Afraid of AI? Here’s What to Do Instead

Take a walk through any office, wait online for others to join a Teams or Zoom call, or bump into an old co-worker at Starbucks——you’ll hear the same concern:

“Is AI going to take my job?”

It’s a fair question. Unless you’re in a profession that involves fixing plumbing, laying concrete, or replacing brake pads, it’s hard not to feel like the digital tidal wave of AI might wash you out of relevance.

But here’s the thing: AI isn’t just a threat. It’s a tool. One that’s already helping most of us—whether we realize it or not.

Like right now. You’re reading something that was written by a human (me) and shaped by an AI assistant. I still had to think, edit, and guide it. But it helped me get here faster—and better. It’s not a replacement. It’s a force multiplier.


Fear is normal. Staying afraid is optional.
The worst thing to do with AI is nothing. To bury your head and hope this all blows over. Spoiler: it won’t.

The second worst thing? To become a doomsday narrator in your own story.

The better option is this: get curious. Learn how to use it. Let it help you. Because once you stop seeing AI as a rival and start using it like an ally, everything changes. Along with helping you, look how it can help those who work with or for you. At Intertech, everyone, including the admin is reading a book or attending a course on AI for their job.


Here’s how to stay relevant—and even thrive—with AI:

1. Become a “human-AI hybrid.”
The people who succeed in the next decade won’t be the ones who avoid AI. They’ll be the ones who use it daily—and pair it with judgment, emotional intelligence, and common sense. Think you + AI = amplified value. For my software application development firm, like mine, AI represents the challenge that AI will reduce our billable hours. This is the reality of the future. Either we embrace it, or others will surpass what we can deliver.

2. Use it to eliminate the junk work.
AI is great at first drafts, summaries, idea generation, and repetitive tasks. Let it take care of the shallow work so you can focus on the deep stuff—strategy, creativity, relationships, leadership.

3. Focus on what AI can’t do (yet).
Things like building trust, mentoring a junior colleague, closing a deal with nuance, or navigating politics inside a client’s organization. That’s still very much human territory. Strengthen your relationships with clients, employees, partners, or others.

4. Stop waiting for perfect. Start experimenting.
Use ChatGPT, CoPilot, or others. Not sure where to start? Tell AI about your job and ask for feedback. Try an AI meeting note taker. Let AI generate a first pass on a report. You don’t have to be an expert. You just have to start. Every new skill starts with awkwardness.

5. Ask AI to help you with AI.
Open up to AI and share what you’re about, what you do, your goals, and where you have questions and want answers. Have it be a dialogue not a one-and-done question. Guide the AI on the journey not vice versa. Expect to be surprised. The more you interact with your AI, the more it learns about you and will guess what you want next. And, finally, a good thing about AI is to think how often it calls in sick, gets tired of you asking it to answer the same question, or doubts what it’s saying… zero.


Bottom line? Yes, I will change work. It already is. But it’s not coming to replace the people who adapt—it’s coming to help them outperform everyone else.

So the question isn’t “Will AI take my job?”

It’s “Am I willing to evolve with it?”

And if you’re already using AI to draft blogs, answer emails, and prep for meetings… congratulations. You’re not behind. You’re ahead.

Boosting Personal Performance with AI: Tools and Techniques for Every Professional

In today’s competitive work environment, leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) can significantly enhance individual performance. Here are practical ways professionals can integrate AI into their daily tasks to work smarter, faster, and more efficiently.

1. AI-Powered Task Management

Using AI-driven task management tools like Todoist can help prioritize daily tasks based on deadlines, project timelines, and personal productivity patterns. These tools learn from your behavior to suggest optimal times for tackling complex tasks versus routine work, helping you manage your energy and focus better throughout the day.

2. Enhanced Data Analysis with AI

For those who work with data, tools like Tableau or Microsoft Power BI incorporate AI to assist in analyzing large datasets to uncover trends and insights without the need for complex queries. These insights can help in making data-driven decisions swiftly, providing a competitive edge in strategic planning and operations.

3. AI for Writing and Content Creation

AI writing assistants like Grammarly or Jasper can enhance writing quality by suggesting improvements in grammar, tone, and style, making communication more effective. For more advanced content creation, these tools can help generate ideas, draft content, and even optimize it for SEO, which is particularly useful for marketing professionals and content creators.

4. Automated Scheduling and Email Management

AI tools such as x.ai and Boomerang can automate meeting scheduling, follow-ups, and email management. These tools analyze your schedule and preferences to arrange meetings without the back-and-forth, suggest optimal times for email sending, and remind you when it’s time to follow up, ensuring you never miss a beat.

5. Personalized Learning and Development

Platforms like Coursera and LinkedIn Learning use AI to suggest courses and learning paths tailored to your career goals and skill gaps. This personalized approach ensures that you’re always developing relevant skills that enhance your capabilities and impact at work.

6. Voice-Activated Assistants for Improved Productivity

Voice-activated AI assistants like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa can be used to set reminders, manage tasks, take notes, and retrieve information quickly and hands-free, allowing you to stay focused and organized without having to stop what you’re doing.

7. Real-Time Collaboration Tools

AI-enhanced collaboration tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams integrate with other AI tools to provide real-time assistance during meetings, offer summarized notes, and suggest action items, improving team collaboration and meeting productivity.

By integrating these AI tools into your work routine, you can automate mundane tasks, gain valuable insights, and spend more time on strategic activities that enhance your performance and career progression.

7 Ways to Learn as a Busy Business Leader

Staying informed as a leader is crucial, and leveraging resources like Audible and Blinkist can be highly effective. Here are seven top tools to keep you in the loop:

  1. Audible: Offers a vast library of audiobooks across genres, allowing you to listen to books during commutes or workouts. Download Audible
  2. Blinkist: Provides concise summaries of nonfiction books, enabling you to grasp key insights quickly. Sign up for Blinkist
  3. Pocket: Save articles, videos, and stories from any publication or app, and read or listen to them later, even offline. Get Pocket
  4. Feedly: An RSS aggregator that compiles news from various sources into a personalized feed, keeping you updated on industry trends. Join Feedly
  5. Flipboard: Curates news and stories from around the world, allowing you to create custom magazines on topics of interest. Explore Flipboard
  6. TED Talks: Access thousands of talks from experts in various fields, offering insights and inspiration. Watch TED Talks
  7. Coursera: Offers online courses from top universities and companies, helping you stay informed and develop new skills. Enroll in Coursera

Integrating these resources into your routine can help you stay informed efficiently.

Top Productivity Tools You’re Not Using But Should Be

In a world where time is our most valuable commodity, finding the right tools to maximize productivity can be a game-changer. While we’re all familiar with popular tools like Slack, Trello, or Asana, there are several hidden gems that can significantly boost your efficiency. Here’s a list of top productivity tools you might not be using, but absolutely should consider adding to your arsenal.

1. Notion

Why You Should Use It:
Notion is a powerhouse tool that combines notes, tasks, databases, and project management into one platform. It’s perfect for leaders and teams who want to organize everything in one place, from meeting notes to long-term strategic plans.

Key Features:

  • Customizable pages and databases
  • Collaborative workspace
  • Integrations with tools like Slack and Google Drive

Download Notion


2. Serene

Why You Should Use It:
Serene is designed for deep focus. It helps you achieve flow by blocking out distractions, setting goals, and breaking your day into productivity sessions with timed breaks. Perfect for leaders juggling multiple projects.

Key Features:

  • Focus session timer
  • Goal setting for the day
  • App and website blocking to reduce distractions

Download Serene


3. Toggl Track

Why You Should Use It:
Time tracking is often overlooked but critical for understanding where your time goes. Toggl Track helps you measure productivity and track billable hours, perfect for consultants or teams working on client projects.

Key Features:

  • Easy-to-use time tracking
  • Detailed reporting and analytics
  • Integrations with over 100 apps

Download Toggl Track


4. SaneBox

Why You Should Use It:
Email is a major productivity killer. SaneBox helps you clean up your inbox by filtering out unimportant emails, helping you focus only on what truly matters. Think of it as a smart filter for your email chaos.

Key Features:

  • AI-driven email filtering
  • SaneLater for non-urgent emails
  • Do Not Disturb mode for focus times

Try SaneBox


5. Motion

Why You Should Use It:
Motion uses AI to automatically plan your day based on your tasks and meetings, making sure you’re always working on what’s most important. It’s ideal for leaders who want to optimize their schedules without the hassle of manual planning.

Key Features:

  • AI-powered task scheduling
  • Real-time calendar management
  • Automatic rescheduling based on priority

Download Motion


6. Forest

Why You Should Use It:
Forest is a fun and effective way to stay focused. Every time you stay focused on a task, you plant a virtual tree. If you get distracted and leave the app, the tree dies. It’s great for individuals who need an extra nudge to maintain focus.

Key Features:

  • Visual encouragement through virtual trees
  • Statistics on focused time
  • Integration with real-life tree planting initiatives

Download Forest


7. ClickUp

Why You Should Use It:
ClickUp is an all-in-one productivity platform that lets you manage tasks, docs, goals, and more. It’s a strong alternative to tools like Asana or Trello, with a more customizable and flexible interface for growing teams.

Key Features:

  • Fully customizable task management
  • Docs, goals, and time tracking all in one place
  • Automation and workflow management

Download ClickUp


8. Brain.fm

Why You Should Use It:
Need help concentrating? Brain.fm provides music specifically designed to improve focus. Backed by neuroscience, this tool helps you get into a productive mindset faster than regular background music.

Key Features:

  • Focus music designed by neuroscientists
  • Sessions for deep work, relaxation, or sleep
  • Available across desktop and mobile

Try Brain.fm


9. TextExpander

Why You Should Use It:
TextExpander saves you time by turning repetitive typing into quick, custom shortcuts. It’s perfect for leaders who frequently send similar emails or reports, and it works across platforms and apps.

Key Features:

  • Customizable text snippets
  • Team sharing options
  • Works across all devices and apps

Download TextExpander


10. Otter.ai

Why You Should Use It:
For leaders constantly in meetings, Otter.ai transcribes conversations in real-time, helping you capture important points without missing a beat. It’s especially useful for recording meetings and sharing notes with the team.

Key Features:

  • Real-time transcription and note-taking
  • AI-powered voice recognition
  • Integrates with Zoom and Google Meet

Try Otter.ai


Wrapping Up

These tools, while lesser-known, can significantly improve your productivity by automating tasks, enhancing focus, and organizing your day more effectively. Whether you need to manage your time better, cut through the clutter of your inbox, or simply concentrate more deeply, there’s a tool here for you. Give them a try, and let me know which ones make the biggest impact on your workday!