Preface
Greetings and salutations potential friends, colleagues, and critics. My name is Donnie, and I’m building this blog as a public record of my journey into artificial intelligence.
I’m not an engineer. I’m not some ten-year vet of the tech world.
I’m a relatively new digital marketing guy who sees where this is all headed and doesn’t want to get left behind.
This site is where I’m going to learn in public. I’ll share what I explore each week, what tools I try, what I think actually works, and what doesn’t.
I want to get good at this stuff. Not just for me, but for anyone else trying to figure out what AI means for real people in real jobs.
I don’t want to be playing catch-up in a year or two. I want to understand how this technology works, how to apply it in a meaningful way, and how to keep evolving alongside it.
That’s the goal here. I’m not documenting AI from a technical perspective. I’m learning how to use it in real-world contexts and sharing that process in public.
If it helps someone else stay ahead of the curve, even better.
That’s it. That’s the whole pitch.
Buckle up and enjoy the ride. Here’s what I got into this week.
Foundational Groundwork- What is AI?
At its core, artificial intelligence refers to systems that can perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence. That might mean recognizing patterns, generating content, making decisions, or responding to prompts in a way that feels like real conversation.
It’s not science fiction. It’s a tool built on data and algorithms, and it’s getting more capable by the day.
I’m interested in AI because I believe we’re in the early stages of another major technological shift. When I was a kid growing up in the 90’s, the internet changed everything. Like artificial intelligence, most people didn’t even fully understand what it was at the time.
Here we are in 2025, and history is repeating itself with AI.
AI feels like it’s in the same place culturally that I remember the internet being in before it exploded. Quiet at first… then BLAM! It’s everywhere and in everything.
For marketers, content creators, business owners, and just about anyone working in digital spaces, AI isn’t optional anymore. It’s becoming part of the toolbox, whether we’re ready or not.
Intro
This week I started digging into the real-world side of AI. Not the sci-fi, headline-chasing junk. Just the practical stuff.
Much of this week’s reflection comes from listening to the first few episodes of The Artificial Intelligence Show, hosted by Paul Roetzer of the Marketing AI Institute.
It’s a well-produced podcast that explores practical, business-focused uses of AI without leaning too hard into hype or fear. If you’re curious about how AI is really changing marketing and business strategy, it’s a strong starting point. (I should know. It’s where I’m starting too!)
What I Explored
• Listened to Episodes 1, 2, and 3 of The Artificial Intelligence Show
• Took notes on how marketers are actually using AI
• Thought a lot about voice search compared to typed queries
• Started spotting where AI fits into my workflow as a tool, not a replacement
What I Learned
The biggest takeaway? AI is a helper, not a miracle worker. If you’re expecting it to do your job for you, you’re going to be sorely disappointed.
But if you treat it like a rough draft machine or an idea partner, it’ll move things forward way faster than working from scratch.
And when it comes to marketing, the tool only works if you know what problem you’re solving. That’s where most people mess up.
They ask ChatGPT to write an ad without knowing who it’s for or what pain it’s addressing. That’s not a technical or a prompt problem. That’s a human/strategy problem. AI is an amazing tool and it’s capable of a lot, but a tool is only as smart as the strategy behind it.
Also, another lesson this week is that voice search is a completely different beast than typed search. People don’t talk the way they type.
If I want to rank or if I want my content to be useful, I’ve got to start thinking the way my audience speaks, not just how I think they search.
Good advice in general for anyone in the marketing world really.
Defining AI – What is a Special Differentiating Factor?
A special differentiating factor is a unique feature, capability, or outcome that sets a product, service, or tool apart from similar options in its category. It highlights the core reason a user would choose one solution over another based on value, performance, or relevance to their specific needs.
AI’s real value isn’t about automation. Its defining feature is all about momentum.
It helps skip the blank page, test ideas, and tighten phrasing without wasting hours second-guessing every sentence. Once you stop treating artificial intelligence like a magic trick and start treating it like a teammate, that’s when things really click.
For marketers, that means the difference between pushing out low-effort content fast and producing something that’s actually effective. The tool isn’t the differentiator.
How you use it is.
You can ask AI to write a blog post, or you can use it to tighten your message, clarify your voice, and build out drafts faster than you would on your own. That’s the “differentiating factor” that matters.
Next Steps
I’ve been starting with podcasts, but I want to branch out a bit. I’m planning to explore more video content this week, especially anything on YouTube or TED that can help me understand AI from different angles.
On the next post, I’ll bring a list of content that I’ve used to keep familiarizing myself with “everything AI.” I’m still at the beginning of this journey, and I think it’s time to dive deeper into the fundamentals. I’m especially interested in what LinkedIn Learning and TED have to offer.
Tune in next time and I’ll show you what I found. The good, the bad, and the awesome.
Quick Question…
If you’re using AI tools already, what’s been the most helpful thing you’ve actually done with them? The best use case you can think of from personal experience. Any tips for an eager newbie in the space?
Drop a comment or shoot me a message. I’m learning in public here, so feel free to correct me if I’m off base on something or you’re welcome to just join me for the ride.
