Skill Beats Hype: Practical Ways to Augment Your Work with AI

Microsoft Innovation Podcast

Hosts: Mark Smith, Meg Smith
🎙️ FULL SHOW NOTES
https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/725
Feeling behind on AI? You’re not too late. In this kickoff to the AI Advantage Show, Meg and Mark unpack the myth that “everyone is already ahead,” share why only a small group are true power users, and show how to turn fear into curiosity, then into practical skills. You will learn how to use AI as a thought partner, build adaptability in the Intelligence Age, and plug into a community that learns and teaches together, ako-style.
Join the private WhatsApp group for Q&A and community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/E0iyXcUVhpl9um7DuKLYEz
What you’ll learn
- Why the “everyone is ahead” idea is a myth, and what the 10 percent power-user cliff really means for you
- How to shift from knowledge to applied skill through iteration, not one-shot prompts
- Ways to use AI as a thought partner so your ideas lead, and the model supports
- How adaptability, curiosity, and practice compound your results over time
- A simple “20 Questions” exercise that keeps outputs in your true voice
- Why community matters for confidence, accountability, and momentum

Highlights
“It is not a ramp, it is a cliff.”
“Skill beats hype. Practice, iterate, and ask better follow-up prompts.”
“AI is becoming an extension of us, like the phone in your pocket.”
“Ako means we learn and teach together.”
Mentioned
Brad Smith, Tools and Weapons: https://amzn.to/45H16sD
Mark’s Tech Trailblazer 2-Minute Tuesday Read: https://pages.nz365guy.com/linkedin
Connect with the hosts
Mark Smith:
Blog: https://www.nz365guy.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nz365guy
Meg Smith:
Blog: https://www.megsmith.nz
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megsmithnz
Support the show
Subscribe, rate, and share with someone who wants to be future ready. Drop your questions in the comments or the WhatsApp group, and we may feature them in an upcoming episode.
Keywords: AI skills, generative AI, Copilot, prompting, Intelligence Age, digital fluency, adaptability, productivity, AI thought partner, learning community

Support the show

If you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.
Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

บท

1. Introduction to the AI Advantage Show (00:00:00)

2. The Importance of AI in Everyday Life (00:02:57)

3. Navigating Fear and Curiosity in AI (00:05:53)

4. The Role of Adaptability in the Intelligence Age (00:08:32)

5. Personal Experiences with AI (00:11:17)

6. The Need for Experimentation with AI (00:14:13)

7. Building a Community Around AI Learning (00:17:07)

8. Looking Ahead: Digital Fluency and Future Topics (00:20:07)