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.

I spent years in the online course world thinking ChatGPT was basically the whole AI story. It wasn't. In this episode, I talk about what changed when I finally went deeper and built a personal AI operator that helps run my business 24/7. I share what it actually does, why it has been such a game changer for me, and why I think this shift is going to matter for every digital product creator.

What does it actually look like to build a seven-figure course business that doesn’t depend on you being “on” all the time? In this episode, I sit down again with Lauren Bateman to talk about what’s changed since her last appearance—and how she’s grown to over $1M per year while keeping her workload lean.

We break down her YouTube consistency, simple but powerful A/B testing wins, how she structures her funnel, and why chasing viral content can distract you from the audience that actually buys. If you want a more predictable, sustainable course business, this conversation is packed with practical takeaways.

Watch the episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/VbDIaN68h_E

Lauren's Website: https://www.laurenbatemanguitar.com/

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