What I told a room full of students about AI


Hi Reader,

I recently spoke at Loyola University’s event, Beyond the Algorithm: Human Insight in the AI World.

As the name suggests, the conversations were about how we can keep leading the way with our human experiences, even though it feels like AI’s everywhere you look.

I know many people, whether they’re young scholars or seasoned business owners, are reading the headlines about AI and wondering if they should be worried. And I get it. Some of the changes are nerve-wracking.

While we can’t know for sure where exactly we’re headed, I think we do have some say in the type of AI future we want to take part in.

So in my talk, I focused on the fact that, at Drio, our strengths haven’t changed. Relationships and human expertise are still at the very core of everything we do. I wanted the students in the audience to know there’s hope if they lean on those things too.

Yes, I’m using AI in my professional and personal life to make certain tasks easier and more efficient, but it’s just that: efficient execution.

At the end of the day, I’m using AI for the things that aren’t really worth my time and energy, so I can do more of the things that are.

It’s still all about the people.

It’s funny because this message has been at the heart of Drio for years now. How many newsletters have you got from me talking about our community, our connections, or how our right-brain-left-brain dynamic is our secret weapon?

That’s still what we lean on. That’s still what steers our ship - even with things like WholeSite, our AI-assisted website creation platform. AI helps you execute, but it’s built on my and Rachel’s expertise to help you launch a better website faster.

Even though Rachel and I are in a tech-focused industry, we can hands-down say that our success doesn’t lie with all the fancy tools we use to support our productivity.

It lies in our ability to really get our clients—by listening deeply and problem-solving better solutions for their goals. It’s the creative thinking, strategic planning, and collaboration that happens every day as a right-brain-left-brain duo. It’s the network we’ve built and our love of connecting business owners with one another.

That’s where the magic happens. Not on ChatGPT.

I think it’s safe to say your genius still runs the show too.

Hi! I'm Rachel, the Left Brain of Drio.

Read more from Hi! I'm Rachel, the Left Brain of Drio.

Hi Reader, August was a month of evolving, connecting, and looking ahead. From continuing to grow long-term client partnerships and digging into important website privacy updates, to refreshing Office Hours and getting closer to sharing what’s next with WholeSite, there’s been a lot happening behind the scenes at Drio. Here’s a little peek at what we were working on throughout the month. 🌱 How United Way of Central Maryland’s Website Keeps Evolving We’re highlighting one of our favorite...

Hi Reader, Rachel and I recently went to a presentation for international exchange alumni (because of our Professional Fellows experience). During the event, one of the presenters shared how he’s now working with a peacebuilding organization called Mediators Beyond Borders. You know I’m all about a good analogy, and I absolutely loved the one he referenced. He described peacebuilding as similar to the Japanese art form kintsugi, which is done by repairing broken pottery using a gold substance...

Hi Reader, I don’t usually work late, but when I do, it’s because I’m fully immersed in something, head down, earbuds in. Recently, I was up late working on WholeSite, the AI-assisted website building tool we’re developing. When I finally came home, I asked my husband if he wanted to see what I had been doing. I hadn’t actually told him much about WholeSite yet, so I gave him the spiel. I told him WholeSite will allow entrepreneurs to create a high-quality WordPress website on their own. It...