The Prompt

In this episode of The Prompt, Jim reflects on past AI predictions and how they played out, using his own custom AI to review trends.He notes some highlights: mainly that multimodal AI is now mainstream, with a market projected at $11–$27 billion by 2030–2034 and annual growth near 37%. Personalized AI assistants have evolved into agentic, workflow-orchestrating “AI co-workers.”But some of Jim’s predictions are still unfolding...Regulatory frameworks are maturing but fragmented, with the EU AI Act leading detailed requirements and the US issuing guidance, though a unified global standard remains elusive. Full autonomy in AI medical diagnosis is not yet widespread; most systems still require physician oversight.Looking ahead to 2026, Jim predicts agent stacks embedded in team operations, coordinated tasks, and a 50-70% reduction in human intervention for repetitive work. Search will shift from information gathering to direct action, with AI completing tasks inside apps. Deep, autonomous research will be routine, compressing strategy cycles from months to weeks. Robotics will focus on logistics, retail, and healthcare, tightly integrated with software agents. Plus, expect to see content budgets shift heavily toward promotion as creation becomes cheaper and faster.“These predictions aren't just about technology. They're about how we work, how we build, and how we create value in a world where AI is everywhere. The companies and individuals who win won't be the ones with the best models. They'll be the ones who wire AI into their operations, measure what matters, and build resilient distribution channels.”If you’re ready to keep exploring what’s next with AI — not just watching it happen but actually building with it — come hang out in CTRL + ALT + BUILD. It’s where entrepreneurs, creatives, and curious minds are experimenting with real workflows, sharing what’s working, and learning together in real time. You’ll get early access to my experiments, prompts, and behind-the-scenes breakdowns before they hit the feed. Join fellow builders here: https://jimcarter.me/ctrl-alt-build-ai-community/

Greg Isenberg’s philosophy of “building like the clock’s running out” anchors this episode. Jim Carter explains how AI tools and social platforms have removed traditional barriers: coding, design, marketing, and distribution are now accessible to anyone.Jim highlights how TikTok and Instagram Reels currently provide up to 80% organic reach for high-performing content, in contrast to Facebook’s dwindling 5%—a rare, temporary window for rapid audience growth.The core shift isn’t just technical but mental. Greg’s advice—“ship before you understand it”—urges founders to learn by doing, not by over-planning. Isenberg’s focus on “building what you wish existed” pushes founders to strip away ego and ruthlessly prioritize features that drive actual growth.Jim emphasizes that AI products are now measured against headcount, not just software competitors—firms ask if a tool replaces entire teams. This means founders need less capital, can bootstrap longer, and should only pursue venture capital if aiming for massive scale or IPO.Design is positioned as a trust shortcut: clean interfaces directly impact conversions. Founder-led growth—leveraging your personal brand for distribution—is now crucial.“Distribution is the new product.” If no one sees your work, it doesn’t matter how good it is. Jim shares Greg’s framework: go niche, leverage AI for speed, experiment relentlessly, cut what doesn’t work, and study distribution."AI makes it easy to make things; the hard part is making things that matter. build like the world’s ending in a year but your idea has to outlive it" - Greg IsenbergThe risk of moving slow now outweighs the risk of launching imperfect products. The episode is a clear, urgent call to action for founders to seize today’s fleeting advantages.Read the full quote here: https://jimcarter.me/newsletter/build-like-clock-running-out/If you’re ready to keep exploring what’s next with AI — not just watching it happen but actually building with it — come hang out in CTRL + ALT + BUILD. It’s where entrepreneurs, creatives, and curious minds are experimenting with real workflows, sharing what’s working, and learning together in real time. You’ll get early access to my experiments, prompts, and behind-the-scenes breakdowns before they hit the feed. Join fellow builders here: https://jimcarter.me/ctrl-alt-build-ai-community/

$300B dollars are sitting idle in Donor Advised Funds—just waiting to be put to good use.On this episode of The Prompt, Jim Carter dives deep into the world of philanthropy and the game-changing role artificial intelligence is beginning to play in getting that money moving.Jim talks about a recent conversation he had with his good friend Mike Spear, the founder of Altruous, that had him rethinking everything he thought he knew about charitable giving and nonprofit evaluation.Mike’s no stranger to the impact space, having helped Classy.org raise billions for causes worldwide, but what really sets this chat apart is how he tackled the age-old problem of “evaluation paralysis.” Turns out, most of that philanthropic money isn’t being spent because evaluating nonprofit programs is slow, expensive, and downright overwhelming. Twenty to forty hours per program, endless paperwork, and missed opportunities.Altruous flips that script using advanced AI—generating in-depth, 25-page program evaluations in mere seconds, not weeks. The way it works is pretty slick: the platform pulls in third-party data, combines it with info from organizations, and uses AI to spit out comprehensive, real-time reports. But the magic isn’t just in automation. Mike and his team are obsessed with keeping humans in the loop. AI does the heavy lifting, while real people add context, ask the hard questions, and make sure cultural sensitivity and nuance aren’t lost in the data.Plus, Jim shares his go-to framework for AI adoption: What takes too long? What costs too much? What good work could you do more of? Apply that lens, and the case for AI in philanthropy is obvious.AI-powered tools like Altruous can supercharge efficiency (think: 30% boost), reduce admin overload, and let more money flow to where it’s needed most. But there are real concerns too—data use, cost, and over-automation. The episode doesn’t shy away from these, but instead, it’s all about thoughtful, human-centered integration.If you’re ready to keep exploring what’s next with AI — not just watching it happen but actually building with it — come hang out in CTRL + ALT + BUILD. It’s where entrepreneurs, creatives, and curious minds are experimenting with real workflows, sharing what’s working, and learning together in real time. You’ll get early access to my experiments, prompts, and behind-the-scenes breakdowns before they hit the feed. Join fellow builders here: https://jimcarter.me/ctrl-alt-build-ai-community/

On this episode of The Prompt, Jim Carter shares a special recording with his close friend, Mike Spear, founder of Altrous. They jump into their decade-long friendship, philanthropy, and the evolution of AI and technology. Mike, a pivotal figure in philanthropic tech space who helped Classy.org raise funds for nonprofits before it was acquired by GoFundMe, discusses his new startup and their shared passion for impactful technology. They explore the transformational potential of AI within the social impact sector, sharing stories and insights on simplifying the complex nature of philanthropy. Jim highlights the practical applications of AI to save time, cut costs, and achieve greater output, while ensuring data integrity and cultural sensitivity. This episode underscores the importance of adapting to AI for sustained impact and efficiency in the nonprofit field.Check out Mike's startup at https://www.altruous.org/00:00 Introduction to a Special Episode00:26 Meet Mike Spear: A Decade of Philanthropy03:57 The Pineapple Fund: A Bitcoin Philanthropy Story13:25 Personal Growth and Philanthropy17:53 AI and Its Impact on the Social Sector22:39 Leveraging AI for Nonprofits42:12 Building Digital Clones for Influencers45:22 The Power of AI for Personal and Organizational Use46:49 AI's Role in Streamlining Processes and Reducing Costs48:57 Adapting to AI: A Necessity for Impact Organizations50:28 The Importance of Innovation in Philanthropy54:09 The Journey and Vision Behind Altruist58:53 Leveraging AI for Impact Evaluation01:05:13 The Future of AI in Philanthropy and Personal Projects01:13:11 Personal Reflections and Future Aspirations01:28:47 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Guests

Meta and Ray-Ban now dominate seventy-three percent of the global smart glasses market, with two million pairs sold since 2023.That’s the kind of jaw-dropping stat Jim dives into in this week’s episode of The Prompt. He’s not just rattling off numbers; he’s lived with these glasses, tested them, and is here to break down why this partnership is completely changing the wearable tech game.Jim opens with what makes these glasses so different from the clunky first-gen wearables we all remember. Forget about awkward, obvious headsets. The latest Ray-Ban Meta glasses have a 12MP camera, shoot crisp 3K video, and hide a subtle screen you only see when you need it. Oh, and the “Neural Band” lets you control everything with tiny muscle movements—no more yelling at your glasses or poking at your face. This is real sci-fi stuff, but it’s actually on the market right now.He doesn’t shy away from the big questions, either. Yes, the privacy concerns are real—and he’s honest about the need for discussions around data and always-on cameras. But the market is speaking: people are buying, using, and loving these things for everything from livestreaming to real-time translation.Jim’s fascinated by the business angle, too. EssilorLuxottica, the parent behind Ray-Ban, saw smart glasses sales rocket 200% in the first half of 2025. With ten million units planned for next year, it's clear this is a revolution in how we interact with technology and the internet. And, as he points out, Meta’s partnership with a fashion powerhouse like Ray-Ban is the secret sauce that Google Glass never had.Key takeaways? Smart glasses are poised to replace the smartphone as our main digital interface. The social stigma is fading, job opportunities are growing, and there’s a gold rush coming for developers and businesses. As Jim puts it: “Sometimes the best innovation isn’t about creating something new—it’s about making the futuristic feel familiar.”If you’re ready to keep exploring what’s next with AI — not just watching it happen but actually building with it — come hang out in CTRL + ALT + BUILD. It’s where entrepreneurs, creatives, and curious minds are experimenting with real workflows, sharing what’s working, and learning together in real time. You’ll get early access to my experiments, prompts, and behind-the-scenes breakdowns before they hit the feed. Join fellow builders here: https://jimcarter.me/ctrl-alt-build-ai-community/

Google’s Gemini is already a stealth force in AI, eclipsing the chatbot hype cycle by embedding AI directly into the workflows and tools people already use.This episode of The Prompt reveals Gemini’s massive growth from 7 million to 450 million users in 18 months, with adoption by 41% of Fortune 500 firms.Unlike rivals that tack on multimodal features, Gemini was built from the ground up to handle text, images, audio, and video natively. Use cases include instant dashboard light explanations via phone camera, auto-organized screenshots, and searchable uploads—features already in daily use on millions of devices. Users save an average of 105 minutes weekly, reflecting tangible productivity gains.But it is not just individual users seeing results. Gemini delivers real-world business impact. Toyota has saved 10,000+ man-hours annually, Mercedes and UPS have streamlined processes, and healthcare leaders like Bayer and Click Therapeutics have used Gemini to accelerate research and clinical trials.“Google isn’t trying to build a better chatbot. They’re embedding AI so deeply into the tools billions of people already use that it becomes invisible.”Gemini signals a shift from AI as a destination to AI as an ambient, ubiquitous utility, challenging the relevance of standalone chatbots in the future.If you’re ready to keep exploring what’s next with AI — not just watching it happen but actually building with it — come hang out in CTRL + ALT + BUILD. It’s where entrepreneurs, creatives, and curious minds are experimenting with real workflows, sharing what’s working, and learning together in real time. You’ll get early access to my experiments, prompts, and behind-the-scenes breakdowns before they hit the feed. Join fellow builders here: https://jimcarter.me/ctrl-alt-build-ai-community/

Generative AI isn't just a buzzword—it's revolutionizing how we work and create in 2025. Imagine having a creative partner that's read every book, seen every image, and heard every song. That's Generative AI for you! In this episode of The Prompt, Jim Carter dives into how this technology has evolved from a cool party trick to a core business tool. With models like GPT-4+ and Stable Diffusion 3, creating professional-level content is as easy as making your morning coffee. And it's not just about content; it's transforming industries like healthcare, retail, and finance, with the market projected to grow at a staggering 34.2% CAGR by 2029.So, what does this mean for you? Imagine reallocating your budget from manual design to more strategic initiatives. Generative AI allows you to test ideas with synthetic data, speeding up your product launches. Whether you're a small business owner or a content creator, AI can help you reclaim your time by automating tasks like writing newsletters or generating ad copy. It's not about cutting corners; it's about working smarter.Jim shares real-world examples, like business owners going from a blank page to a polished campaign in an afternoon, or content creators using tools like Descript and ChatGPT to streamline their workflows. And for data analysts, tools like Claude and Gemini are game-changers, generating insights from unstructured data in seconds.The key takeaway? You don't need to be a tech wizard to use Generative AI. Just be curious and ask better questions. And if you're interested in learning more, Jim invites you to join his Slack community https://jimcarter.me/ctrl-alt-build-ai-community/ where leaders and creators explore how to make the most of AI with a supportive community by their side.Before you go, ponder this: Generative AI isn't about replacing your creativity—it's about freeing it. So, instead of asking, "Should I be using AI?" ask, "What could I create if I wasn't stuck doing the busywork?" Join Jim and other AI enthusiasts to explore this exciting frontier. Keep experimenting, keep sharing, and keep thinking bigger.