In this solo episode, I share a practical beginner’s guide to using AI at work and in your business—plus a solid refresher if you’ve already dabbled with tools like ChatGPT. I break down, in plain language, how modern AI is trained, why tokens matter (and what they cost), and where the real money in AI comes from. Then we dive into the six essential skills you should build right now: prompting chatbots with context and constraints, generating and editing images, uploading and analyzing documents, using computer vision to solve real‑world and software problems, conducting deeper research, and creating lightweight “software on demand.” Along the way, I give concrete prompting frameworks, tips to reduce hallucinations, ideas for cross‑checking outputs, and hands‑on examples; from summarizing contracts to troubleshooting hardware with photos and iterating on AI‑built mini apps. I also highlight free and accessible tools you can start with today, including image generators, Microsoft Copilot, and Google’s NotebookLM for research, slide decks, summaries, and auto‑generated audio/video overviews. Whether you’re an employee sharpening AI literacy or a small business owner looking for leverage, this episode will help you build confidence, pick the right workflows, and get meaningful results, fast.

We wrap with practical do’s and don’ts, emphasizing context, constraints, audience, and outputs for better prompts; when to start a new chat to avoid lost context; how to cross-check outputs; and why computer vision is an underused superpower. If you want a no-nonsense roadmap to immediate AI wins—and a clearer picture of where the industry is headed—this episode is for you.

https://matthewrouse.com
If you like to hear about AI & marketing, and posts about chickens, connect with me on the LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmrouse/
or SubStack if that's your jam: https://mattrouse.substack.com/

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