This is not our official Crash Course, but it's illustrative of ChatGPT's utility.
This is CG's (ChatGPT4's) recommendation for crash course on AI. It's a very reasonable outline. Maybe we'll let it flesh it out into a real, fully developed course.
But we're not interested in a reasonable course, one that you might find on Coursera. We need you to get AI at a visceral level, and to be able to respond to the AI Tsunami from instinct, your gut level making the right decisions.
Maybe we got it right with our version. Maybe you'd have preferred CG's version. One way or another, AI is the most powerful force - the second most powerful force - ever to shape human history.
The first, well, that's a different conversation for a very different audience.
If you came here from our crash course, you can resume our version here.
Module 1: The AI Landscape – Know the Terrain
What’s Going On?
AI isn’t a choice anymore. It’s a reality that’s transforming industries and reshaping how businesses operate. If you’re not paying attention, you’re already behind.
AI is not a trend. It’s the infrastructure of tomorrow. Get ahead or be left behind.
What You Need to Do:
Understand the basics: AI is about using machines to do what we’ve done manually—at scale, faster, smarter, and at a fraction of the cost.
Focus on AI’s direct impact: It's transforming operations, processes, and creating new ways of doing business.
Quick Action:
Start identifying where AI could already be making waves in your company. Operations, customer service, product development. Look for areas ripe for AI—where speed, accuracy, or scalability could be improved.
Module 2: AI in Action – It’s Not Just About Automation
What’s Going On?
Too many companies treat AI like a tool to "automate" stuff. They’re missing the point: AI is a strategic lever. It's about fundamentally shifting how you make decisions and create value.
If you're just automating today’s processes with AI, you're already behind. The winners are using AI to unlock new opportunities, discover new products, and redefine their business.
What You Need to Do:
Recognize AI’s potential: Beyond automation, AI is about enabling agility and discovering new revenue streams.
AI is about decisions: It's not just about doing more—it’s about better decisions.
Quick Action:
Start thinking like a strategist. What would your business look like if AI didn’t just automate but transformed your business model? What would you do with the data you have now, if AI helped you uncover new insights?
Module 3: Your Workforce & AI – Enhancing, Not Replacing
What’s Going On?
AI isn’t here to replace humans—it’s here to empower them. The reality is, AI will reshape jobs, but it’s not about job loss. It’s about job evolution.
The companies who thrive will be the ones who have workers empowered by AI, not displaced by it.
What You Need to Do:
Prepare your team: Understand the skills needed for tomorrow. Reskill where necessary. Empower where possible.
AI is the tool; humans are the decision-makers: The best use of AI is augmenting human capabilities—not replacing them.
Quick Action:
Start a skills audit: What skills will your team need in the future? What roles will evolve, and which ones will disappear?
Build a learning framework to upskill your workforce.
Module 4: Seizing Opportunities – AI is a Goldmine, Not a Threat
What’s Going On?
AI isn’t something to fear—it’s your competitive edge. It’s the ultimate opportunity generator.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of seeing AI as a risk or a threat. The truth is, the biggest risk is not adapting—and getting overtaken by competitors who do.
What You Need to Do:
Think big, start small: Test and learn. Identify where AI can give you a competitive edge—no need to be perfect, just get moving.
Start with small wins: Use AI to solve clear, tangible problems in your business.
Quick Action:
Pick one department or process to pilot AI. It doesn’t need to be a huge project—just enough to get the wheels turning and prove its value.
Set measurable goals for success: Increased efficiency, better decision-making, cost savings, etc.
Module 5: The AI Edge – Go from Reactive to Proactive
What’s Going On?
Right now, many companies are simply reacting to AI—either using it in a limited way or avoiding it entirely. The companies that win are the ones who are proactive.
AI is about being ahead of the curve. It’s about seeing what’s coming, spotting trends, and making the moves before your competitors even realize what’s happening.
What You Need to Do:
Don’t wait for AI to disrupt you—use AI to disrupt your market. Lead your industry.
Set an AI vision: Where do you want to be in 3 years? How can AI accelerate that vision?
Quick Action:
Create an AI roadmap: Not for the next year, but the next 3-5 years. Where do you want AI to take your business, and what steps will you take to get there?
Module 6: The AI Strategy – Making It Real
What’s Going On?
Now you know the fundamentals. The time to act is now. But there’s one thing you need to keep in mind: implementation.
AI doesn’t work by simply talking about it. You need to act, make decisions, and implement systems that integrate AI into the core of your business.
What You Need to Do:
Align AI with your business strategy: Make sure AI is an integral part of your strategy—not a side project.
Iterate and adjust: AI doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all solution. Be ready to iterate, test, and refine your approach.
Quick Action:
Start small with AI projects, but align them with your strategic goals. Monitor the results, learn from them, and keep scaling.