.”
But here’s the problem: most employees aren’t given a starting point — just a vague invitation to explore tools they’ve never used, with implications they barely understand.
No real training. No context. No ethical guardrails. Just... vibes.
It’s like being handed the keys to a spaceship and told, “Go innovate.”
The AI Gap Is Real
AI is everywhere now. In fact, you probably can’t scroll LinkedIn for five minutes without seeing a post that starts with “I used AI to…” or “AI just changed how I do…”
Let’s ground this in reality:
Fiverr reported a 625% spike1 in AI-related services in just one year. AI is becoming the work — not just a tool for it.
Duolingo’s VP of Design went viral for saying: "Employees who don’t use AI will be outpaced."2 It wasn’t a threat — just a reality check.
According to McKinsey, over 40% of working hours could eventually be automated by AI3. But that only matters if you know how to use it well.
So here we are: AI is changing the job. But the job isn’t training us to work with AI.
Creative Productivity Needs More Than Curiosity
Most of us aren’t afraid of AI. We’re curious. We want to work smarter. We want to be more creative. But curiosity without clarity leads to friction — and friction kills flow.
In the Book of Five Rings, the legendary swordsman Musashi Miyamoto writes about learning through experience, refining technique until it becomes instinct. He believed power without discipline was dangerous. The same applies to modern AI use.
Unlock Timeless Strategy for Modern Brands
What can a 17th-century swordsman teach you about content strategy, brand building, and growth?
Turns out — a lot.
The Five Rings of Marketing is a bold, battle-tested guide to mastering modern marketing with ancient wisdom.
If you're in a creative field — marketing, writing, design, strategy — the ability to collaborate with AI is already part of your productivity stack. Not in the future. Now.
But there’s a massive difference between knowing of AI and knowing how to use it meaningfully. AI won’t make your job easier unless you understand:
how prompting works
how tools differ
how to train them safely
and when not to use them.
Without that foundation, you’re just clicking buttons and hoping for magic.
The Workplace Is Asking the Wrong Questions
Instead of asking “Are you using AI?” companies should be asking:
Do you understand what good AI use looks like in your role?
Have we given you enough time, training, and examples to figure that out?
Do you feel confident using it creatively — or are you afraid of looking like you’re cutting corners?
Right now, most people are winging it. Learning in isolation. Picking up tips from Reddit, TikTok, or “that one team member who’s really into it.”
It’s not sustainable. And it’s not equitable either — because the loudest experimenters get ahead, while others get left behind.
L&D, This Is Your Moment
The fix is obvious: treat AI like any other workplace skill. Teach it. Practice it. Encourage reflection.
HR and L&D teams should be investing in hands-on sessions, guided experimentation, and even mandatory onboarding for AI — just like you would for cybersecurity, DEI, or time management. As a matter of fact, I think that organisation should enforce training before giving access to these tools, the same way you can’t drive a car out-there without a driving licence.
You don’t need to turn everyone into prompt engineers. But everyone should know how AI shows up in their field, how it could save them hours a week, and how to wield it ethically.
If your organization values productivity and innovation, this is your move: train people before you expect transformation.
Want to Get Ahead? Start Here.
If your company hasn’t created an AI roadmap yet — make your own. You don’t need to wait for permission to learn.
Here are five genuinely helpful, non-fluffy AI learning resources worth your time. Each one has a different flavor, depending on your role or focus:
1. OpenAI Learning Academy
academy.openai.com
A self-paced set of lessons created by the makers of ChatGPT. Great for learning prompt basics, use cases by industry, and responsible AI usage.
Perfect if you’ve dabbled but want a structured foundation.
2. Learn Prompting (Free)
learnprompting.org
A comprehensive, open-source site that teaches prompting techniques for text, image, and code generation. Covers beginner to advanced levels.
Ideal for marketers, writers, and designers who want to master the craft.
3. AI For Everyone – Andrew Ng (Coursera)
coursera.org
This isn’t a technical course. It’s a fantastic overview of how AI works and how it affects business, careers, and society.
Best if you're feeling overwhelmed and want clarity, not code.
4. Futurepedia / There’s An AI For That
futurepedia.io
A giant searchable directory of AI tools by function, from video editing to legal contract review.
Perfect for browsing and discovering tools specific to your workflow.
5. FastAI’s Practical Deep Learning (for those curious about how it all works)
course.fast.ai
More advanced, but extremely well-taught. A great step if you want to go from user to builder.
Not necessary for everyone — but inspiring for tinkerers and tech creatives.
6. For the creative marketer or the one in agencies
Currently only in French and written for creative agencies, the How to become an AI-ready agency by Frédéric Faivre is also a great source to understand how AI should be implemented in an agency setting while keeping the human touch. Watch for the English release.
7. On AI and ethics
Adding here the very good
Substack covering AI ethics and privacy. She first exposed me to what AI literacy meant. Here’s her primer
Final Thought: With Great Power Comes… Well, You Know
We’re living in a time where everyday workers have tools once reserved for engineers and research labs. That’s exciting — and daunting.
If you care about your craft, this is the moment to level up. Not because AI will replace you, but because the people who use it well will. But you also need to know the ethical implications.
So learn deliberately. Build your own dojo. Practice your creative strikes with discipline. And remember — you don’t need to be perfect. You just need to stay in motion.
https://www.fiverr.com/news/spring-bti-2024
https://www.businessinsider.com/duolingo-ceo-how-ai-will-be-used-performance-reviews-headcount-2025-4
https://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/overview/in-the-news/how-many-of-your-daily-tasks-could-be-automated?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Other articles you might be interested in
⚡Connect⚡
Thanks for reading!
Connect with me on LinkedIn
Please drop a comment below, let me know your take 👇, and subscribe here.
Listen🎙️ to the Brand Runner podcast on: