The Hook
Most people discovered AI in 2023.
I started at ChatGPT launch month: December 9, 2022.
In the 3.5 years since, I've had 934 conversations with AI. That's not just "using AI" — that's practical application experience most people won't accumulate in a decade.
This isn't a story about how I use AI prompts. This is the story of how I evolved from curious user → product builder → platform creator → empire builder. And it's the story of how you can shortcut your own AI evolution by learning from my journey.
Phase 1: First Light · December 2022
The spark that lit the fuse.
December 9, 2022, I opened ChatGPT for the first time. Like everyone else who discovered it that first month, I had a moment of revelation: this isn't just a tool. It's a paradigm shift.
I started exploring basic AI marketing concepts. How could this transform digital advertising? What does this mean for content creation? Could small businesses finally access enterprise-level marketing automation? I was asking the right questions. But I was still in exploration mode.
Key insight: AI would transform everything — not just marketing, but how we work, create, and build.
Phase 2: Building Begins · January – June 2023
Stop using AI. Start building with AI.
This is where most people get stuck. They use AI for emails, summaries, maybe some content generation. But they never make the leap from user to builder.
I made that leap in Q1 2023.
What I built:
- Repubot — A chat-based reputation management platform
- UseChatGPT.AI concepts — Early frameworks for AI adoption
- WiFi marketing automation — AI-powered customer engagement
- AI SEO tools — Content optimization at scale
The breakthrough: AI wasn't just for prompts and productivity hacks. It was for building products. I stopped asking "What can AI do?" and started asking "What can I build with AI?"
Key insight: The real value isn't using AI — it's building solutions that leverage AI.
Phase 3: Branching Out · July 2023 – December 2024
AI works for everything.
After proving I could build with AI in marketing, I got curious: what else could AI transform? So I went on a diversification spree.
Industries explored — 8: Wellness (MINDFLO nootropics), Health (ADHD products), E-commerce (T-shirt platforms, print-on-demand), Real estate (investing workflows, property analysis), Brand strategy (naming, positioning), and more.
Business models tested — 12: SaaS platforms, marketplaces, automation services, content systems, lead generation. You name it.
The breakthrough: AI isn't industry-specific. It's a universal amplifier. Whatever industry you're in, AI can transform how you work, create, and deliver value.
Key insight: AI skills transfer across industries. Learn once, apply everywhere.
Phase 4: Creative Revolution · April – August 2025
AI could create art. Not just analyze it.
2025 brought a creative explosion in AI. Video generation, image synthesis, music creation — suddenly AI wasn't just about logic and text. It was about creativity. I went all in.
What I mastered:
- AI video generation — RunPod, ComfyUI, Higgsfield, Veo 3
- Image generation workflows — FLUX, DALL-E, Midjourney
- Content creation systems — Automated video scripts, music videos, graphics
- Creative automation — From idea to asset in minutes
Projects shipped: Fursona Generator (character AI), viral video script systems, music video pipelines, content automation at scale.
The breakthrough: AI had crossed the threshold from analytical tool to creative partner. It wasn't just optimizing work — it was generating art, music, video, and experiences.
Key insight: The line between human creativity and AI collaboration isn't just blurring — it's disappearing.
Phase 5: Platform Empire · September 2025 – Present
Building platforms. Not features.
This is where I am now. And this is where things get interesting. Most people build features. I'm building platforms.
What I'm building:
- EZ Influencer 360 — AI music influencer platform (v1.0 complete, v1.1 in progress)
- AI Audio Branding ecosystem — Ebook, tools, services
- Multiple revenue streams — Platforms, services, courses, content
How I'm operating:
- Burn rate: <$500/month (insane efficiency)
- Platforms built: 3 and counting
- Payment integrations: Square, Stripe, multiple channels
- Team: Me + AI agents (lean, mean, scalable)
The breakthrough: I'm not just building products anymore. I'm building platforms that scale. Systems that generate revenue while I sleep. Ecosystems that create network effects.
Key insight: Features are nice. Platforms are generational wealth.
The Stats Don't Lie
Here's what 3.5 years and 934 AI conversations bought me, compared to the industry average:
| Metric | Me | Industry avg | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI experience | 3.5 years | 6–12 months | 3.5× |
| Products shipped | 10+ | 1–2 | 5×+ |
| Platforms built | 3 | 0 | ∞ |
| Monthly burn | <$500 | $5,000+ | 10× efficiency |
| AI conversations | 934 | <50 | 18×+ |
These aren't just numbers. They're proof of execution.
The Unfair Advantages
What 3.5 years and 934 AI conversations actually buy you:
- First mover advantage. Started at ChatGPT launch. 3.5 years of experience before most people even discovered AI.
- Proven execution. Shipped 10+ products repeatedly. Not ideas — actual working products.
- Capital efficiency. Building platforms at <$500/month burn. Most startups burn $5K–10K/month.
- Full stack mastery. Tech + business + AI. Most people have one or two of these.
- Tool agnostic. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, FAL, RunPod, ElevenLabs — whatever works. Not married to one tool.
- Practical experience. Not theory. Not courses. Real-world application across 8 industries and 12 business models.
- Network effects. Integrations with Whop, Square, OpenAI, FAL. These take years to build.
The result: a competitive moat that's almost impossible to replicate quickly.
The Bottom Line
You don't need 3.5 years. You don't need 934 conversations. You just need to start.
You're not just ahead of the curve. You're drawing it.
Skip the exploration phase — I already did it. Skip the trial and error — I made the mistakes. Skip the learning curve — I climbed it. Take the shortcut: learn from the journey, apply the insights, start building today.
The question isn't "Can Mikey use AI?" The question is "What can't Mikey do with AI?"
And the question for you: what will you do with it?