279: Beyond ChatGPT - My Simple 2026 AI Setup

279: Beyond ChatGPT - My Simple 2026 AI Setup

Author: Jacques Hopkins June 2, 2026 Duration: 25:36

If ChatGPT is still the only AI tool you’re using, this episode will help you take the next step.

In this episode of The Online Course Show, I’m sharing the AI tools I’m actually using in 2026. Not a giant list of random apps. Just the ones that are saving me time and changing how I work.

I talk about why I’ve been using Claude as my daily driver AI, how to get better results with simple prompting habits, why “do research” is one of my favorite phrases to add to a prompt, and how Wispr Flow has made it much easier to give AI the context it needs.

I also walk through Claude Cowork, how I use Rocky in my own business, why Pikzels has become part of my YouTube workflow, and why Claude Code is worth trying even if you don’t think of yourself as a coder.

If AI feels overwhelming, don’t try to learn everything at once. Pick one tool. Try one workflow. Build from there.

IN THIS EPISODE

• Why ChatGPT is only the beginning
• Why I’m using Claude as my main AI tool
• How to use “do research” to get better answers
• Why AI can sound confident and still be wrong
• How to use ELI5 prompts
• How to make AI review your work from your audience’s perspective
• Why Wispr Flow makes prompting faster
• What Claude Cowork does
• How Pikzels helps with YouTube thumbnails
• Why Claude Code is useful beyond coding

CHAPTERS

00:00 Why ChatGPT is only the beginning

01:57 Claude as my daily driver AI

05:42 Prompting tips that make AI more useful

08:54 A simple demo of AI guessing confidently

11:15 ELI5 and audience-review prompts

15:45 Wispr Flow and voice-first prompting

19:24 Claude Cowork and AI agents 22:36 Pikzels for YouTube thumbnails

25:30 Claude Code for apps and bigger projects

29:15 Where to start if AI feels overwhelming

 

LINKS AND RESOURCES

Claude: https://claude.com/download

Wispr Flow: https://wisprflow.ai/r?JACQUES92

Pikzels: https://pikzels.com/?via=jacques63

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/AzQiZEiQF-8

Get your Personalized AI Game Plan: https://jacqueshopkins.com/ai-start

 

Some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.


Jacques Hopkins hosts The Online Course Show, a space built for the specific challenges and opportunities faced by people who teach what they know. This isn't about vague inspiration; it's a practical exchange drawn from real experience. Jacques believes in going straight to the source, so conversations here are fueled by firsthand accounts of what actually moves the needle for an online education business. You'll hear from fellow creators and experts who break down everything from high-level strategic vision to the nitty-gritty processes that make a course run smoothly. Episodes dive into topics like marketing funnels, content strategy, and the operational details many gloss over. The dialogue is a two-way street, with Jacques regularly sharing his own observations and testing ideas within this entrepreneurial community. If you're creating, launching, or scaling an online course, this podcast serves as a continual workshop. It’s where abstract concepts meet actionable plans, all aimed at helping you build something that resonates and succeeds.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Online Course Show
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