5 essential insights you need to know if you want to succeed with AI

Right before summer began, our Future AI Leader Masterclass took place. It was a demanding, high-intensity ride for everyone involved, but above all, incredibly rewarding. Here are five lessons I took away – insights I feel even more strongly about now than before. (If you missed it live, the full recording is now available on-demand.)

1. AI adoption is all about managing expectations

Many people expect miracles on demand, yet real progress demands time. A lot of time. Personally, I devoted at least 10 hours each week to learning – often in the evenings and on weekends. Without time spent experimenting and “playing” with AI, you simply won’t move forward. The upside? It’s fun – more like a game of testing and exploring new paths than old-school textbook learning.

2. Fast and deep work with AI

Most people stick to the “fast” work – shortening processes, letting AI generate something, trying out a new tool here and there. But deep work with AI is different: you shut the door and create for hours at a stretch. That’s where the real possibilities – and limits – of AI reveal themselves, and you start solving problems on a completely new level.

3. The (dis)comfort zone

We hear a lot about comfort zones, but we rarely step out of them. I led by example – paying for consultations on basic programming and so-called vibe coding. Even with ChatGPT or Claude always at hand, it pushed me up a level. Thanks to “just-in-time” learning with AI, I’m now confident I can tackle anything.

4. You can’t skip the fundamentals

I created a five-phase framework for using AI – from manual work all the way to agent-based workflows – and I discovered that you can’t skip the basics. Many companies talk about agents, yet plenty of people still don’t know how to document knowledge, write effective prompts, or make use of basic assistants (GPTs, Projects, Gems, Microsoft Agents…). That’s why symbiosis with AI should be every company’s key priority.

5. People and tools make the difference

Working with people who want to grow and invest in themselves – and using truly top-tier tools – makes a massive difference. The gap between companies that invest in AI and those that don’t is widening fast. Anyone who learns to harness AI fully will never go back.

I want to thank every participant for their trust and commitment. Their stories are incredibly inspiring and that’s my greatest motivation.

If this resonates with you and you’d like a similar experience, Future AI Leader may be over, but it’s still available on-demand. 

Shift your mindset. Discover the true power of artificial intelligence. Simplify, enhance, and scale your work—and, above all, focus on what matters while leaving the rest to AI.

F.D.