AI IN MI I BY PETER DODS Lessons of an AI Awakening
“I don’t understand AI.” “I don’t think I need AI.” “It all seems very complicated.” “I’m too busy.” “I’m too old for this.” These are common refrains from those hesitant to embrace artificial intelligence. But if we’re being candid, these statements really trans- late to something else: “I’m not curious.” “I’m fine with the world evolving around me.” “I’m fine without understanding what’s happening.” And, the more frightening: “I don’t want to improve my efficiency, save time or money, enhance my work or embrace progress.”
When my dad claimed he didn’t understand how to use AI, I explained it to him like this: “Saying you can’t use AI is like saying you can’t talk or write.” My dad is an excellent conversationalist, so clearly, communication wasn’t the is- sue. Instead, the reason was fear — fear of technology and fear of the unknown. I advised him: Talk to AI just as you would another person. Provide details and context just as naturally as you would in a conversation. Treat AI like a super-smart intern that’s often overly confident in its answers, which can frequently be incor- rect. Nevertheless, it’s a power- ful tool to assist you, growing more capable every day. Today is the worst AI’s capa- bilities will ever be. Tomorrow, it will be way better. So, it’s never too late to start learning. If you lived through the 1980s and 1990s, you probably remember the computer revo- lution. Personally, I’ve always regretted my youthful indiffer- ence to computers. The peers who embraced computing early on carved out incredible oppor- tunities for themselves. Many are now leaders in their fields. AI represents another pivotal moment in technology. Don’t let this one pass you by. In my next article, I will share the prompts and tips I use when invoking AI in my MI business. In the meantime, stay curious. Your future depends on it. MI
If you’ve been in this business long enough, you’ve seen tech revolutions before — the inter- net, e-commerce and social media. But, the AI revolution is different. Past tech breakthroughs provided tools that primarily augmented human capabilities. AI has already shattered this. It’s not just empowering humans, it’s systematically displacing them. We’ve crossed the tipping point: AI is actively replacing humans across industries, from creative fields to analytical roles. The workforce is frac- turing into those who wield AI as their weapon and those who are now becoming obsolete. And the window to choose your fate is rapidly closing. Nabil Bukhari, CTO of Extreme Networks, pos-
sible put it best when he said: “You won’t be replaced by AI, but you will be replaced by someone who knows how to use AI.” THE LESSONS I LEARNED.
“Talk to AI just as you would another person. Provide details and context just as naturally as you would in a conversation.”
My own AI awakening began just four months ago. Until then, I had considered myself an AI “power user.” I interacted daily with LLMs (large language models) like ChatGPT, Gemini and NotebookLM. Yet, compared to experts deeply immersed in this technology, my understanding was superficial and surface-level. In fact, I had barely scratched the surface of AI’s true potential, nor was I actively seeking to deepen my knowledge. Realizing this, I committed at least 20 minutes each day to learning and expanding my AI skills. As such, this article marks the beginning of a series aimed at guiding you, my fellow music industry professionals, through a similar transformative journey and share what I learned in the process. If you’re among those who haven’t yet dipped your toes into AI, I encourage you to start now. Download one of these LLMs to your phone.
Peter Dods is the owner of Honolulu-based Easy Music Center and is navigating using AI in his small business, just like many MI retailers.
30 I MUSIC INC. I NOVEMBER 2025
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