Why You Should Explore AI In 2025
Transform your work and creativity with AI as an ally
"The future is not something we enter. The future is something we create." - Leonard I. Sweet
When scientists first peered through microscopes, they didn't just see more clearly—they discovered entirely new worlds.
We’re in the middle of a similar moment (maybe even more impactful) with artificial intelligence (AI)?
Just like microscopes expanded our vision into the microscopic, AI is extending our thinking into uncharted territories.
It's not just a tool to make tasks easier; it's a collaborator that helps us explore new possibilities and achieve things we couldn't on our own.
Rethinking AI: It's Not About Replacement
You've probably heard people say AI will replace jobs or even creativity.
But what if we stopped seeing AI as a replacement and started viewing it as a lever?
A lever doesn't do the work for you—it amplifies the effort you're already putting in. AI is the same.
It doesn't replace your creativity, intuition, or judgment. Instead, it strengthens these qualities and helps you go further, faster.
Think of AI as a brainstorming partner, research assistant, or creative sounding board—always ready to enhance your ideas, not take them over.
Three Simple Ways to Use AI in 2025
Here's how you can think about AI as your personal lever:
1. Automate to Elevate
Smart automation isn't about replacing human work—it's about freeing you to focus on what matters most. Use AI to handle repetitive tasks, giving you more time and mental space for creative thinking, strategic planning, and meaningful interactions.
Try this: Identify your most time-consuming routine tasks (like email sorting, data entry, or basic research). Set up AI automation for these, then notice how you use the time you've gained. What becomes possible when you're not caught up in the routine? (Check out Plumb, the workflow automation platform my team is building, if you’re looking for a way to do this!)
2. Collaborate, Don't Delegate
The best results happen when you work with AI, not just hand tasks off to it. Treat AI like a collaborator that offers fresh perspectives, challenges your thinking, and sparks creativity. Your expertise combined with AI's insights creates something neither could achieve alone.
Try this: Start a dialogue with AI about a challenge you're facing. Ask questions, challenge its suggestions, and use its responses as springboards for your own thinking.
3. Enhance, Don't Replace
AI is at its most exciting when it enhances your capabilities in ways you didn't think possible. Think of how a telescope lets you see galaxies or a microscope reveals hidden cells—AI does the same for your thinking. It helps you spot patterns in data, connect ideas, or explore creative directions you wouldn't have seen otherwise.
Try this: Use AI to analyze a dataset or piece of writing from multiple angles. What patterns or connections does it reveal that you might have missed?
Practical Ways to Explore AI Right Now
For Creative Projects
Use AI as a creative sparring partner: Share your ideas and ask it to help you explore different directions or overcome creative blocks.
Create mood boards or inspiration collections by describing what you're looking for and letting AI suggest unexpected combinations.
For Research and Analysis
Ask AI to summarize complex topics from multiple perspectives, helping you build a more comprehensive understanding.
Use it to generate questions you haven't thought of, pushing your research in new directions.
For Learning New Skills
Create personalized learning paths that adapt to your pace and style.
Generate practice scenarios that challenge you at just the right level.
Your Unique Role in the Collaboration
Remember, a lever only works if someone knows how to use it. AI is no different—it needs your creativity, judgment, and intuition to unlock its potential.
When working with AI, ask yourself:
What unique perspective can I bring to this collaboration?
How can I use AI to build on my strengths rather than replace them?
Where could AI help me think bigger or explore new possibilities?
The magic happens when you combine what makes you human with what makes AI powerful.
Your Next Step: Start Small and Stay Curious
Ready to give it a try? Here's your action plan:
Pick one task where you could use some extra insight or inspiration
Experiment with using an AI tool as a collaborator
Reflect on how it changes your process—what works, what doesn't, and where it sparks new ideas
The future of AI isn't about humans versus machines.
It's about humans and AI teaming up to create something greater than either could alone.
By approaching AI as a partner, you can begin to amplify your strengths and explore exciting new possibilities.
Did anything in this issue stand out or give you energy? If so, I’d love to hear from you about it so I know what to focus on sharing in the future!
Great list!