The Race Has Evolved
In The Race to Stay Educated, I wrote that curiosity had become the new competitive advantage. The ability to stay informed, not just about your role, but about how technology is reshaping it, was the dividing line between staying relevant and quietly fading into irrelevance.
But the race has changed again.
Knowing about AI is no longer impressive. It is assumed. The next advantage belongs to those who know how to apply it intentionally, not to automate mindlessly, but to think differently.
The truth is, most professionals are stuck in “AI demo mode.” They test tools, skim headlines, and feel like they are keeping up. But the people quietly rewriting the rules of productivity are not just using AI. They are building personal systems around it.
That is the new race.
Not to learn faster, but to apply smarter.
We are entering an age where “efficiency” no longer means doing more things, it means doing fewer things perfectly aligned with your value. AI is the bridge that makes that possible.
If you have felt overwhelmed by new tools, scattered workflows, or the anxiety of being “left behind,” you are not alone. The solution is not chasing every new app or GPT, it is designing a personal operating system that amplifies your focus, removes friction, and scales your creativity.
The goal of this essay is simple, to help you work like you have a team of ten, without burning out or losing your authenticity.
If The Race to Stay Educated was about preparing your mind,
this one is about preparing your workflow.
Below is the full guide, a practical roadmap for building your AI fluency, based on real frameworks, daily habits, and insights drawn from the Perplexity at Work methodology.
FAQ
What does “applied intelligence” mean in practice?
It means using AI to reduce friction, increase clarity, and elevate the quality of work you ship, not to automate everything and hope for the best.
Where should I start if I feel overwhelmed by tools?
Start with one workflow you repeat weekly. Document it, then use AI to create templates, checklists, and drafts that speed up the parts you do not need to do from scratch.
How do I avoid becoming dependent on AI?
Build systems, not shortcuts. Keep your point of view, your standards, and your final edits. Use AI for speed and structure, then apply your judgement for quality.