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Meet Lisa Yakniunas, a renowned AI expert and a teacher at our “AI in Action” program. Over her career, Lisa has been helping professionals simplify processes and save time. Known for her ability to make complex concepts accessible, Lisa has trained over 1,200 individuals, empowering them to achieve measurable results through AI.

In this interview, she shares her thoughts on the most exciting AI applications, common misconceptions, and how professionals can leverage AI to boost their productivity. Dive in to learn more about the future of AI and how you can future-proof your career.

What’s the most exciting real-world application of AI that you’ve seen recently, and why do you think it stands out?

Multimodal AI is a game-changer. Imagine showing Gemini your screen with a slide deck and having a real-time, natural conversation – just like brainstorming with a colleague. It can analyze your presentation and suggest improvements. This ability to seamlessly combine text, images, and real-time interaction is taking productivity to the next level.

Many people feel overwhelmed by AI – what’s one misconception about AI that you wish more people understood?

The biggest mistake? Trusting AI 100% without fact-checking or critical thinking. AI is a powerful tool, but it works best when paired with your domain expertise and professional judgment. The real value of innovation unfolds when you collaborate with AI rather than blindly relying on it.

What’s a simple yet powerful way professionals can start using AI to boost their productivity?

Just start, no matter where you are. Integrate tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini into your daily routine – whether for work tasks or learning new topics with a real-time voice assistant. Stay curious and experiment with AI just like a child discovering something new. This playful, hands-on approach unlocks the true potential of these tools. Once you feel ready to dive deeper, jump into a continuous learning process, combined with experiments. To advance your skills, find a useful course like “AI in Action.” And don’t forget to stay open to innovative process.

If someone wants to future-proof their career with AI, what’s the one skill or mindset they should focus on developing?

Those who can adapt, collaborate, and think outside the box will thrive. If you want me to choose one skill, it is quite hard. But if I have more options, I would say flexibility, communication, creative thinking, openness to innovation, deep knowledge of your field, and experience. And remember, AI doesn’t replace expertise – it enhances it.

Looking ahead, what’s a trend in AI that you believe will have the biggest impact in the next 1-3 years?

The further rise of generative AI and autonomous AI agents [systems that can execute complex tasks on your behalf, from research to decision-making]. We are living in an era of massive AI-driven transformation. Stay engaged – it’s going to be an exciting ride!

What’s your go-to way of using AI tools?

My go-to way of using AI tools is to train my creative muscle with ChatGPT. I love brainstorming together, developing ideas and concepts over time. It could be anything from working on a creative photo project on my iPhone to inventing fictional medicine that gives people superpowers. I can either come up with completely random ideas for various projects or use ChatGPT to interview me about my ideas, helping me to refine and develop them on my own. It’s all about exploring new possibilities and seeing where the creative process takes me.

Ready to learn more about AI and how to use it practically in your work and daily life? Enroll in the AI in Action program starting on March 17th and join Lisa Yakniunas on this transformative journey.