Jonathan Liebert remembers the moment he first saw AI. It was 2023 while having lunch with a friend. “Have you seen this thing called ChatGPT?” they asked. It was mesmerizing and mind-blowing to watch it writing on its own, Liebert says. And it left him thinking, “I’m going to have to learn about that.”
Learn he did. So much that he began teaching classes at the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado where he is the CEO. In 2025 alone, 3,000 people from 1,300 businesses and nonprofits attended the free-to-members training sessions, which are geared toward small businesses rather than massive corporations. Now he is getting invitations to lead classes for BBBs in other states.
Liebert is also releasing his first book about AI this month titled Thought Partner. (Yes, he wrote it with the assistance of his AI agent, which named itself Thalos.) He is also launching the Colorado AI Alliance, which will gather vetted subject matter experts for panels and training resources.
Still, Liebert resists the title of expert, saying only the people creating the algorithms and technology of AI are truly experts. The way he sees it, his background in counseling psychology gives him a unique perspective in understanding how AI works — and how people interact with it.
“I’m simply a thought leader with this technology, an AI translator,” he says. “I realized I just understand how it works for whatever reason. That’s just how my brain works. All I’m doing is translating and connecting dots for people.”
But there are a lot of dots to connect as the technology revolutionizes our workplaces and society. According to Liebert, learning AI isn’t optional — it’s vital, especially for small businesses and nonprofits. Here are some of his top tips that anyone can use to start learning AI and using it more effectively.
1. Start with Curiosity
Start exploring. Get used to it. Talk to it. Ask it questions. Learn to think with it. And stick with the leading models such as: ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude, Copilot. “I tell everybody that you have to play around with these tools to get really good at them,” Liebert says. “The free versions are good to learn, but you have to go in eyes wide open. The paid versions are better so you have decide which ones to invest in”
He advises avoiding apps from China due to privacy and security concerns, and he says not to put personal or protected information into free apps, as it will be used to train AI models.
2. Master the Art of Prompting
How you communicate with AI directly shapes the results you get. “The more information you give, the better the output,” Liebert says. “Think of your prompts as conversations — be detailed, but keep them natural.”
Instead of vague requests, use clear, specific language and provide context for what you want. Whether you’re asking for a summary, a creative idea or a technical solution, take a moment to clarify your goal and any relevant details. This sets the stage for AI to deliver its best work. If you talk to AI the way you use Google, you are doing it wrong.
3. Train AI Like an Intern
Liebert emphasizes that while AI is powerful, it still needs guidance and training — just like a new hire:
“You have to treat it like an intern. It’s a very smart intern, but it’s still an intern,” he says. “Interns have no context, so you have to train them. Once you train that everyday AI, then it’s going to help you think and problem solve and strategize and write. It does amazing things.”
Be patient, provide feedback, and remember that AI improves as you interact with it and teach it your preferences and style.
4. Use AI as a Thought Partner
Liebert’s philosophy is to go beyond using AI as a simple tool. “Most people are using AI as a tool, which is fine,” he says. “If you use it as a thought partner, it will accelerate your thinking, creativity, productivity — all of it.”
Collaborate with AI to brainstorm, outline projects or refine drafts. The real magic happens when you combine your own insight with AI’s capabilities.
5. Use Specific AI Apps for Different Tasks
Not all AI tools are created equal, Liebert says. Each tool has its strengths. The best results come from matching the right app to the right job. Don’t be afraid to experiment and mix and match. Here are some of Liebert’s top recommendations:
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- Best for deep research mode and voice mode for basic everyday tasks:
ChatGPT
“For small businesses and nonprofits, I would say anecdotally, 75% of the people I’ve spoken to in Colorado Springs are using ChatGPT as their default, which is totally fine.” - Best at writing and coding: Claude by Anthropic
- Best at image and video generation: Google Gemini
“And inside of Gemini is Nano Banana, which is the video generation app that everybody’s talking about online. It is really, really good.” - Best for learning: Google Notebook LM
The free app is part of the Google suite. “Everybody needs to try Notebook LM. It’s one of the best AI applications out there that people don’t know about.” - Best AI web browser: Perplexity Comet
“Comet is the first ever AI web browser. People need to relearn how to search the Internet using an AI browser. Comet is incredible.” - Best for generating presentations: Microsoft Copilot with PowerPoint or Google Gamma
- Best for deep research mode and voice mode for basic everyday tasks:
6. Make Learning Relevant
When Liebert began exploring AI, he quickly realized that much of the available AI education was not designed for people like him. “A lot of what you hear is for multibillion dollar businesses or data scientists, so 70-80% doesn’t relate to me as a small business guy or nonprofit guy,” he says.
Focus on resources and training that speak directly to your needs and context. Look for examples and applications you can use right away.
7. Level Up to Paid Versions
Free versions are great for learning, but when you’re ready to use AI for real work, upgrade to a paid plan for better performance, privacy and reliability. Liebert is clear that investing in paid AI tools is worth it for most users:
“The paid versions are just better,” he says. “They’re safer, with fewer hallucinations, and you don’t run out of tokens in the middle of a project. That’s the worst.”
He also recommends Boodle Box, a Colorado Springs-based, veteran-owned business. “For $20 a month, you get all of the pro versions of all the AI,” he says. “So you can use all of them and figure out which one you like the best and then use that one.”
8. Learn as a Team to Multiply Your Impact
Liebert believes the real power of AI adoption comes when entire teams learn together to accelerate the process, spark new ideas and ensure that AI skills become part of an organization’s culture, not just one person’s advantage.
“You’ve got to bring people together on this,” he says. “If you do the same thing with your whole team, your whole company, you’re going to level up your business.”
9. Keep Learning — AI Changes Fast
The world of AI doesn’t stand still, and neither should you. Continuous learning ensures that you’re not just using AI, you’re using it well. “This stuff changes so fast. You’ve got to do a class a month at least,” Liebert says. “Even if you’ve come to a particular class once, come again. It’s going to change.”
BBB’s AI Classes: Practical Learning for Springs Locals
Liebert’s BBB classes focus on practical skills — such as automating emails, optimizing websites and more—to make AI accessible for small businesses and nonprofits. There are monthly sessions both in person and virtual that include:
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- ChatGPT Basics
- Harnessing Generative AI for Small Businesses
- Beyond Google: Make Your Business Discoverable in the Age of AI
All are free for BBB members. Some require fees for non-members. You can find the calendar and class descriptions at bbb.org.
You can find Jonathan Liebert’s new book, Thought Partner, at Amazon or at aithoughtpartner.io.
Editor’s Note: Full disclosure, I experimented with AI in the creation and editing of this article. But the humans had the final say.
