Want To Stand Out At Work? An AI CEO Shares 4 Tips To Start Using AI Smarter
In just a few years, AI has completely changed the way we work and the way employers hire. But while job expectations are evolving quickly, many workers have no formal […] The post Want To Stand Out At Work? An AI CEO Shares 4 Tips To Start Using AI Smarter appeared first on Essence.
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By Andrea Bossi ·Updated January 26, 2026 < /> Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… In just a few years, AI has completely changed the way we work and the way employers hire. But while job expectations are evolving quickly, many workers have no formal training. This is creating what AI strategist Alicia Lyttle calls an “AI skills crisis.”
“In today’s climate, many people are understandably worried about layoffs and job displacement due to AI,” Lyttle, who gave a TedX talk on using AI for efficiency, tells ESSENCE. “But the reality is this: AI is not replacing people. People who know how to use AI are replacing those who don’t.”
In other words, AI literacy is required today. The problem? Employers are now expecting this from a workforce that, for the most part, has no formal AI training. “Technology has evolved faster than workforce development, leaving many professionals underprepared. Meanwhile, job roles are changing in real time,” she continues. “To address this, individuals must take ownership of their upskilling.”
Knowing how to use various tools powered by machine learning can help boost productivity and help stand out at the office. Rather than using AI to think for you, it’s important to think about it as more than just a chatbot and more like a “personal upskilling partner,” per Lyttle, who is also CEO of AI InnoVision. Below, the best AI tools to try at work and specific tips on how to implement them at the office.
The Best AI Tools for General Work UseAfter the ultra-popular ChatGPT, there are a few AI tools that every professional should familiarize themselves with, Lyttle notes.
Google’s Gemini is often underrated. “It can generate images, create graphics, assist with presentations, and support creative and strategic workflows, especially useful for marketing, communications, and content-driven roles,” the AI CEO says.
Perplexity.ai is especially helpful for research. It’s like a search engine that reliably spits out backed-up answers. “Unlike many tools,” Lyttle adds. “it provides verified sources and citations, making it ideal for professionals who need credible, well-sourced information, whether for reports, strategy decks, or academic->vibe coding, enabled by tools like Lovable. “This dramatically lowers the barrier to entry and makes non-technical professionals far more powerful,” the AI InnoVision CEO adds. It’s important to pay attention to trends like these.
Build Your Personal Portfolio of AI ToolsAs more tools become available, it’s important not to get lost in the noise and to know which tools are most important for the work that you do. For someone whose work is heavily based on content and copy, ChatGPT may be most important. (Bonus points if you build your own GPT within the tool.) For a strategist who is often in research and building presentations, perhaps Gemini and Genspark might do the trick. Having a tailored tool stack equals a competitive advantage.
“Treat AI as an ongoing collaborator, not a one-time tool,” Lyttle says. “The more consistently you use it, the more value you unlock, especially when you personalize your workflows and refine how you ask questions.”
The post Want To Stand Out At Work? An AI CEO Shares 4 Tips To Start Using AI Smarter appeared first on Essence.
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