Organizations everywhere are experimenting with AI. Some are using it for efficiency. Some are using it for analysis. Some are using it because they feel pressure to keep up.
But the teams that pull ahead are doing something different.
They are learning how to build with AI, not just use it.
That was the heart of the conversation between Merav Yuravlivker and Ted Kaouk, PhD. They explored how AI becomes a true collaborator when people guide it with clarity, curiosity, and intention. They also unpacked what leaders and teams need to build in order to work alongside AI in a way that is responsible, strategic, and genuinely innovative.
If your organization is navigating how to use AI more effectively, these insights can help you take the next step with confidence.
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1. The three principles every team needs before working with AI
Ted shared three foundational principles that shape how organizations should approach AI.
The first is intentionality. Before anyone turns to AI, they need clarity on why they are using it and what they are trying to accomplish. This prevents teams from chasing outputs that look impressive but do not solve the actual problem.
The second is learning to guide AI like a team member. AI responds to structure, expectations, and context. When people learn how to direct it with care and specificity, the quality of work improves dramatically.
The third is shifting the focus away from shortcuts and toward innovation. AI should expand what is possible, not simply speed up what already exists. This mindset encourages teams to experiment, refine, and think more creatively about their roles and processes.
2. Non-technical professionals bring essential skills for AI collaboration
Ted underscored one of the most important truths about modern AI. You do not need to be a coder to build with it.
People with backgrounds in communication, psychology, design, or the arts often excel because they understand nuance, language, and human intention. These strengths are exactly what AI needs in order to perform well.
This means that AI has the potential to empower a significant portion of the workforce. Many roles will shift from “writing code” to “guiding systems,” and non-technical experts will play a central part in shaping how AI behaves.
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3. Why leaders must develop conceptual AI literacy
Ted emphasized that leaders cannot delegate understanding. AI literacy is becoming a core leadership capability.
Leaders need to know how AI behaves, where it fits in workflows, how to prepare teams for new kinds of roles, and how to build a culture that uses AI ethically and responsibly.
They also need to help teams blend technical skills with communication skills, since guiding AI requires both analytical reasoning and human insight.
When leaders understand AI conceptually, they make stronger decisions about strategy, governance, talent development, and organizational readiness.
4. The art of guidance is becoming a critical workforce skill
AI does not always behave predictably. Ted illustrated this using a 16th-century painting, which AI interpreted in unexpected ways. The example revealed something every organization sees when the technology is left unguided.
AI fills gaps in ways that may not align with human expectations.
It needs facilitation, not blind trust.
Teams must learn how to direct, refine, question, and challenge AI outputs. This is not a niche technical skill. It is rapidly becoming essential for anyone who thinks, writes, analyzes, or makes decisions.
Teams that develop this ability create more reliable results and avoid costly missteps.
5. AI can strengthen how we think, but only if we stay involved
Ted closed with insight into how AI changes thinking. Used well, it helps people explore ideas more deeply and see problems from multiple angles. It increases the number of drafts, iterations, and perspectives available.
But if people outsource thinking entirely, they lose the core skills that make their contributions valuable. The opportunity is not to replace thinking, but to elevate it.
Organizations that teach teams to think with AI, not through AI, will build stronger problem solvers and more adaptive learners.
The Shift Begins When You See What Is Possible
The future of work will not be defined by who adopts AI the fastest. It will be defined by who learns to collaborate with it the most intentionally. Ted’s insights remind us that AI is not a shortcut. It is a catalyst. It pushes us to think more clearly, communicate more precisely, and build systems that reflect both human judgment and technological capability.
If your organization is exploring how to work with AI in a way that is responsible, strategic, and transformative, this conversation offers a powerful starting point. The replay is rich with insight and practical guidance that can help you shape your next steps.
Watch the replay and experience the full discussion for yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions About Building With AI
Building with AI involves guiding, structuring, and collaborating with AI systems so they can support meaningful work rather than produce raw, unfiltered outputs. It requires clarity, communication, and critical thinking.
