This as-told-to essay is drawn from a conversation with Antoine Wade, a tech sales professional based in San Antonio. Business Insider has verified his identity and employment. The content below has been edited for clarity and brevity. I began using AI around 2022 when ChatGPT first came out. It was unlike any technology I had encountered before, and I quickly started applying it in both my personal and professional life. At first, it helped me write emails. Since I work in tech sales, cold outreach is a big part of my role. My job requires crafting messages that resonate with various leaders, and ChatGPT made that easier. After incorporating AI into my work routine, I realized it could be useful beyond that. As a sports coach and father, I used it for tasks like sending post-practice updates to parents, creating schedules, or compiling game statistics. Things that once took me days were now done in minutes. Today, I use AI daily and experiment with different tools. For business communication and content creation, I rely on Claude. For in-depth research, I use Perplexity.

Gemini helps me generate images. These tools support a variety of personal, professional, and educational needs—I’ve even learned how to install an air conditioner and assist my son with sixth-grade math. My company has also provided access to powerful sales tools. They enable me to quickly gain insights into customers. For instance, Salesforce Sales Navigator can identify the exact person likely interested in my product. When I reach out, the conversation is much more productive than with a random cold call. AI hasn’t closed deals for me—that’s all about building relationships—but it has increased my pipeline by helping me reach more potential clients through better data and messaging. By understanding customers better, I communicate more effectively, build a stronger pipeline, and ultimately generate more revenue. I’m hesitant to share all my AI “secrets. ” Even though many people have access to the same tools, success depends on how users assemble data and craft prompts. I’ve experimented with numerous automation tools and developed a kind of “secret sauce. ” If I create prompts that produce better messages and outcomes, I might hold back from sharing them widely. I want to see if they provide a competitive edge. Everyone has the same amount of time to learn this stuff. If I’m investing more time mastering prompt engineering and AI use, I’m not eager to share all those insights with everyone. Right now, we’re all competing. I’m happy to help if someone asks, but I’m selective about how much I reveal. Some of these learnings I only share with close friends or people I believe I can also learn from—not with everyone. Sales is highly competitive, and while many companies openly discuss AI, some individuals hesitate to share how they leverage it because it may be their advantage. When people ask if I use AI, I say “absolutely, yes. ” But I only engage in deeper AI conversations with a limited group of people.