Video Summary

How to Win With AI in 2026

Alex Hormozi

Main takeaways
01

Make learning and using AI your top priority—AI capabilities will only improve.

02

Stack new skills around AI to create disproportionate competitive leverage.

03

Shift from role-based hiring to workflow-based automation and organization.

04

Train AI like you would a new employee: iteratively give rules, examples, and feedback.

05

Use a barbell strategy: aggressively integrate AI while investing in resilient sectors (health, food, entertainment).

Key moments
Questions answered

Why does Hormozi say learning AI should be your top priority?

He argues AI capabilities will only improve, so early adoption compounds advantage—skills tied to AI yield disproportionate leverage and protect relevance as automation expands.

What does it mean to shift from role-based to workflow-based thinking?

Instead of hiring for fixed job titles, break jobs into discrete workflows and tasks, then identify which steps can be automated or optimized with AI to streamline operations and reduce redundant roles.

How should you 'train AI like a human' in practice?

Provide clear rules, examples, iterative feedback, and reinforcement—treat initial outputs as a starting point and refine prompts, guardrails, and datasets until performance meets expectations.

What is the barbell strategy Hormozi recommends for businesses?

Pursue two poles: fully integrate AI to maximize upside and efficiency, while also investing in industries likely to remain robust (health, food, entertainment) to hedge risk.

How can an individual start becoming proficient with AI quickly?

Spend focused time (a weekend) using AI tools hands-on, build or instruct a simple agent, and iterate; practical, applied learning beats passive reading and shortens the learning curve.

The Importance of Adapting to AI 00:12

"AI will never be worse than it is right now."

  • The landscape of AI is shifting rapidly, and individuals must adapt or risk falling behind. It's projected that AI capabilities will improve considerably over time, making learning to utilize AI a priority for everyone in the business world.

  • Embracing AI is critical; it should be your top priority as it can lead to significant changes in both personal work and business operations. This transition isn't just for tech companies but for businesses across all sectors.

Skill Stacking to Gain Competitive Advantage 01:16

"Every single skill you're able to stack into your ability to use AI will give you disproportionate leverage over your competitors."

  • Individuals starting new businesses or wanting to disrupt existing markets have a unique advantage: time. While current businesses focus on their operations, newcomers can prioritize learning and implementing AI.

  • The concept of "skill stacking" involves combining various abilities that, when integrated, yield a greater competitive edge. The ability to leverage AI will amplify these skills, creating more value in the marketplace.

Rethinking Organizational Structures and Roles 04:38

"You have to stop thinking in role-based thinking and start thinking in workflow-based thinking."

  • Businesses should shift their focus from hiring for specific roles to understanding the workflows that drive productivity and efficiency. Each task an employee performs can be broken down into workflows that could potentially be automated.

  • This transformation allows for better organization of tasks and can lead to improved outputs, moving away from the traditional role hierarchy towards a more streamlined, process-driven approach to business operations.

Proactivity in Adapting to Change 07:12

"If you don't adapt, you will eventually be out of a job."

  • It's emphasized that individuals must see their roles as adaptable, and think proactively about leveraging automation to enhance efficiency rather than simply worrying about job security.

  • The future of business may increasingly involve a "Bring Your Own Software" model, which implies that individuals will need to be equipped with the necessary tools to manage their roles effectively amidst ongoing automation advancements.

The Future of Business with AI 07:33

"If you can approach a business and say, 'I am your entire marketing department,' you become very valuable."

  • As the integration of AI into business grows, earning potential is expected to increase significantly, even at the employee level. This shift suggests that businesses can operate effectively with minimal staff using advanced AI tools.

  • Companies like Anthropic exemplify this trend by functioning with just one person in their marketing department, aided by automated agents that handle essential tasks.

  • The cost savings from deploying trained AI agents instead of maintaining a full marketing team can be substantial, offering unique opportunities for contractors or entrepreneurs looking to leverage AI in their operations.

Training AI Like a Human 08:46

"If you had a brand new employee and they provided poor output, would you immediately fire them? Probably not. You would train them more."

  • Many people fail to train AI systems as they would with a human employee, leading to frustration when initial outputs are unsatisfactory. Understanding that the early performance of AI may not meet expectations is crucial; it represents the starting point, not the endpoint.

  • Just as humans learn through reinforcement—adjusting their actions based on the outcomes—they can train AI with a similar mindset, focusing on providing clear parameters and guidance for expected outputs.

  • When using AI for tasks like writing, providing specific rules and examples can drastically improve the quality of the output, potentially achieving better results in a fraction of the time it would take a human to learn.

The Importance of Adapting to Technology 12:30

"Throughout all of human history, humans combined with superior technology have consistently outperformed those using inferior technology."

  • Adapting to advanced technologies, such as AI, is crucial for maintaining competitiveness in the market. Companies or individuals relying on outdated methods.

  • Just as the transition to the internet was essential for businesses, the integration of AI will similarly affect profitability and efficiency. Those who resist adopting AI will find themselves at a disadvantage compared to those who embrace and utilize these tools.

  • In the context of limitless AI capabilities, humans will increasingly find their labor less valued, emphasizing the need to pivot towards areas that require human intuition and risk-taking, which machines cannot replicate.

The Necessity of Adapting to Technology 15:09

"Every company is going to become a technology company."

  • Businesses today must recognize the integration of technology into their operations, even if they don't identify as technology companies. Utilizing tools such as social media, email, and the internet is essential for modern business practices.

  • The increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) correlates directly with advancements in education and technology. As labor becomes increasingly automated and intelligent, there will be significant growth in GDP, leading to the emergence of more companies.

The Barbell Strategy for the Future 16:14

"I believe in a barbell strategy for approaching the future."

  • Hormozi advocates a dual approach to navigating the future. On one side, businesses should fully integrate AI into their operations, leading to possible high rewards but also necessitating hard decisions about team roles.

  • On the other side, it’s vital to identify what industries will remain stable. Health and wellness, food, and entertainment are sectors expected to thrive even amidst widespread AI adoption.

The Role of Entertainment and Leisure 16:58

"Entertainment is going to boom."

  • As robots handle more tasks and human leisure time increases, the demand for entertainment will significantly rise. This shift is projected to contribute substantially to GDP, with potential for new, cost-effective content creation using AI technologies.

  • The film industry, particularly through low-cost AI-generated content, will see substantial financial opportunities, despite the initial reluctance to take advantage of these innovations.

"Look at what the porn industry adopts first; it eventually trickles down."

  • Unconventional sources, such as the porn industry, often lead technological trends that can be expected to impact broader markets. The adoption of AI avatars is one example of how businesses might evolve to reduce costs and streamline operations.

  • Essential needs such as housing, food, and entertainment will inevitably remain unchanged, presenting ongoing opportunities for entrepreneurs ready to invest in these sectors.

Preparing for Different Outcomes 19:24

"Hope for the best, prepare for the worst."

  • There is an inherent uncertainty in predicting how technology will reshape the economy, and businesses should be prepared for varying scenarios. Hormozi emphasizes the importance of remaining adaptable and responsive to sudden market changes.

  • By adopting a proactive mindset, individuals and companies can position themselves for success regardless of potential adversities facing the economy in the future.

The Importance of Continuous Learning 22:30

"Write down a list of what you do every day."

  • Hormozi encourages viewers to document their daily activities at a granular level. This practice of self-assessment can uncover areas for improvement and increased efficiency within their roles.

  • Recognizing and understanding their current tasks allows individuals to identify how AI and automation can assist them, leading to more strategic decision-making and productivity enhancements.

Breakdown of Advertising Tasks 22:44

"Don't think in chunks like 'I run ads.' There's a lot of stuff underneath that."

  • When working with advertising, it’s crucial to deconstruct the broad tasks into specific activities. For instance, rather than merely stating that you run ads, recognize that this encompasses campaign creation, budget setting, results analysis, creative development, copywriting, and testing various elements such as landing pages and headlines.

  • By identifying each individual task involved in advertising, you can effectively leverage AI by asking, “Help me automate this. What steps would you take?” which will provide you with a structured list of actions to pursue.

Utilizing AI for Improvement 23:11

"Everyone has an AI tutor at their fingertips that you're just not using."

  • After obtaining the list of tasks from AI, focus on the first item and proceed to carry it out. If you encounter obstacles, a helpful tip is to take a screenshot of your process and upload it to the AI, asking for guidance on the next steps. This iterative process allows you to utilize AI as a constant support in your work.

  • This approach to task management and problem-solving is emphasized in Alex Hormozi's ACQ Vantage community, which is actively engaging in these techniques for entrepreneurial breakthroughs.

AI Tools and Community Support 23:41

"We have an AI product and an AI salesman that we've been training."

  • Within the ACQ community, tools are being developed that focus on AI applications in business, which have been meticulously trained over years. There is a push to capitalize on these opportunities while maintaining certain advancements under wraps.

  • Business owners generating over a million dollars are encouraged to explore these resources, as they could significantly enhance productivity and efficiency through the use of AI in various operational aspects.