Embracing The Momentum into 2025.
2025 has me buzzing.
For years now, I’ve been using and integrating AI and machine learning into both my personal projects and my clients’ businesses.Tracking advancements, testing tools, and incorporating emerging technologies into strategies was part of my routine well before the public rollout of platforms like ChatGPT. But this past year has taught me that in a field moving this fast, I can’t rely solely on my practical knowledge, “keeping up” simply isn’t enough for me anymore. AI has grown from an exciting tool into a seismic shift that’s reshaping industries, workplaces, and even how we live our day-to-day lives. The speed of a technological advancement this size demands more, to truly understand how to use AI with purpose—it requires intention, learning, and growth.
Finding Clarity Amid the Chaos
In the last few years, I’ve felt the Machine Learning era dawn upon us—not just professionally, but in every corner of my personal life too. Industries, family dynamics, economic realities, social interactions—everything has shifted, including my own place in this tornado of change. I’ll admit it: after moving countries, having children, buying homes, starting businesses, closing businesses, and surviving COVID-19, I wasn’t exactly primed for such a monumental shift. I was craving something resembling “normal.”
However, after stepping back and reflecting ( a bunch) it brought me a surprising sense of clarity. AI isn’t here to replace me. It’s here to push me, challenge me, and, if I embrace it fully, empower me to do better, think smarter, and innovate further. It’s a tool—but one that requires skill, purpose, and an understanding to wield effectively.
Recommitting to Learning
So, this year, I’ve decided to double down on education. It’s not that I’m starting from scratch; it’s about peeling back layers. I want to master the nuances, expand my understanding of what’s possible, and sharpen the skills I’ve already honed through hands-on experience - to refine not just what I do, but how and why I do it.
As of January, I’ve swapped Netflix-Binges for late-night study sessions. So far, I’ve completed certifications in Advanced Prompt Engineering (thank you, Vanderbilt University!) and Generative AI: Impacts, Considerations, and Ethical Issues (shoutout to IBM for that one). These aren’t just resume boosters—they’re part of my commitment to being proactive about change.
And while the coursework is fascinating, it’s what these studies unlock in my day-to-day that excites me most. I’m not just learning for the sake of it; I’m constantly connecting the dots between theory and practice, applying what I learn to real-world challenges, and exploring how to tread through this evolving landscape in ways that are creative, ethical, and impactful.
So What is This Journal About?
For the first time in a long time, I feel a renewed sense of curiosity. Ideas are sparking faster than I can write them down, and every new insight feels like an opportunity to create, explore, and share. That’s what this journal is for—a space to air my thoughts, connect with like-minded thinkers, and document the exciting, sometimes messy, process of broadening one's horizons.
Whether you’re an AI enthusiast, a cautious observer, or someone just dipping their toes into this brave new world, I hope you’ll find something here that sparks your interest or challenges your perspective. So, welcome to this space, here’s to staying curious.
SKG x
