Why Being ‘Behind’ in AI Might Be Exactly Where You Need to Be

I still get a slight panic attack every time I see another “Top 5 AI Tools You Can’t Live Without in 2024” video. And I do this for a living.

You’d think running AI scrapers, reading every newsletter, and spending my days helping others navigate the AI landscape would make me feel on top of things. Instead, I’m constantly aware of how much I don’t know, how many tools I haven’t tried, how many developments I might have missed.

But here’s what I’ve learned: What feels like being “behind” might actually be your biggest advantage.

Think about what’s happening with AI right now. It reminds me of what happened with the printing press (there’s this fascinating historical moment when printed books began including instructions for building more printing presses. Those instructions led to more presses, which printed more instructions, creating this viral explosion of knowledge and capability. We’re seeing the same pattern with AI) tools helping create more tools, platforms generating new platforms, each innovation spawning dozens more.

The result? An ecosystem that’s expanding faster than any human can possibly track. And that’s exactly why chasing every new development is a losing game.

Go on YouTube and search for “ChatGPT tutorial.” You’ll drown in a sea of clickbait. “You won’t BELIEVE what GPT-4 can do!” “This AI tool just KILLED all other AIs!” Meanwhile, new no-code tools are pumping out AI apps that help create more AI apps. It’s enough to make anyone want to curl up with a typewriter and pretend it’s 1985.

But here’s what took me a while to figure out: The path to mastery isn’t through breadth, it’s through depth. The people making the most impact with AI aren’t the ones who’ve tried every new tool. They’re the ones who’ve deeply learned how to work with the core models like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Llama (Meta Ai), or any of the major language models.

Want some practical advice? Pick one of these core tools. Doesn’t matter which. Then use it. Really use it. Talk to it like a human being. Be bold. Ask it to do impossible things, then work backward to find what’s possible. Don’t fall for the “one perfect prompt” fallacy. Keep the conversation going.

When you build this foundation, this deep understanding of how to communicate with AI, every new tool becomes easier to grasp. Those specialized apps and niche solutions? They’ll fit naturally into your workflow when you need them, because you’ll understand the fundamentals of how AI thinks and works.

The real magic happens when you stop treating AI like some mystical technology and start treating it like a slightly weird but incredibly helpful colleague. One who’s brilliant but needs everything explained from scratch. One who never gets tired of your questions but might occasionally misunderstand them in hilarious ways.

Of course, figuring out where to start and how to build this foundation takes time and energy. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, consider working with someone who can analyze your needs and learning style to create a personalized path forward. Whether you do this analysis yourself or work with a guide (like me), the key is finding an approach that matches your way of thinking and working.

Because here’s what nobody in those clickbait videos tells you: The best AI tool isn’t the newest or the most powerful, it’s the one you’ll actually use consistently enough to master. Everything else is just noise.

About the Author: Santiago helps individuals and organizations harness the power of AI without coding. Through AI opportunity assessments and personalized consulting, he guides clients in finding practical ways to implement AI solutions that transform how they work. Visit AISherpa.me to learn more about working together.