Embracing curiosity and exploring new ways to boost productivity and efficiency is a true power move. AI can be your tireless partner working behind the scenes to help you do more, like formulating business plans, generating catchy content and analyzing data so you can make data-driven decisions at lightning speed. From instant email drafts to real-time analytics that uncover hidden opportunities, these AI-enhanced tools are transforming how work gets done.
But handing over every task to your favorite AI tool risks losing the human spark that makes connections. Blending AI’s efficiency with your personal touch and expert point of view ensures you don’t just work faster, but you also make more time for high-value tasks.
How Curiosity Led Me to Using AI
The first time I built a business, it wasn’t because I was fearless. It was because the job market was rough, and I’m a naturally curious person who likes learning new things. I had just finished my graduate degree in 2008, eager to jump into a full-time career. I had worked all through school and built a solid portfolio, but sometimes timing is everything—and the economy had other plans.
So, I leaned into what I had. I was an elder millennial with a Facebook account at a time when many business owners were still terrified of social media. To me, it wasn’t scary.It was just another relationship-building tool. It followed the same rules that have always governed good networking: show up, be consistent earn trust.
That same curiosity—the one that helped me see possibility in a tough economy—is what’s brought many of us to AI. And honestly, it’s what keeps me learning, even when the technology moves faster than what feels comfortable.
At Edson E+I, we’re always asking: What does this new tool make possible for founders? For creatives? For the communities we care about?
AI is no different. And this blog isn’t about convincing you that AI is the future (we know it is). It’s about sharing how I’ve been learning and applying it in real time, just like we ask the entrepreneurs we serve to do.
What I’ve Learned About How I Learn
One of the best things about getting older is realizing how you learn, and then giving yourself permission to lean into it.
For me, adopting any new technology (AI included) follows the same four-step rhythm:
- Start with a deep dive. I need someone to give me the lay of the land—ideally in person, where I’m stuck in a chair and forced to really listen. A conference session, a workshop, a meaty panel. Something that shows me what’s happening beneath the headlines.
- Jump in and mess around. Then I have to try it. Fast. I need to break it, use it wrong and apply it to a real project or problem. It won’t be perfect, but I’ll learn faster by doing.
- Talk it out. Once I’ve tried it, I need to process with someone else, like a peer who’s experimenting, too. I want to hear how they’re applying it, what they’re stuck on and what’s clicked.
- Stay close to the edge. Finally, I need to surround myself with people who are ahead of me. Not to feel small, but to stay inspired. I want to follow them, connect with them, maybe even meet them in real life. And I want to build in systems that feed me bite-sized learning—blogs, newsletters, Pinterest boards, podcasts—so the learning never stops.
How I Use AI Now
Right now, AI is my brainstorming partner. It’s my “first draft” machine. I don’t expect it to get things right on the first try (and honestly, it shouldn’t). But I use ChatGPT to help me get unstuck, to organize messy thoughts and to map out connections between ideas.
It works especially well for someone like me who’s a quickstart and a systems thinker. I can see how all the parts connect—but not all in one prompt. I have to go step-by-step, making sure it’s being applied the way I want. That alone helps me skip so many steps. It turns a blank page into something I can actually work with.
And I talk things out. A lot. So I use voice dictation to get ideas out of my head and into a format I can build on. That’s where AI fits into my workflow—not replacing my thinking, but helping me shape it faster.
Meet Cassie (My AI Thought Partner)
I call my ChatGPT “Cassie.” Why? Because it reminds me that this isn’t some cold, robotic tool I have to master. It’s a thought partner. And giving it a name makes it feel less intimidating and way more collaborative. In full disclosure, I name a lot of things; feel free to ask me what we named our Toyota Highlander.
I also (usually) say “please” and “thank you.” A teammate taught me that, and while it’s partly a little personal habit to humanize the experience. I also grew up in a world where 90% of movies were about robots taking over. So yes, part of me is hedging my bets. If AI ever does become self-aware, I’d like to be remembered as the nice human who said “please.”
But more than that, it helps me approach AI with a mindset of respect. I don’t want to treat any tool—especially one with this much potential—as disposable or transactional. Just like social media back in the day, I want to approach this with intention and curiosity.
Moving Past the Hype With Real Use Cases
Most of what I hear in AI networking spaces sounds a lot like what we heard with blockchain and the metaverse: “This will change everything!” And while that’s probably true, it doesn’t really help illustrate how people are actually using these tools in practical ways.
The conversations that energize me are the ones about how. The founders in our Edson E+I network who are actually applying AI in real time—in customer service, in scheduling, in storytelling—those are the voices I’m listening to. They’re not trying to be futurists. They’re trying to build.
Here are some real ways people and teams are using AI tools:
- Automate Repetitive Tasks
AI can handle things like data entry, scheduling and follow-ups so your team can focus on bigger work. - Streamline Customer Support
Chatbots and smart routing can answer common questions fast and free up your support team’s time for thornier issues and analysis. - Enhance Content Creation
From writing emails to drafting blogs, AI can speed up the creative process without starting from scratch. - Improve Decision-Making
AI can quickly analyze trends and data to help teams make smarter, faster choices. - Support Finance Teams
AI can speed up invoicing, detect anomalies and help forecast revenue more accurately.
What AI Can—and Can’t—Do for You
One of the most helpful things I’ve seen this past year is how many founders are already using AI to speed up parts of their workload. During our last round of Venture Challenges (pitch contests), we noticed a trend. A lot of founders used tools like ChatGPT to help write their applications. And honestly? That’s great. Founders should absolutely use AI to save time and move faster. That’s the point—let the tool take the pressure off the blank page.
But here’s the flip side. It became really clear, really fast, who had real traction and who used a generic AI-generated statement that failed to highlight what their solution has accomplished either in the market or with beta testers. The question that was asked where we saw this problem was: How has your venture validated the market need? Five different submissions came in with a bold header that said, “Market Validation: We have validated our market…”—and then… nothing compelling followed.
It’s a great reminder that if you don’t have strong examples, data or real insight, the information you share—whether it’s your own or AI-assisted—will fall flat. Generic content might fill a page, but it won’t move readers (reviewers or funders). AI can get you started, but it’s your lived experience, your numbers and your voice that make the story credible.
There’s a wave of new software startups tackling this challenge, offering tools that help you write better, generate tailored visuals and streamline your creative process. From platforms like ChatGPT, Copilot and Gemini to built-in AI features in your favorite marketing apps, the options are expanding fast. Emerging players like Veed are making strides in AI-powered video creation, while early-stage startups—like Donesy—are reshaping how teams generate full-scale marketing campaigns with smart automation and personalization.
So yes, use the tools. Let them help. But make sure you bring the substance.
The Future of AI Tools
AI is here. But more importantly, so are you. This fall, we’re leaning into the real work: helping founders actually use AI in meaningful ways. We’re curating practical tools, creating space for honest conversations and building shared understanding so that our entire innovation community can move forward together, with AI as a tool, not a hurdle.
You don’t have to be an expert. You just have to be willing to try, reflect, and try again. And if you want to start exploring how AI might fit into your work, I highly recommend the “How Can I Use AI For My Business?” module from our team at Edson E+I. It’s designed with real-world use in mind, and it’s built for entrepreneurs like you.
Innovation isn’t about knowing everything—it’s about staying curious.
