Summary In this refreshingly honest episode of Highly Adaptive, Jeff Pelliccio and Erin McKenzie strip away the polish and get real about their AI journeys. Opening with Jeff's admission that his AI tools might know him better than his wife (and Erin's confession that she could ask AI for her own gift recommendations), this episode becomes part confession, part cautionary tale, part practical guide for anyone drowning in the AI deep end. The hosts bare all, from Jeff's embarrassing second prompt ever ("taco recipes" immediately after asking about 2023 marketing priorities) to Erin's one-sentence discovery prompts and eventual breakup with Claude (they've since reconciled). Through their candid sharing, they reveal how quickly the learning curve can steepen—one contact went from zero to expert in just 45 days, inspiring Jeff's own AI marathon that had him burning through paid credits building reporting tools. From personal wins like Jeff's Japanese interpreter for communicating with in-laws to professional breakthroughs like Erin's case study agents that interview clients directly, the conversation showcases both the silly and the strategic. They share their "operational plumber" moments where AI exposed data gaps, their favorite LLMs for different tasks, and hard-learned lessons about keeping agents simple enough not to consume their own outputs. Whether you're still at the taco recipe stage or building complex predictive analytics, this episode provides the roadmap for harnessing AI without losing your mind—or your humanity. Key Takeaways Start with Problems, Not Tools – Don't adopt AI because everyone else is; identify what's slowing your team down first Practice Makes Prompts – Treat prompts like job descriptions: role, responsibility, rules, background, output expectations Agents Need Training Too – The more context, examples, and feedback you provide, the smarter your AI becomes Stay Simple or Suffer – Complex agents can consume their own outputs; start basic and build incrementally Different LLMs for Different Jobs – ChatGPT for deep reasoning, Claude for writing/coding, Perplexity as the workhorse AI Redesign > AI Automation – Ask "If we built recruiting from scratch with AI, what would humans vs. machines handle?" ---- Sponsors Allied Insight - The Preferred Marketing Partner of Staffing and Consulting BusinessesNavigate your AI journey with marketing partners who understand both technology and humanity. Allied Insight helps staffing leaders build strategies that leverage AI without losing their authentic voice. All Things Staffing - Expert Resources for the Staffing CommunityYour hub for practical AI insights and real-world applications. All Things Staffing delivers the frameworks that help leaders harness AI for competitive advantage, not just novelty.