No perfect family holiday photo this year and I’m giving myself grace for that. Here are the Adams reindeer pups, Penny and Isla, spreading some holiday cheer instead. (I know, they hate those antlers. 😂)

As I reflect this Christmas season, I’m reminded that grace is at the heart of my faith and what this time of year means to me.

I’ve been thinking about what we do with the time AI saves us. Right now, there’s still so much to learn that it feels like we’re adding to our plates rather than clearing them. And that’s okay. We all need to give ourselves grace as we go through this journey.

AI has become part of our family moments:

• helping my mom who has dementia remember when I visited her in the Philippines,

• picking out a new game appropriate for teens at Target for game night with our neighbors (here’s how: https://lnkd.in/gibdDY_S), and

• the kids getting creeped out and laughing using ChatGPT’s advanced voice with video.

These personal experiments inspire how I use AI at work, and vice versa.

When used thoughtfully, AI isn’t just about saving time, it’s about enhancing the moments that matter.

Looking back, my heart is full seeing how I’ve helped others grow and succeed in their AI journey this year. It brings me such joy to see that impact ripple outward. And none of it would have been possible without those who supported and taught me along the way.

Time to rest, reflect, and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas while enjoying the small moments that make life truly special.

From our family to yours, wishing you and your loved ones health, peace, joy, and the best of the holiday season and the year to come!

By 2028, Gartner predicts a 50% drop in web traffic due to AI search. The future isn’t about competing with AI. It’s about creating content so valuable that AI has to serve it up.

In my latest newsletter, I share how leading teams are tackling this head on:

• Content so relevant that AI search tools want to cite you as their source

• Original research that fills critical data gaps (most “common knowledge” lacks real data)

• Counter-narratives that drive genuine thought leadership

• Stories that transform perspectives (like what mountain gorillas taught me about purpose)

Plus:

• Why less traffic signals higher-quality engagement

• How to use AI to uncover stories others miss

• A custom GPT demo for finding hidden content angles

• Practical steps to become the go-to reference in AI search

Special thanks to Chris Andrew, Andy Crestodina, and Karrie Sanderson for sharing their invaluable insights on becoming the source both AI and humans trust.

(Audio version available for podcast lovers! Link to an AI podcast is in the newsletter and in the comments below.)

Your thoughts? What other content strategies are you using to become more relevant to both humans and AI?

Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday season! Hope you get some well-deserved rest and come back inspired for 2025.

#ContentStrategy #AIContent #ThoughtLeadership #HumanConnections #ContentMarketing

I got a solicitation via a LinkedIn message to be included in a Who’s Who list for “no obligation.”

I had never heard of the organization. So I simply took a screenshot of the message, uploaded it to Perplexity (AI), and asked: “Please tell me about this organization. Is it reputable and credible? Should I participate in this?”

Attached is Perplexity’s response. It took one minute to check and decline.

This shows the power at the customers’ fingertips. Brand is rented, not owned. We need to continuously earn trust. Brand is now more important than ever.

This is now the world we live in. Be an amazing human being first, then be an amazing marketer.

#AI #Marketing #Brand #Trust #Reputation

Our family has AI readiness on our daughter’s college search checklist. I believe that recent college grads and early-career professionals are most vulnerable to AI disruption in the workforce.

Students need to graduate ready to work well in a world where humans and AI collaborate.

Here’s what we learned from our initial AI-powered research using Perplexity (see carousel below for detailed comparison tables, findings need verification):

• Only 1 in 4 U.S. colleges score well on AI readiness
• Even top schools like MIT and Harvard are ahead but still early with AI
• By 2027, 69% of companies expect to use AI, but most universities aren’t ready

We compared three schools we’re interested in:

• Northeastern (9/10) – Strong industry connections drive hands-on AI projects, plus experiential learning through their co-op program
• Boston University (8/10) – Clear AI guidelines for every course syllabus, with focus on maintaining academic integrity while embracing AI’s potential
• Colorado University Boulder (7/10) – Decentralized approach letting departments innovate, with strong faculty ambassador program for AI literacy

College costs keep rising with inflation. When we pay this much for education, it needs to prepare students for tomorrow’s jobs, not yesterday’s.

AI is moving fast, ChatGPT is barely two years old. But this isn’t like other tech changes. I believe that the impact on jobs will be bigger and faster.

However, schools can’t prepare students if educators aren’t prepared first. Faculty need time and resources to learn AI, while developing clear guidelines for when and how to use it in coursework.

This requires significant funding and prioritization that many schools don’t have yet.

Here’s how each group can help:

• Parents/Guardians/Students – Ask tough questions about AI readiness during college visits. Look beyond vague AI policies and ask how they teach responsible AI use in coursework, what guidelines they give students, and how they support faculty teaching with AI.
• Colleges – Create clear guidelines for AI use in coursework. Develop comprehensive faculty training programs. Make AI literacy part of the curriculum, not an afterthought.
• Companies – Support more than just top-tier universities. Help fund AI education programs and faculty development. Create internships that teach responsible AI use in real-world settings.

The goal isn’t making AI experts. It’s helping students work confidently with AI, use it responsibly, and stay adaptable as technology evolves.

For those in college search mode, how are you evaluating schools’ AI preparation? Any advice or guidance?

#CollegeSearch #AILiteracy #FutureOfWork #HigherEd #ResponsibleAI