Hey Reader,

For someone who considers himself a writer, I'm embarrassingly slow at typing.

I can type, but I'm not fast. I still look down at the keyboard more than I should, and I've never developed the muscle memory that proper touch typists have. It's been this way for years, and I've always told myself I should learn to type properly.

But now I don't have to.

I use an app that lets me hold down a function key and speak my thoughts. What comes out is perfectly punctuated text—complete sentences, proper grammar, even paragraph breaks where I pause. It's like having a personal transcriptionist who never takes a break.

Problem solved. Shortcoming papered over.

This got me thinking about how AI is becoming a band-aid for all kinds of human weaknesses.

Take speaking and presentation skills. During a recent team meeting, it was obvious who had prepared remarks and who was speaking naturally. One person sounded scripted reading from their notes, while another delivered their thoughts conversationally.

Instead of getting better at natural delivery, we could just rely on AI prompts. Smart glasses will soon whisper talking points directly into our conversations. The skill gap disappears—or does it?

I work with colleagues who speak four or five languages fluently. As an American who speaks only English, I've always admired this. But with real-time translation getting better every month, should I bother learning Spanish, or let technology transcribe my speech in real-time?

Writing, speaking, becoming fluent in multiple languages—AI is offering us an escape hatch from the hard work of getting better at fundamental human skills.

There's obvious appeal to this. Why spend months learning to type 80 words per minute when I can speak 150 words per minute right now? Why struggle through Duolingo when my earbuds will translate in real time?

But I wonder what we lose when we outsource too much. Some skills might become more valuable precisely because fewer people will have them. Natural delivery during presentations, for instance, could become a rare competitive advantage.

The question isn't whether we should use these tools—of course we should. The question is which human skills are still worth the investment to develop ourselves.

I'm still figuring this out. In next week's issue, I'll share more about how I'm using AI in my writing workflow (including specific tools), and I'm working on a framework for deciding what new skills are worth learning versus what's worth outsourcing.

But for now, I'm curious:

What's one skill you've been tempted to let AI handle instead of developing yourself? Do you think this is a good or bad thing?

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PODCAST

Forget Courses, Launch This In 2025 To Survive AI

Jay Clouse, founder of Creator Science, joins me on the podcast to break down how creators can build stable, high-leverage businesses—even with small audiences.

We get into his playbook for high-retention memberships, what he’s learned from 250+ creator interviews, and why group coaching often beats scale. Jay shares the pricing approach behind his high-ticket offer and explains how he’s navigating AI’s impact on the creator economy through his growing Lab community.

You’ll hear us cover:

• Why AI is reshaping how we teach and learn
• How Jay built a high-retention paid community
• The best path for creators to monetize small audiences

​Watch or listen to episode »​

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WORK AT KIT

Kit is hiring: Ads Sales Representative - Contractor

We're looking for a contractor to help brands connect with creators in our network through tailored sponsorship opportunities.

You'll prospect advertisers, manage the full sales cycle, and work toward quarterly revenue targets. The role involves building relationships with brands, crafting campaign strategies that work for both advertisers and creators, and collaborating with our internal teams.

This is perfect for someone with digital advertising experience who understands performance-based models like CPC and CPM, has a track record of hitting sales targets, and genuinely cares about helping creators earn a living.

​​Learn more and apply for this role »​​

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BOOK

The Women: A Novel

I recently finished this book on a plane and found myself tearing up. My seatmate noticed because she had read it too.

The story is about a young nurse who volunteers in Vietnam and captures both the brutal realities of war and what it's like coming home to a country that doesn't know how to handle women who've seen combat. Hannah does a great job exploring the often-overlooked experiences of the women who served.

If you're looking for a compelling read, I recommend this one.

​View book »​

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Have a great week!

—Nathan