Are you using AI — or working with it? The difference could define the next decade of leadership

by Hope Thomas

In August 2025, right before the ChatGPT 5 announcement, I asked one of my assistants to tally my prompt history.

The result? ➡️ 1,659 prompts in the last 24 months.

But here’s the kicker: my AI (Agent_0078) didn’t just give me a number. She:

• Broke down distinct requests vs. clarifications
• Categorized prompts by topic & frequency
• Rebuilt the report for a 6-month window
• Produced trend charts & key takeaways

We spent 45 minutes in a true work cycle — delivery, feedback, refinement. It felt less like “using a tool” and more like collaborating with a teammate.

Two days later my husband shared a talk by Stanford’s Jeremy Utley His point:

Fewer than 10% of professionals are gaining meaningful productivity from AI. The shift comes when we stop using AI and start working with AI.

That nailed it. My recent AI sessions feel different — not transactional, but collaborative.

💡 Leadership takeaway: High performers don’t just need better tools. They need collaborators. Leaders who treat AI as part of their team (not just tech) will unlock the next wave of human performance.

Are you still using AI, or are you working with it?

#ArtificialIntelligence #AICollaboration #HighPerformance #ChatGPT5 #PeopleLeadership #FutureOfWork