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Stay Credible With Modern AI

5 min read

Software Arch

Clients will ask 'should we use AI for this?' You need a view. Understand capabilities and limits. You don't need to prompt — you need to judge.

Eng Manager

Your team uses AI. You advise other managers. Know enough to say 'that's a good use' or 'watch out for that.' Credibility depends on it.

Tech Lead

You're the technical voice. AI is part of the stack now. Stay current. One hour a week of reading and experimentation is enough.

Stay Credible With Modern AI

TL;DR

  • You don't need to be an AI expert. You need to know enough to advise. Capabilities, limits, and "when it goes wrong."
  • One hour a week: read, experiment, or talk to someone who uses it daily. That's enough to stay credible.
  • James's value is judgment. Judgment about AI requires knowing what it can and can't do. Invest the minimum. Reap the credibility.

James's clients will ask: "What about AI? Should we use it? What are the risks?" He needs an answer. Not a PhD. A informed view. Here's how to get it.

What You Need to Know

  • Capabilities: What can AI do well? Code generation, docs, summarization. What's real vs. hype?
  • Limits: Hallucinations, context windows, "it sounds right but is wrong." Where does it break?
  • Use cases: When does it help? When does it create risk? Architecture? Security? Compliance?

You don't need to prompt like a pro. You need to know when to say "that's a good use" or "I'd be careful there."

How to Stay Current (Minimal Effort)

  • Read: One newsletter or blog a week. Stratechery, technical blogs, or this course. 30 minutes. Compound over months.
  • Try: Use ChatGPT or Claude for one real task. Research, draft, debug. Feel what works and what doesn't. One hour.
  • Talk: Ask a colleague or client: "How are you using AI? What's surprising?" Conversations teach faster than reading sometimes.

Your Edge: Judgment, Not Tools

You're not competing with 25-year-olds on "who can prompt better." You're advising on "is this a good idea?" and "what could go wrong?" That requires pattern recognition, not tool fluency. Stay informed enough to apply your judgment. That's the bar.

Quick Check

James's clients ask: 'What about AI? Should we use it?' He needs an answer. What's the right bar?

Client asks about AI. You change the subject. You're not sure what's real vs. hype. You worry you sound outdated. Credibility slips.

Click "Informed" to see the difference →

Do This Next

  1. Spend one hour using ChatGPT or Claude for a real task. Research a topic, draft an email, or debug an error. Note what worked and what didn't.
  2. Read Parts 1 and 2 of this course. You'll have the vocabulary and the framework. Then you can advise with confidence.