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Tutorial Trap: Feels Productive

Captain YAR
January 23, 2026 • Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes

Last month I caught myself saying the dumbest sentence out loud: “I’m not in tech, so AI isn’t for me.” I’ve heard smart people say it too, usually right before they scroll past a tool that could save them hours.

That’s why this creator’s list hit me like a slap in a good way. It makes the point crystal clear: “I need to be in tech to learn and work with AI” is a total lie. It’s not a lack of talent that holds most people back, it’s a story they keep repeating. And once you drop that story, the door opens fast.

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The Democratization of Technical Skills
The real growth engine right now is not a computer science degree. It’s self-directed learning with curated video content and hands-on practice. This talented expert basically turns YouTube into a choose-your-own university, organized around outcomes instead of credentials.

Here’s the shift that matters: you don’t need to build a large language model from scratch. You need to orchestrate tools to do useful work in your world, whether that’s marketing, operations, sales, recruiting, or customer support. The “application layer” is where the value is, and it’s where non-technical people can move surprisingly fast.

A simple rule helps: watch with a problem in mind. “I want to draft faster proposals.” “I want to automate client intake.” “I want better research in half the time.” When you learn like that, every video becomes a shortcut, not entertainment.

Building Income Streams and Startups
One of the strongest takeaways from this list is how AI lowers the barrier to entrepreneurship for non-technical founders. Channels like Simply Digital and Greg Isenberg show up for a reason: they obsess over the “how,” not the hype. They break down idea selection, validation, positioning, and distribution in ways you can actually copy.

The highest leverage move is to combine AI with a real audience pain. Start by collecting 20 messy questions people ask in your niche, then build one tiny workflow that answers them faster or better. AI helps you test the offer, write the landing page, draft outreach, and iterate the product without needing a team.

Also, stop waiting for the perfect idea. Start with a boring one you can ship in a weekend. Momentum beats brilliance.

Mastering Automation and Agents
“Agents” and automation sound intimidating, but the practical versions are very learnable. Creators like Nick Saraev and Ethan Nelson bridge the gap between complex tech and daily utility. They teach you how to connect tools, design workflows, and package automation as something others will pay for.

The key upgrade is going from “chatting with a bot” to “delegating a task.” Think: an agent that drafts meeting notes and follow-ups, a workflow that tags leads and schedules reminders, a system that turns raw data into a weekly report. That’s when AI stops being interesting and starts being useful.

If you get stuck, don’t binge more tutorials. Build the smallest version, break it, fix it, repeat. Skill comes from friction.

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Other awesome AI guides you may enjoy

Staying Ahead of the Curve
AI changes too quickly to rely on static courses. That’s why the LinkedIn user points to channels like Matt Wolfe, The AI Advantage, and AI Andy for ongoing updates and practical walkthroughs. You want a mix of “what changed” and “how to use it.”

For deeper understanding, the inclusion of Yannic Kilcher matters. If you can follow even the high-level implications of new research, you’ll make better choices about tools and avoid chasing shiny features that don’t move your work forward.

A good cadence is simple: one weekly recap source, one tactical tutorial source, and one deep-dive source. Anything more and you risk drowning.

The Trap of Passive Consumption
The biggest risk with a list this good is “tutorial hell.” Watching ten videos can feel like progress while your real projects stay untouched. These channels are resources, not solutions.

Use a strict practice loop: watch 10 minutes, implement one step, then write down what broke and why. That turns learning into ownership, and it’s the fastest way to become “the AI person” in any room.

There are even more recommendations in the full breakdown. Go check out the original post to fill up your subscription feed!

Credit to Adam Biddlecombe

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