Chase The Kangaroo

Use AI to work with you and for you.

I recently listened to an episode of The Art of Manliness podcast that’s stuck with me. It’s an interview with Ethan Mollick, a Wharton professor and author of Co-Intelligence. It wasn’t a “robots are coming” kind of talk, though they did address some of the speculation. Instead, it was about how we can actually use AI right now to think better, be more creative, and get more done.

Here are a few ideas from the episode that I’ve been stewing on:

1. Think of AI as a collaborator, not a tool

Mollick suggests we stop treating AI like a vending machine that spits out answers. Instead, see it as a creative partner, like a co-writer, a thought partner, even a coach. The best results come when we interact with it, ask better questions, and treat it like a conversation, not a command line or a Google search.

2. You don’t need to be technical

One of the most encouraging parts of the episode was hearing that you don’t need a background in tech to get real value from AI. In fact, people with strengths in communication, storytelling, or teaching often take to it quickly because they know how to ask thoughtful questions and shape a conversation. If you’ve assumed AI tools are only for programmers or data analysts, this episode might change your mind. You might be more prepared than you think.

3. It reflects your thinking back at you

Mollick says AI is a mirror. The quality of the output depends entirely on the quality of your input. If you’re curious, thoughtful, and specific, it gives that back. If you’re vague or lazy, it gives you the same. It doesn’t replace thinking, it multiplies it. That idea alone made me want to use it more deliberately.

4. Experimentation Is the Only Way In

He encourages people to spend at least 10 hours experimenting with AI. Not reading about it, but using it. Try it on stuff that matters to you: writing, planning, learning, brainstorming. I took that advice and started playing around with prompts for future articles, as well as work proposals and was surprised by how fast the ideas started flowing. When the ideas become complex, it helps me simplify them.

5. Prompt it like it’s a person with a role

Instead of asking AI generic questions, Mollick suggests giving it a job or a persona: “Be a curious student.” “Act like a hard-nosed editor.” “Answer like a Roman philosopher.” That small shift changes the tone and depth of the response. It turns a robot into something closer to a conversation partner.

If you’re even a little curious about AI, this episode is a great place to start. It’s not tech-heavy or buzzwordy. The episode is practical, human, and surprisingly hopeful. I’ve already started changing how I work because of it.