Episode #5: Developing an AI Mindset – AI After 50
Welcome to another episode of AI After 50, the podcast for experienced professionals looking to develop their AI skill set and stay professionally indispensable. I’m Mark Tennant, and if you’re over 50, you’re in the right place to become AI-literate, AI-confident, and AI-empowered.
This week, we’re expanding on our previous discussion about AI as a behavioral shift and diving into how to develop an AI mindset. Embracing AI isn’t about mastering technical skills—it’s about making AI an everyday thinking partner. From keeping ChatGPT open at all times to using AI for deeper insights into personal growth, work efficiency, and decision-making, we’ll explore how to shift your mindset to work with AI instead of just using it as a tool.
Plus, I bring back Sol, my ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode assistant, to discuss how AI can help us become smarter together. Stay tuned for practical strategies, a weekly AI exercise, and key takeaways to help you integrate AI seamlessly into your routine.
🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS
📝 EPISODE BREAKDOWN
💡 HIGHLIGHTED QUOTES "AI isn't here to replace you, but here to work with you." "Start by staying curious and open minded. Embrace small, manageable steps."
🔍 PRACTICAL EXERCISE AI as Your Daily Thinking Partner (7-Day Challenge): Try AI as Your Daily Thinking Partner for seven days.
Pick a real-world challenge, ask AI for help, and reflect on how it improves your decision-making.
Let me know how it goes!
Pick a daily decision or problem
Choose something real and relevant to your life
Can be work-related or personal
Ask AI for help
Frame your question as if talking to a trusted colleague
Use either text prompting or voice mode
Reflect and take action
Consider new ideas sparked by AI's response
Apply suggestions to your daily life
Repeat for seven days
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EPISODE #4: AI is a Behavioral Shift, Not a Technological Shift
Is AI a technological revolution, or is it really about behavior? In this episode, we break down why adapting to AI is less about mastering the technology and more about shifting your mindset—especially for professionals over 50. I’m joined by Sol, a ChatGPT Advanced Voice,, to discuss how AI isn’t just a tool you use when you need it, but a coworker and thinking partner that should always be in your workflow. We also explore how moving beyond the traditional “Google search mindset” can help you integrate AI into both your personal and professional life.
Plus, I share a real-life story about how AI saved me over $500 on a dryer repair, and we dive into practical strategies to help you build the habit of using AI daily. Stick around for this week’s exercise, where I introduce the ERA framework—another powerful prompting tool to add to your AI skill set.
🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS
• AI adoption is more about changing behaviors than learning technology
• Success comes from treating AI as a conversational partner, not just a search tool
• Personal use cases help build comfort with AI before professional applications
📝 EPISODE BREAKDOWN
⏳ - 00:00 Introduction: AI as a Behavioral Shift
⏳ - 00:19 Welcome to AI After 50
⏳ - 00:36 Podcast Goals and Show Notes
⏳ - 01:43 Recap of Previous Episode
⏳ - 02:07 Exploring New Prompt Frameworks
⏳ - 03:32 Special Guest: Sol Discusses AI Behavioral Shift
⏳ - 05:46 Practical Tips for Adapting to AI
⏳ - 07:42 Real-World AI Success Stories
⏳ - 10:28 Creating Aha Moments with AI
⏳ - 10:58 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up
⏳ - 12:41 Weekly Prompting Exercise
⏳ - 14:05 Conclusion and Next Steps
💡 HIGHLIGHTED QUOTES
"AI isn't something you have to learn, like coding - it's something you get to learn, like a new way of thinking." [35:40]
"AI is a tool that works with you, not just for you.]
🔍 PRACTICAL EXERCISE
The ERA Framework (Expectation, Role, Action):
Expectation: Create HR policy documents for manufacturing company
Role: HR policy expert
Action: Create three documents:
• Paid time off policy (eligibility, carryover rules, procedures)
• New benefits package
• Spanish translations of key HR forms
ERA Framework
Expectation, Role, Action
Expectation: Describe the desired result.
Role: Specify ChatGPT's role.
Action: Specify needed actions.
Example: HR Example
Prompt:
You are an HR policy expert tasked with updating company policies for a midsize manufacturing company. Create three well-structured documents: (1) A clearly written Paid Time Off (PTO) Policy covering accrual, eligibility, carryover rules, and request procedures; (2) An engaging New Benefits Package Overview summarizing health, retirement, and wellness benefits in easy-to-understand language; and (3) Professional Spanish translations of key new hire forms (W-4, direct deposit authorization, emergency contact forms). Ensure all documents are clear, compliant, and accessible, using bullet points and simplified language where needed. The Spanish translations must be accurate, culturally appropriate, and suitable for Latin American employees.
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RESOURCES MENTIONED
• WorkLab Podcast by Microsoft
Show: Worklab with Molly Wood
Guest: Conor Grennan on Moving Beyond the “Search Engine Mindset”
Link: https://bit.ly/conor-grennan-worklab-podcast
• ChatGPT Advanced Voice
• Google Doc to Start Your Own Prompt Library (recommended)
EPISODE #3: What AI Can Do, and the World is NOT Ready - The RISEN Framework for AI Prompting
AI is becoming 'table stakes' in 2025. Learn how to structure your AI prompts effectively using the RISEN Framework to get better results from AI language models.
Episode Highlights
[1:22] - Why AI literacy is critical for professionals over 50: Key stats from an AARP survey.
[4:45] - The current state of AI models: What they can already do and why it matters.
[8:10] - OpenAI's "Operator": A breakthrough in autonomous task performance.
[11:45] - Introducing the RISEN Framework: A simple, adaptable prompt structure.
[18:12] - Practical exercise: Using RISEN to create a blog prompt for a greenhouse business.
[23:40] - Why Perplexity.ai is your new go-to research tool (and how it differs from ChatGPT).
[27:15] - A call to action: Make 2025 the year you become AI-literate and indispensable in your field.
🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS
📝 EPISODE BREAKDOWN [00:00] - Introduction and episode overview [07:30] - Current state of AI literacy and adoption rates [11:15] - Capabilities of current AI models [15:45] - Introduction to Perplexity.ai for research [24:15] - The RISEN Framework explained:
💡 HIGHLIGHTED QUOTES "AI is going to be 'table stakes' here in 2025, certainly by the end of the year." [09:15] "Success with AI comes down to finding that sweet spot between the capabilities and complexity and human expertise." [35:20]
🔍 RESOURCES MENTIONED
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⭐ PRACTICAL EXERCISE Complete RISEN Framework Prompt:
Role: Act as a product manager for ABC home greenhouses, a leading manufacturer of residential greenhouses.
Instructions: Write a blog article announcing the new ABC home greenhouse model designed for year-round growing in compact spaces.
Steps:
End Goal: Generate pre-launch excitement and inquiries from target customers
Narrowing:
Thank you for tuning in! Remember, becoming AI-literate isn’t just an advantage—it’s a necessity. If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share AI After 50 with your friends and colleagues. Let’s keep learning, keep prompting, and make 2025 your year of growth!
AI After 50 - Episode #2: Better Prompting - AI Adoption at a Snail's Pace - Host: Mark Tennant | Email: Mark@Marktennant.Net
🎯 Episode Overview This week, we dive deeper into practical AI applications, exploring how existing software tools can enhance your workflow and introducing advanced prompting techniques for better AI interactions.
⭐ Key Topics
🔍 Episode Highlights
📝 This Week's Advanced Prompting Exercise Step 1: Understanding the Framework Your prompt should include:
Step 2: Creating Your Advanced Prompt Follow this structure:
CopyAct as an expert in [specific role] and help me streamline my process of [specific task]. Tasks to perform: 1. [Task 1] 2. [Task 2] Requirements: - [Requirement 1] - [Requirement 2]Step 3: Example Prompt "Act as an expert marketer who specializes in home real estate, and help me streamline my process of creating compelling descriptions for new listings. Tasks and context:
Step 4: Refining Results
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📅 Next Steps
🎧 Listen Weekly New episodes every Monday. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to join our community of professionals mastering AI after 50.
#AIAfter50 #ArtificialIntelligence #CareerDevelopment #ChatGPT #ProfessionalDevelopment #TechLearning
AI After 50 - Episode #1: Your First Steps Into AI Literacy Host: Mark Tennant | Email: Mark@Marktennant.Net
🎯 Episode Overview Discover how professionals over 50 can use the power of AI to become more efficient and indispensable in their careers. In this debut episode, Mark introduces the foundations of Generative AI and provides your first hands-on exercise with ChatGPT.
⭐ Key Topics
🔍 Episode Highlights
📝 This Week's Exercise: Your First ChatGPT Experience Step 1: Setting Up
Step 2: Your First Prompt
Step 3: Exploring Results
Step 4: Start Your Prompt Library
Pro Tip: Choose a topic you know well for your first exercise - this helps you better evaluate ChatGPT's output and understanding.
🎁 Get Premium Show Notes! Subscribe to receive exclusive content every Monday:
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📅 Next Steps
🎧 Listen Weekly New episodes every Monday. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to join our community of professionals mastering AI after 50.
#AIAfter50 #ArtificialIntelligence #CareerDevelopment #ChatGPT #ProfessionalDevelopment #TechLearning
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About The Show:
AI After 50 is a weekly podcast launching January 13th, 2025, designed for experienced professionals looking to develop their AI skills and confidence. Host Mark Tennant brings 30 years of IT experience and 8 years of AI expertise to guide you through practical, no-nonsense AI learning.
Episode Highlights:
- Weekly episodes release every Monday
- Hands-on exercises focusing primarily on ChatGPT
- Practical, jargon-free approach to AI learning
- Suitable for all experience levels, with special focus on professionals over 50
Core Topics We'll Cover:
1. Positive Impacts: What AI can and cannot do
2. Challenges & Concerns: Addressing fears and misconceptions
3. Training & Adaptation: Practical skills development
Your Host:
Mark Tennant brings extensive experience:
- Current: E-learning developer at a medical manufacturing company
- Background: 30 years in IT hardware/software support
- Experience: 15 years at a leading medical school supporting researchers
- Specialization: AI workshop instructor for businesses and organizations in Northeast Ohio
Resources Mentioned:
- Free ChatGPT version recommended for following along
- Tools discussed: Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, Perplexity AI
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📌 Basic Show Notes: Available free with each episode
📌 Premium Newsletter: Extended exercises and additional tips available by subscription
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Connect With the Show:
- Email: mark@marktennant.net
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marketennant/
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Next Episode:
Join us January 13th, 2025, for Episode #1 as we begin our AI learning journey together!
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