Outside of my software career, where learning specific tech early on was the actual job, I am generally NOT an early adopter.
There are people who find immense joy in sifting through the noise of comments and announcements, tinkering with tools, discovering new ones every other day and trying repeatedly to find what works and what doesn’t. I’ve been blessed in life to be surrounded by friends and others in my professional network who fall into that category. But I am NOT one of them. For me technology in general, and AI more specifically, is only a means, not the end.
I dipped my toes into the whole AI craze about 6 months after ChatGPT started making daily appearances in the news and everyday conversations.
Where I stand & what I use today (as of mid-2026):
- My Stance on AI - captures my current view, which has definitely been evolving over the last several years (and most likely will continue to evolve)
- My AI Tech Stack - a list of the tools I pay for and use today.
My core workflows (what seems to work):
- AI as a Thought Organizer - dump raw thoughts and let the model structure them
- AI as a Writing Partner - bounce ideas around and refine drafts without losing my voice
- AI as a Coach - use a custom prompt so the model asks questions and acts as a mirror
Specific wins & case studies:
- Goal Setting with AI - using AI to process my thinking when I was too stuck figuring out goals on my own (and I got a trip to coastal kayaking trip in Brazil out of it!)
- Using AI to Define Personal Vision - after years of struggle, how I finally nailed down my long-term vision for my planning horizons.