AMA + The Real-World AI Skills That Matter Most

🧭 THIS WEEK AT AI SECOND ACT

Howdy, it’s a quick one this week!

It's an AMA + Skills Pulse Check — and I'd love to hear from you.

If you're feeling the pressure to keep up with AI, this is for you.

✅ What's the one thing you're stuck on?
✅ What skill do you wish you already had?
✅ What's stopping you from diving in?

👉 Just reply to this email — I'll answer questions in next week's issue (and maybe feature you anonymously).

🧰 AI NEWS + LEARNING

Here’s a few things I found recently:

• Former Google CEO discussing artificial super intelligence - longer video but have ChatGPT summarise it for you!

• ChatGPT v5 coming in August - all I want is for the ridiculous naming and versioning system to be fixed! - Ask several AI chat tools to explain the OpenAI version numbering system and the differences between them! You will get many confusing answers.

• ChatGPT now has additional connectors available.

  • Claude has many more connectors, though, with the ability to add custom connections! I need to do a unique edition on connectors.

• Amazon department requires proof of AI use as part of the promotion process! We all better get good at using AI!

🗺️ FEATURED INSIGHT

The 7 AI Skills Every Professional Should Build (No CS Degree Required)

You don't need to become a machine learning engineer to stay relevant.

But you do need to know how to work with AI. Lead projects, ask smarter questions, and use the tools yourself.

Here are the 7 high-leverage AI skills I recommend every mid-career professional start building in 2025 (backed by research from MIT, Harvard, and McKinsey):

1. Prompting Fluency

Learn how to write effective prompts for real-world tasks (summarizing, planning, generating ideas, etc.). This is the #1 skill mentioned across 12+ authoritative sources.

2. Strategic AI Thinking

Cultivate the ability to identify AI opportunities within your organization. Harvard calls this "AI-first leadership" — it's the meta-skill that keeps you future-proof.

3. Ethical AI and Bias Awareness

Know how to evaluate AI outputs for bias, understand privacy implications, and navigate AI governance. Essential as regulations tighten and AI impacts business decisions.

4. Tool Navigation

Get hands-on with the big four:

• ChatGPT: Best for creative work and comprehensive features, including memory, image generation, and research

• Claude: Superior for analysis and handling large documents, content creation, and coding

• Gemini: Most cost-effective, great Google integration

• Perplexity: Unbeatable for research and fact-checking

5. AI-Enhanced Communication

Improve emails, reports, and presentations using AI as a writing and editing assistant. MIT studies show 40% faster completion times for writing tasks.

6. Critical Thinking for AI

Know how to evaluate AI outputs, spot hallucinations, and combine AI insights with human judgment. Your experience gives you the context AI lacks.

7. Change Management

Help your team and organization adapt to AI tools. This is where mid-career professionals shine — you understand both the technology, the domain, and the people side of transformation.

🛍️ Pulse Check

Which of these feels strong? Which needs work?

👉 Reply with a quick list (e.g., "#1, #3, and #6") and I can elaborate in future editions, and give you some free advice!

Worth noting: AI skills command a 28% salary premium (average $18,000 more annually), with management positions showing the highest gains. The window for early adoption advantage is still open.

Thanks for being here. Let's build the future one small skill at a time.

Future-proof your career with AI
— Brett

👉 Hit “Reply” and share your experience — I read every one!

_{Picture by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash.}