The Year I Stopped Chasing AI Tools (and Started Chasing Better Decisions)

A funny thing happened in my AI journey this year:

I got good at a bunch of tools… and then the tools changed.

Not “minor update” changed.
More like “the workflow you just mastered is now a button” changed.

At first, that felt annoying. Then it felt like a message:

You can’t win 2026 by hoarding tools.
You win by building a better way to think, learn, and decide.

The biggest misconception I see right now

Most people still talk about AI like it’s a product.

“What app should I use?”
“Which model is best?”
“Is this the one?”

That’s normal. Our brains love shortcuts. A shiny object is easier than a strategy.

But the advantage isn’t the tool.

The advantage is data + judgment.
Data is king. With it, that’s the gold—not the pickaxe.

And the adoption curve proves we’re past “early hobby” territory:

• Stanford’s 2025 AI Index reports 78% of organizations used AI in 2024 (up from 55% the year before).

• McKinsey’s State of AI 2025 survey reports 88% of respondents say their organizations use AI in at least one business function—yet many still haven’t scaled it.

Translation: AI is “everywhere,” but real advantage is still rare.
That’s opportunity—hiding in plain sight.

What AI really changed for me

AI became the fastest learning system I’ve ever used.

Not because it “knows everything.”
But because it helps you move through information in a way humans actually like:

• Learn anything faster (in your learning style, at your pace)

• Research faster (more sources, more angles, less noise)

• Interpret the stuff you used to avoid (policies, reports, numbers, contracts—without pretending you’re an expert)

• Move from “I’m overwhelmed” to “I have a plan” in one sitting

That’s not a tool benefit. That’s a decision advantage.

And that’s exactly where the world is heading:

The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 puts AI and big data at the top of fastest-growing skills (alongside tech literacy and cybersecurity), while also emphasizing human skills like creative thinking and curiosity.

The winning combo in 2026 isn’t “AI instead of humans.”
It’s humans who can think clearly + use AI to move faster.

The 2026 shift that most people are missing

Here’s the miss I keep seeing:

People keep shopping for tools…
while companies are shifting toward AI as a work structure.

Microsoft’s 2025 Work Trend Index describes “Frontier Firms” redesigning workflows around human + AI agent teams, and highlights a growing “agent boss” mindset.

Whether you love that phrase or hate it, the direction is clear:

AI is moving from “helper” to “teammate.”

Which means your edge won’t be “I use ChatGPT.”
Your edge will be:

• I know what to ask

• I can verify what matters

• I can turn information into decisions

• I can execute without spinning out

A simple end-of-year challenge

Before you set goals for 2026, answer this:

Where do you routinely waste time because you’re missing clarity?

Pick ONE area:

• writing and communication

• research and decision-making

• planning and prioritization

• customer insight

• operations and documentation

Now the key move:

Don’t ask AI for answers. Ask it for a better process.

Try prompts like:

• “Help me get from confusion to a decision in 30 minutes. Ask me the questions you need.”

• “List the top 10 sources I should consult, then summarize what each would contribute.”

• “Give me a verification checklist before I act on this.”

• “Show me 3 options: conservative, balanced, aggressive—and the risks of each.”

That’s how you stop chasing tools and start building leverage.

Ending the year with the real opportunity

If you felt behind this year, good. That means you’re paying attention.

Because the window is still open—but it won’t stay open forever.

The people who win 2026 won’t be the ones with the fanciest stack.
They’ll be the ones who can learn faster, verify smarter, and decide with confidence—using AI as the accelerant.

What are you choosing to get dramatically better at in 2026: learning faster, research, decision-making, or execution?