AI Explored Podcast: "How to Gain Superpowers With AI" (March 31, 2026)

Host: Michael Stelzner
Guest: Tim Kakir, AI strategist and founder of AI Operator (arpada.com)

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Michael Stelzner sits down with AI strategist Tim Kakir to discuss how marketers, creators, and business leaders can truly gain "superpowers" with AI—going beyond just having the latest tools to actually transforming work habits, workflows, and team culture. Tim offers a step-by-step, actionable framework grounded in both mindset and method, sharing real examples and highlighting the growing importance of AI operationalization, not just exploration.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tim's Journey Into AI (02:30–04:11)

• Tim started in marketing for a deep tech company doing “computer vision” before the term AI was widely used.

• Early exposure led to curiosity about neural networks and machine learning, laying a foundation for future adoption.

• Notable early insight: Even non-technical professionals can become AI experts with the right approach.

  “I was just a head of marketing...I felt like I was the dumbest...but then my CEO said, ‘Do you want to learn about neural networks?’ And I was like, I’d love to.” — Tim (03:02)

2. Current Role & Motivation (04:23–05:41)

• Tim's current mission: Help people and organizations “operationalize” AI to remove friction and automate boring, low-cognitive work.

• Personal driver: ADHD and desire to focus on high-cognitive, stimulating work.

  “I wake up every morning and I'm like, how can I help teams operationalize AI? … I want people to do everything they want and... not to do what they don't want to do.” — Tim (05:02)

3. Misconceptions & Fear Around AI Adoption (05:41–07:09)

• Common fears: AI will replace jobs. Tim argues that AI will free people from work humans shouldn't need to do.

• Biggest misconception: Simply having AI tools isn't enough—you need a plan and must reimagine workflows.

  “Everybody thinks, okay, let's just get some tools... Yeah, well, that's not how it works.” — Tim (06:30)

4. Tools Are Not Enough: The Boxing Analogy (07:09–08:36)

• Having the “best gloves” (tools) doesn’t make you a boxer; practice and mindset are crucial.

• Parallels drawn to learning and embodying AI: skill and workflow matter more than tool selection alone.

  “It’s not just the tool itself. It’s good to have the best tools, for sure.” — Tim (08:15)

5. The Upside of Embracing AI (08:48–10:38)

• AI as a 24/7 "colleague" that expands capabilities, reduces dread, and serves as a collaborative partner.

• Anyone can access new skillsets (“superpowers”) and do things they couldn’t previously.

  “I do feel that AI is a colleague, is a friend. I'm not alone. You know, I have this intelligence next to me 24/7.” — Tim (09:03)

6. Where to Start: The Framework for Gaining AI Superpowers (11:54–18:05)

Tim introduces his five-stage process:
Align → Develop → Operationalize → Practice → Transform

6.1 Align (Vision, Mindset, Tools) (11:54–13:22)

• Alignment means personal and organizational clarity on WHY to use AI, what models/apps to adopt, and the intended vision.

• Tip: "Find your why"—identify what you love or loathe about your current role to align AI use.

  “If you do know these things, you can align with AI, you can align with the large language model…” — Tim (12:25)

6.2 Develop (Capability Building & Upskilling) (13:22–18:34)

• Lay out a personal development plan—recognize where you want to improve, automate, and grow curiosity.

• Human Prompt Exercise: “It sucks that…” Write down tasks you dislike and use these as entry points for AI development.

  “As you write those things down, you’ll be like, oh...I never thought about this one. Right? So you will have these wow moments and aha moments yourselves.” — Tim (19:27)

6.3 Operationalize (Integrate, Deploy, Implement) (28:30–39:10)

• Move beyond proof-of-concept: integrate, scale, and implement AI workflows.

• Address “pilot purgatory”—ensure solutions are embedded, not just tested.

• Technical note: Tools like Claude Cowork by Anthropic excel in workflow automation and operational AI.

  “Only 5% [of pilots] work...that’s because we don’t operationalize them. You know, we don’t integrate them, we don’t deploy them with a plan.” — Tim (29:07)

6.4 Practice (Habit Formation, Sharing Knowledge) (39:13–40:15)

• Form habits, validate outcomes, capture value, and encourage peer-to-peer sharing of successful approaches.
• Encourage innovation competitions to foster creative uses of AI within teams.

6.5 Transform (Sustainability, Scale, Governance) (40:16–41:38)

• Ensure transformation sticks by creating governance structures, privacy guidelines, and continuous iteration as technology evolves.
• Focus on diffusing AI-positive habits and processes across the wider organization.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• AI as a “colleague”
  “I have this intelligence next to me 24/7. Anytime I open my computer.” — Tim (09:03)

• Why vision matters
  "Without vision, you're just going to be chasing small incremental changes, right? But if you have vision and then you have a why, you can work towards that vision." — Michael (15:27)

• Focus on what won’t change
  “In vision…look at what’s not going to change. Like, what are the things that are going to stay the same or quite similar.” — Tim (16:46)

• Human prompt for AI improvement
  “It sucks that. And then answer…What sucks in your job?...That’s the kind of thing that you’re going to want to learn and develop, to automate or learn to do faster.” — Tim (18:38)

• Real-world example (reporting automation):
  “They were able to do this in 14 hours less a month. And when you calculate that 35 times 14, that's huge time savings. … Suddenly it's not just the time savings, but now it's also a potential on higher revenue generation.” — Tim (22:14)

• On using voice for AI collaboration:
  “I'm much faster but also I'm much more natural. Like when we talk…I make so many errors [when I type]…But when you speak to the machine…AI is great at then making sense of your ramblings.” — Tim (41:52)

Deep Dive: Claude Cowork & Modern AI Workflows (30:00–39:10)

• Claude Cowork (Anthropic):
  A user-friendly interface for workflow automation, allowing you to:

  • Select folders, access files, and run complex, multi-step processes (“skills” and “commands”).
  • Leverage browser interaction ("Claude in Chrome") to gather information, synthesize, and populate newsletters or other documents.

• Practical Example:
  Automating a newsletter: Claude Cowork can help write, gather collateral, apply style guides, and aggregate news with minimal manual effort.

  “Cloth cowork, the name is better cowork...it's not just the chat, but it has these extra powers...commands, the skills and the connectors.” — Tim (35:38)

Key Timestamps For Important Segments

• Tim’s AI Origin Story: 02:30–04:11
• Purpose and Motivation: 04:23–05:41
• Misconceptions about AI: 05:41–07:09
• Boxing analogy about tools vs. skills: 07:09–08:36
• Upside: AI as a colleague: 08:48–10:38
• Framework Introduction (Align → Develop → Operationalize): 11:54–18:34
• “It sucks that…” Exercise: 18:34–21:36
• Business Case Study (Sales reporting): 21:42–25:00
• Operationalizing with Claude Cowork: 28:30–39:10
• Practicing and Innovation Competitions: 39:13–40:15
• Transform, Governance, and Scaling: 40:16–41:38
• Voice-first AI workflows: 41:52–44:55
• Raycast Shortcut Tool: 45:00–46:42

Practical Tips & Tools Mentioned

• Exercises:

  • “It sucks that…” journal — Identify automation candidates.
  • Calendar color-coding for task joy/dread.

• Tools:

  • Claude Cowork (Anthropic) — Workflow automation & collaboration.
  • Aqua Voice, Super Whisper, Whisper Flow — Voice dictation and AI command.
  • Raycast — MacOS search/automation tool that integrates AI and app workflows.

• Processes:

  • Build repeatable, operationalized workflows—not just one-off AI trials.
  • Use voice and shortcuts to make interfacing with AI natural and fast.
  • Hold internal innovation competitions to surface valuable use cases and habits.

Actionable Takeaways

• Mindset first: True AI “superpowers” require vision, alignment, curiosity, and continuous practice—not just tools.
• Automate pain points: Use prompts like "It sucks that..." to surface and eliminate tedious work.
• Go beyond pilots: Operationalize and embed AI workflows. Share success and iterate.
• Use advanced tools: Explore Claude Cowork, dictation apps, and shortcut tools for maximum productivity.
• Scale sustainably: As you transform, build governance and knowledge-sharing into your AI culture.

Connect with Guest

Tim Kakir:

• Website: arpada.com
• LinkedIn: Tim Kakir
• YouTube: Tim Kakir on YouTube
• Free Newsletter: Linked from his LinkedIn

Show notes and more resources at: socialmediaexaminer.com/aipod