Good morning friends!

It’s Henry, one third of the Good with AI team. Emailing on a Sunday? Forgive me, it’s that one weird week of the year where no one knows what day it is, and the logic of meals is entirely suspended: I’ve been eating brussel sprouts and cold gravy for breakfast over here. So hopefully you can excuse this exuberance. I’m here to share with you an end-of-2025 reality check.

Because if you’ve even glanced at Linkedin this past year, you’d think AI has already replaced everyone, rebuilt civilisation, and is now your line manager.

But what we’ve seen across businesses and organisations we work with?
For most people, 2025 was… kind of chill.

Yes, AI got significantly better. Yes, people are saying it’s everywhere. Yes, it changed how some people write, research, plan, code, design, and think.

But the big “overnight job wipeout” didn’t land like the hype promised. And if you didn’t know how to use AI properly, you’d be forgiven for thinking “wow, this… has not completely upended my work life yet”

Which matters, because it means that you’re not as behind as you might think.

There isn’t some secret group of regular people who’ve figured it all out and are now living in a frictionless AI utopia.

(Yes, there are super smart tech people who are doing magical, incredible, otherworldly things with AI.. but you could replace “AI” in that sentence with “computers” and it would be true in any of the past five decades too. We’re here for the normal people like you.)

This is still a newborn field. ChatGPT is only 3 years old. Everyone is learning in public. Even experts constantly updating their opinions.

But, we have our ear(s) to the ground, and the winds for 2026 seem pretty clear: a lot more is coming.

More capability, more adoption, more ways this new technology can make your work, career, business and life feel easier. But also, the disruption people were promising for the year just gone - I believe it’s actually landing this coming year.

If you feel excited - you’re right.
If you feel scared - you’re also right.

Both are completely normal ways to feel about a fast moving thing.. which people keep loudly insisting you could lose your job or business to 😂

So here’s what I’m thinking, as I wipe the gravy off my chin and finish watching the Taylor Swift Eras tour documentary (great btw).

Imagine if you were at Christmas in 1998 (..I think got given pokemon for the gameboy that year?), and your Aunt leans over and says to you: ‘Have you heard about this “internet” thing… it could be big!’.
That’s where we are now with AI. It’s 1998. And you’ve got a chance to really make the most of this advanced knowledge of what’s absolutely about to happen.

In the next email, I’ll share some examples of how real people are using AI to radically improve their work. And what you should look out for in 2026.

Have a great rest of your weekend, and speak very soon!

Henry (& Ben & Cien)

Good with AI
www.GoodwithAI.org

Here at Good with AI we offer practical, fun 6-week cohorts for individuals & teams to get really good with AI. Learn how to build AI team-mates, apps & workflows to save time, grow your business, and scale your impact. Action-focused with accountability from your instructors and peers.

Next courses start 12th & 13th Jan: www.GoodwithAI.org