AI 2026: you gotta be scrappy

A few rules of thumb I’m operating under this year:

Automate anything repetitive asap. If your routine or mundane daily tasks aren’t already being automated, somebody in your industry or field is already thinking about how to do so. Ensure that person is you.
You’re not too late. You can catch up on the AI learning curve at any time. For example, I went 31 years without being a web developer, and then I used AI to build this website from scratch in 2 days over Christmas break. I write these posts myself, but I sure didn’t do the coding for this web platform. Much of all web design is just AI busywork by now. Take it from me.
AI progress isn’t going to halt, or go backwards. If you don’t believe me, just look at the capability progression over the past two years, and forecast it in a straight line over the next two years. However, I think the line is (and will be) more exponential than straight. The next 5 years of this growth curve will be wild, so be flexible and open to new learning experiences. My advice: Find the biggest AI nut in your life and ask him or her if they can show you their favorite use cases & AI models. Then, take it from there. You’ll find a way to improve your own workflow within minutes.