Everyone wants AI to be Instagram. You download the app, create an account, and boom... instant dopamine, zero friction. But AI isn't Instagram. View this email in your browser

The Weekly AI Briefing

🧑‍🏫 Latest AI thoughts, tools, and news from unburdn Everyone wants AI to be Instagram. You download the app, create an account, and boom… instant dopamine, zero friction. But AI isn't Instagram. It’s the early internet. It’s messy, clunky, and requires actual work. I saw ChatGPT roll out "Prompt Packs" recently. My immediate reaction? This is a trap. I’m not taking cheap shots at OpenAI. I use their tools often. But this feature illustrates the widening chasm between the AI Haves and the AI Have-nots. The "Have-nots" want an easy button. They want to copy-paste a pre-written block of text, hit enter, and get a strategy document. Here is the hard truth: If you are mindlessly copying generic prompts, you are generating generic trash. You will get frustrated, you will quit, and your competitors who are willing to do the work will bury you. The "AI Haves" know that friction is necessary. They don't use templates; they have conversations. They dump massive context into the model. They let the AI interview them. They treat it like a brilliant intern, not a vending machine. ChatGPT’s new features are trying to lower the barrier to entry, but they are just creating noise. Ignore the "easy" formatting blocks. Ignore the packs. Advice: Embrace the friction: Stop looking for a one-click solution. If it feels too easy, the output is likely worthless. The "Interview" Method: Instead of a prompt pack, give the AI your objective and say, "Ask me 10 questions to get the context you need to do this task." Crawl, Walk, Run: Don't try to build an autonomous agent yet. Just use a tool like Granola to memorialize your meetings. If you do that, you're already in the top 5%. PS: Keep reading for hot-takes on headlines, AI tools, and a personal story + pic

📰 AI News Worth Knowing

⚖️ The Compliance Trap: While the White House is busy with Executive Orders, the real nightmare for your business is conflicting state laws (think California vs. Texas). If you sell across state lines, you need to read this to avoid liability. Read Here 💸 Tech Stack Audit: The AI data center boom is being fueled by massive debt. If the startup powering your workflow goes bust in 2026, your operations stall. It’s time to audit your vendors' financials, not just their features. Read Here 📉 The Great Replacement: A stunning 66% of CEOs plan to freeze or cut hiring in 2026. The strategy has shifted from "hiring for growth" to "automating for margin." Leaders are pausing simply to see what software can replace salary bands. Read Here 😵‍💫 More UI Noise: ChatGPT is adding "formatting blocks" to look more like a task tool. It’s a perfect example of trying to make AI look "easy" while actually making the user interface more confusing. Read Here

🛠️ AI Tools You Need to Try

🧱 Back to Basics: Stop chasing the shiny new tools. If you aren't running circles around your industry yet, you skipped a step. I’m linking back to my foundational stack. Master these simple tools before you try anything else. Read Here[Subscribe

From the Field: 🎭 Stranger Things & The Value of a Coach

Cool experience alert! I just got back from a few days in NYC with the family. It was our kids' first real city vacation, but the trip was capped off by a massive highlight. (To this point, they've only known beach, pool, and amusement park vacations.) Over the last year, my son started coaching with a successful actor, Andrew Hovelson. Andrew is one of the leads in the Broadway production of Stranger Things: The First Shadow. He invited us out and helped get us amazing seats to watch him in action. I'm not a Broadway guy. I don't like musicals, I don't like song and dance. But this show absolutely blew my mind. (Probably because it had no singing or dancing. Ha!) Outside of what I'm sure was the ungodly sum of money Netflix spent producing it, the coolest part was watching my son see his coach on stage in front of a big-time audience, fully expressing his craft. Afterward, Andrew took us behind the scenes. We got the full tour, met some of the cast, and saw how the proverbial sausage is made. Andrew walked out with us after and we watched him sign autographs for fans. It was a memory I will cherish, but I'm certain my son will cherish it ten times more. Thanks for reading. 🙏 Copyright (C) 2025 AI for the Rest of Us LLC dba Unburdn. All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe