The conversation around Artificial Intelligence has drifted in the wrong direction. While some argue about whether it will replace humans, others are already using it to learn faster than ever before. I belong to the latter group — not because AI has done my job, but because it has taught me how to do it better.
From Curiosity to Accelerated Learning
When I started working at a human resources consulting firm, I knew almost nothing about SQL, ERPs, or payroll systems. I was a recent graduate with basic web design knowledge and more enthusiasm than direction. A small local firm gave me my first opportunity as a technical support analyst, and that’s where it all began. I had no experience, but I had something often overlooked — the willingness to learn. And without realizing it, I was about to meet the best mentor I could have imagined: ChatGPT.
My First Digital Mentor
ChatGPT didn’t save me work — it saved me from unnecessary failures. It taught me how to structure SQL queries, how triggers and joins worked, and why execution order matters more than most people realize. I could ask it anything, at any time, without feeling like I was bothering anyone. Within three months, I had learned enough to solve real production issues. The chat became a silent companion, a mind that didn’t hand me answers automatically but instead gave me the tools to reason.
Thinking With AI: The Shift in Mindset
People often ask whether ChatGPT can do our jobs. The short answer is no — but the long one is far more interesting: AI doesn’t replace human experience; it accelerates it. The real challenge isn’t learning how to use it, but learning how to think with it.
Every interaction with AI is a cognitive workout. It forces you to structure your thoughts, formulate precise questions, and reflect on whether you truly understand what you’re asking. Learning with AI isn’t about getting answers — it’s about practicing mental precision. Artificial Intelligence democratizes expert thinking because, for the first time, anyone can access not just information, but the reasoning process behind it.
From Apprentice to Consultant: The Real Proof
Less than a year later, I was promoted to consultant — not because I knew more code, but because I could reach the right answers faster. ChatGPT had become my technical co-pilot: it analyzed data, validated business rules, and even helped me draft complex client requirements. We didn’t just work side by side — we thought together.
As my responsibilities grew, I began to notice cultural resistance. Some of my more experienced colleagues viewed AI as a threat or an unfair shortcut. But the results spoke for themselves: while others spent hours searching for solutions, I was building and refining them in half the time.
What AI Really Teaches Us
What I learned through this process is that AI doesn’t democratize knowledge — it democratizes the speed of acquiring it. It transforms curiosity into productivity, and productivity into advantage. But that advantage doesn’t come from the tool — it comes from the user’s mindset. AI doesn’t think for you, but it teaches you how to organize your thoughts and think better. And today, that ability is worth more than any line of code.
How to Truly Leverage AI at Work
Some key lessons I’ve learned and still apply every day:
- Be explicit and provide context: the clearer your question, the more relevant the response.
- Don’t seek quick answers — seek understanding. AI teaches best when you challenge it.
- Always validate information: critical thinking is still your greatest skill.
- Don’t fear it: fear of AI often masks fear of confronting what we don’t understand.
Conclusion – The New Age of Learning
We’re entering an era where the speed of learning defines professional relevance. AI won’t eliminate consultants, analysts, or developers — but it will eliminate those unwilling to learn with it. Knowledge is no longer hidden in manuals or classrooms; it lives in the ability to ask with precision and curiosity. In that skill, AI isn’t a replacement — it’s the clearest mirror of how we think.
Rafael Núñez Infante is a Functional Consultant specializing in SAP SuccessFactors. He has worked on multinational projects focused on data architecture and digital transformation across Latin America. Passionate about technology and lifelong learning, he believes AI won’t replace people — it will replace the lack of curiosity.