Guy Kawasaki dishes on the future of AI and how it’s boosted his creativity

Guy Kawasaki’s favorite research assistant? ChatGPT. 

The AI enthusiast, surfer, and Remarkable People podcast host isn’t afraid to dive deep. Canva’s chief evangelist recently bared his soul (well, some of it) in Glassdoor’s Hot Seat answering questions from community users about AI and everything in between. As one of Apple’s first employees, Kawasaki has seen the tech world transform, and he’s embraced it through brand evangelism, writing, and more.

Find out what motivates this tech titan. 

On the power of taking risks and making unconventional choices:

As Steve Jobs said, “You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards.”

I quit pre-med in college after fainting while going on rounds at Stanford Hospital. I quit law school after two weeks. I went to work for a tiny, family-owned jewelry manufacturer after getting my MBA. I quit Apple the day after getting promoted to start a software company.

I actually cannot think of any "conventional choices" that I made!

On AI’s impact on human creativity and how he uses it:

I see AI as a tremendous force multiplier for individual creativity. AI won't replace creative people. Creative people who know how to use AI will replace creative people who don't.

AI has made me 2-3x  better [as a] writer. [Here’s how I use it.]

1) [As a] research assistant to find examples. Eg, who has made a major career shift? ChatGPT told me “Julia Child,” and that's how she ended up in my book.

2) [A] grammar and spelling checker and editor. Specifically, Quillbot.

3) I created KawasakiGPT which contains my writing, videos, TEDx talks, and podcast transcripts. Now, I ask myself questions and use answers as first drafts.

On a daily basis, I ask [myself], "How did you do this before?"

On how the future of AI compares to the dot-com era: 

I think AI is less likely to be boom and bust, because it is more broadly and easily applied to real-life problems and opportunities.

[For example], I cannot think of why one should get involved with crypto. What use is it except gambling?

I can think of many uses of AI for many people.

On brand evangelism vs. traditional sales and marketing: 

Evangelism comes from a Greek word that means "bringing the good news." So, step one is to ensure that what you're evangelizing is good news. The difference between evangelism and most sales/marketing is that evangelism has the other person's best interests at heart, too. It's not just about meeting quota or getting a bonus.

On getting “unstuck” in your career:

You have to embrace the growth mindset and believe you can learn new skills. And then, you have to embrace vulnerability because you will face setbacks. And then, you have to keep showing up and embrace the grit mindset.

On balancing worklife, recalibrating, and identifying what makes life fulfilling:

My wife and kids are my top priority. Hanging with them trumps almost anything else.

And I surf almost every day. Literally.

When offered things to do, I ask myself, "At the end of my life, will I say I wish I had [BLANK] more than spending time with my family or surfing." You can guess what the answer usually is.