How to Win With AI in 2026

AI is here, and its impact will be a significant shift for Main Street businesses, not just tech companies. AI will only improve from this point forward, making learning to use it a top priority. This video aims to prepare individuals and businesses for this change by offering ways to think about and utilize AI today to make substantial improvements or start new ventures. This era presents an unprecedented opportunity to launch "AI-first" businesses that can disrupt existing markets. Traditional businesses are often too engrossed in daily operations to fully embrace AI, giving new, agile AI-first companies a distinct advantage. Companies that integrate AI from day one can achieve remarkable revenue per employee. Large organizations often struggle with AI adoption due to resistance to new, uncomfortable technologies and a reluctance to address roles that can be automated. Businesses must be willing to raise the bar for employees, retaining those who can adapt and letting go of those who cannot. Recent economic data, such as zero net job creation in the private sector, suggests that automation is already impacting the job market. The most flexible systems survive in business, akin to Darwinism. Adaptability is key, and learning to use AI tools is the best way to adapt to this changing environment. People often risk more by not adopting new technology than by fearing its potential downsides. Concerns about AI safety, while valid in extreme edge cases, are often exaggerated, similar to avoiding the internet due to hacking fears. The primary reason for slow AI adoption is complacency and the short-term cost of learning something new. However, the long-term benefits far outweigh this initial investment. It takes approximately 20 hours to become proficient in a new skill, but people often delay the first hour for decades. Dedicating a weekend to hands-on AI exploration can significantly enhance understanding beyond what any article can provide. Within organizations, it's crucial to shift from role-based thinking to workflow-based thinking. For every potential hire, identify the specific tasks that person performs and consider whether those activities could be integrated into an automated workflow instead of requiring a full-time employee. For instance, instead of hiring an editor, analyze the individual tasks an editor performs to create a video and automate each of those tasks as a workflow. Businesses, at their core, transform raw inputs into valuable outputs. In a service business, this means combining raw talent and skills. The traditional organizational structure primarily serves to organize human communication and decision-making hierarchy. However, if processes are defined from the outset, tasks can be organized linearly to create outputs more efficiently. The goal isn't necessarily to automate an entire person's job but to identify and automate individual tasks. If employees don't automate parts of their own jobs, they risk being left behind. Companies should even consider creating internal divisions whose mission is to automate and potentially replace their larger existing business, as a proactive measure against external disruption. The future of business, in the medium term, will be characterized by "Bring Your Own Software" (BYOS) or "Bring Your Own Agent" (BYOA). This means individuals will leverage their own AI agents to provide significant value to businesses. This paradigm shift will empower employees with tremendous earning potential. For example, a single individual, augmented by AI agents, could function as an entire marketing department for a company. This allows businesses to achieve desired outputs at a fraction of the cost of a traditional department, creating immense value for those who can harness AI effectively. This capability opens new avenues for contractors, equity-seeking employees, or those simply seeking higher compensation. Many people fail when attempting to use AI because they don't train it like they would a new employee. When an AI agent produces a poor output, they quickly dismiss it, forgetting that AI, like a new hire, requires training and refinement. Humans learn through reinforcement, recognizing patterns and being rewarded for successful actions. Computers are exceptionally good at pattern recognition. Therefore, training AI effectively involves clearly defining what "good" looks like, removing emotional and intangible language, and providing precise, observable instructions. Instead of asking AI to "write some copy," provide specific rules, tone guidelines, and examples of desired writing. This iterative training process, which might take a human a year and a half to master, can be accomplished with AI in just 100 minutes. Those who resist AI risk being outcompeted. Throughout history, humans with superior technology have always surpassed humans with inferior technology. The key is to see AI as a tool that amplifies human capabilities, rather than a competitor. The moment humans try to beat the machine, they will lose. Pushback against AI often stems from emotion rather than its functional capabilities. In a world where AI labor and intelligence become virtually free, the last valuable human contribution will be taking risk. This suggests a future where labor itself loses inherent value, making it difficult to provide value to the marketplace through traditional work. However, this also implies an explosion in GDP and the creation of more businesses than ever before, as technology and skills drive output. A "barbell strategy" is recommended for approaching the future. On one extreme, fully embrace AI, building AI-first businesses and being willing to have difficult conversations about automation and upskilling with teams. On the other extreme, identify fundamental human needs and activities that are unlikely to change. This includes health-related services (healthcare, fitness), consumables (food, supplements), and entertainment. As automation increases human leisure time, entertainment is poised for significant growth. AI can even enable the creation of high-quality entertainment content at a fraction of traditional costs, leading to substantial margins. The adult entertainment industry often provides an early indicator of technological adoption; the rise of AI avatars and chatbots in that sector suggests similar trends will eventually permeate other industries. In summary, prepare for both positive and negative outcomes. The current shift is a fundamental change, like water boiling and turning into gas for a swimmer. However, this also presents immense opportunities because humans are generally slow to adapt, especially those with established wealth who may be resistant to new technologies. The slow adaptation of price sensitivity also means that businesses leveraging AI can maintain current pricing while drastically reducing operational costs, leading to significant margins and operational leverage. To get started with AI, create a granular list of daily tasks. Then, for each task, ask an AI how to automate it, following its step-by-step instructions. If you get stuck, screenshot your screen and ask the AI "What do I do now?" This leverages AI as a constant, free tutor, making the learning process accessible to everyone.