AI Beginner Academy Podcast: AI for Beginners in Plain English

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Welcome to the AI Beginner Academy Podcast — a simple, friendly show that helps everyday people learn AI in plain English, one clear lesson at a time. Each episode is designed for true beginners, with real-world examples you can actually use at work, at home, or in your own projects.

Every week you’ll get three segments: a Listener Question where we break down a real concern about AI, a practical AI Hot Tip you can try right away, and a short, encouraging Positive AI Thought of the Week to keep you feeling confident about the future. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by tech jargon or worried you’re “behind” on AI, this podcast will help you catch up step by step—without feeling lost. You’ll also see occasional bonus episodes featuring chapters from my audiobook AI Made Simple: The Beginner’s Guide to Artificial Intelligence, so you can learn AI one short chapter at a time. For deeper guided learning beyond the podcast, you can explore The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to AI, AI Basics Explained, and Essential AI Skills to Become AI-Proof.


Listen on Spotify

Use the player below to listen to the AI Beginner Academy Podcast on Spotify. You can follow the show, queue episodes, or keep it playing in the background while you work.

Featured Episodes

Start with any of the episodes below — they’re beginner-friendly, a little humorous, and packed with practical ideas you can try right away.

Episode 0: Introducing the AI Beginner Academy Podcast

Welcome to the AI Beginner Academy Podcast — a simple, friendly place to learn AI one clear lesson at a time. In this short trailer, you’ll discover what the show is about, who it’s for, and what you can expect each week. Every episode includes: • A Listener Question • A practical AI Hot Tip • A Positive AI Thought of the Week.

Episode 1: Will AI Take My Job?

Listener Kate asks one of the biggest questions in the AI world: “Will AI take my job?” In this episode, we break it down in a simple, honest way that beginners can understand. You’ll learn why AI tends to replace tasks, not entire people — and why the real key to job security is learning how to work with AI, even in small daily ways. In this episode: • Listener Question: Will AI take my job? • AI Hot Tip: A 5-minute daily routine to make yourself “AI-proof” • Optimistic AI Thought of the Week: A grounded reminder about your future with AI.

Episode 2: Is AI Going to Kill All of Us? (Spoiler: No.)

Is AI going to wipe us out? In this episode, we unpack the big, scary headlines and separate science fiction from the real risks. You’ll learn why most experts are focused on practical challenges like bias, misuse, and bad incentives — not robot uprisings — and why there are good reasons to feel cautiously hopeful about the future of AI.

Episode 3: The Biggest Mistake People Make When Starting With AI

In this episode, we break down the number one mistake beginners make when using AI: treating it like a magic button instead of a tool that needs clear guidance. You’ll learn why vague prompts lead to vague results, and how small changes instantly make AI more helpful. Steve shares three simple fixes—giving AI a role, adding context, and showing examples—along with real-world prompt examples you can use right away. If you’ve ever felt stuck, confused, or disappointed by AI’s answers, this episode will help everything finally click.

Bonus: Audiobook Episodes – AI Made Simple

In this short announcement, Steve explains a new addition to the AI Beginner Podcast: bonus episodes featuring chapters from his audiobook, AI Made Simple: The Beginner’s Guide to Artificial Intelligence, Revision 3. Throughout the season, you’ll see episodes labeled “Bonus – Audiobook Chapter 1,” “Bonus – Audiobook Chapter 2,” and so on. Each chapter delivers a simple, beginner-friendly lesson on AI in plain English, without jargon or overwhelm. These bonus episodes won’t replace the regular weekly format — they’re extra content to help you learn AI one easy chapter at a time. If you enjoy the chapters and want the full audiobook and AI Beginner Toolkit, you can find them inside the AI Beginner Academy at learn.aibeginner.net.

Bonus: Audiobook Introduction — AI Made Simple

This bonus episode features the full audiobook introduction from AI Made Simple: The Beginner’s Guide to Artificial Intelligence. You’ll hear how the book is structured, who it’s for, and how it helps real beginners finally feel less overwhelmed by AI. It’s a great way to sample the audiobook experience before diving into the full set of chapters inside the AI Beginner Academy.

Episode 4: The Future of AI – What’s Coming

In this episode, we launch the “Future of AI” series by stepping back and asking: what is AI really, and where is it headed? You’ll learn the difference between Narrow AI, AGI, and ASI in plain English — and why you don’t need to fear every headline you see. Plus: this week’s listener question, a practical AI Hot Tip, and an optimistic thought to help you stay grounded while the world talks about AI nonstop.

Episode 5: The Next 12 Months of AI – What’s Actually Coming

What’s coming with AI in the next 12 months? In this episode, we take a calm, hype-free look at the near future of AI — the changes you’ll actually notice in your daily life, at work, and in the tools you already use. We break down the realistic upgrades arriving over the next year, including much smarter AI assistants, AI built directly into email, search, documents, and everyday apps, more natural voice interactions, automation of repetitive tasks, and small, meaningful improvements that quietly make life easier. You’ll also learn a powerful “future self” prompt that can help you gain clarity, reduce stress, and think ahead — without treating AI like a fortune teller. If you’d like simple, friendly ways to keep learning at your own pace, you can visit AIBeginner.net or explore the AI Beginner Academy.

Episode 6: The Next 3–5 Years of AI: What’s Actually Coming

What will AI actually look like in the next 3–5 years? In this episode, we continue our mini-series on the future of AI — moving beyond the next 12 months and exploring the bigger changes that are coming a little further down the road.

We revisit Sarah’s listener question: “How fast is AI really moving, and what should normal people expect over the next few years?” — and take it head-on with a grounded, hopeful look at what you can realistically expect by 2028–2030.

We cover: accelerated scientific discoveries, medical breakthroughs and earlier detection, AI agents that help run your day, useful real-world robots, AI’s role in the search for intelligent life, the growing conversation around UBI, how jobs will evolve (not disappear), and everyday conveniences that quietly improve your life.

No hype. No panic. Just practical insight — plus this week’s AI Hot Tip and an Optimistic AI Thought of the Week.

🌐 Learn more at AIBeginner.net  🎓 Explore the AI Beginner Academy

Bonus: Chapter 3 — The Beginner’s Guide to Artificial Intelligence (Revision 3)

This bonus episode features Chapter 3 of the audiobook version of AI Made Simple: The Beginner’s Guide to Artificial Intelligence (Revision 3).

Chapter 3: The Invisible AI Around You

Short, easy-to-follow chapters designed to help absolute beginners understand AI with confidence and clarity.

Free guides, resources, and beginner tools → https://aibeginner.net
Learn at the AI Beginner Academy → https://aibeginner.net/academy

Episode 7: 5 Years and Beyond: What’s Actually Coming

What does AI look like five years from now — and beyond? In this episode, we continue our future-of-AI mini-series by zooming out further and exploring the longer-term changes AI is likely to bring to science, medicine, work, and everyday life.

This isn’t science fiction or hype. It’s a calm, realistic look at where things are heading once today’s AI tools have had time to mature and compound.

We cover: faster research breakthroughs, healthcare shifting from reactive to predictive, AI agents becoming long-term digital partners, robots integrating into real-world jobs, AI’s growing role in space exploration and the search for intelligent life, evolving conversations around work and productivity, and a future built around human + AI collaboration.

Plus this week’s AI Hot Tip and an Optimistic AI Thought of the Week to keep the future feeling grounded, practical, and hopeful.

If you’d like to go beyond listening and actually build confidence using AI, the AI Beginner Academy is designed specifically for beginners — with clear lessons, real examples, and no technical background required.

🌐 Learn more at https://AIBeginner.net
🎓 Explore the AI Beginner Academy: https://aibeginner.net/academy

New AI for beginners podcast episodes are added regularly. Follow the show on Spotify or subscribe via RSS so you never miss a new plain-English AI conversation.