I was sharing on a recent call with Madi that one of the highlights was seeing sea otters during a whale-watching tour in Alaska.
They were playful, curious, and much smaller than I expected. But what stayed with me most was something our guide shared: sea otters gather together in groups called rafts. They hold onto one another while resting so they do not drift apart.
That image has stayed with me because it feels like a perfect metaphor for how we should approach AI. Thanks, Madi, for the nudge to write about this.
Too many people are trying to navigate AI alone.
They open their favorite AI tool, experiment with a few prompts, and then wonder whether they are using it correctly. They see new tools launching every week and feel like they are already behind. They may be interested in AI, but not confident enough to use it in their daily work.
Confidence grows faster in a group!
Most people do not become confident with AI by attending one training session or reading a list of prompts. Confidence develops through practice.
It grows when someone sees a coworker use AI to solve a real problem. It grows when people can ask questions without feeling embarrassed. It grows when a team shares what worked, what failed, and what they learned.
In other words, people learn AI faster when they have a raft. That raft creates safety.
It gives people a place to experiment without feeling like they have to be an expert. It allows early adopters to help those who are still unsure. It turns AI from an individual activity into a shared learning journey.
One of the most effective ways an organization can create this kind of support is through an internal AI champion program.
AI champions do not need to be technical experts. They need to be curious, willing to experiment, and comfortable helping others.
Their role can include:
Sharing practical AI use cases with their teams
Demonstrating workflows that save time or improve quality
Helping coworkers write better prompts
Encouraging responsible experimentation
Collecting questions, concerns, and success stories
Connecting employees with the right policies and resources
The goal is not to create a small group that knows everything about AI. The goal is to create a network that helps learning spread across the organization.
When employees see trusted colleagues using AI successfully, adoption feels less intimidating. The technology becomes more relevant because people can see how it applies to their own roles.
Internal programs are valuable, but external peer groups matter too.
Communities such as CincyAI give people an opportunity to learn from others who are facing similar questions. What tools are working? How are companies approaching governance? Which use cases are creating real value? Where are teams struggling?
Peer groups help us avoid learning everything through trial and error. They remind us that no organization has AI completely figured out. Everyone is experimenting, learning, and adjusting.
That shared experience can accelerate progress and reduce the isolation many people feel when trying to keep up with rapid change.
You do not need a formal program to begin building an AI raft. Start with the people around you. The next time AI helps you save time, improve an idea, analyze information, or communicate more clearly, share what you did.
Show a coworker the prompt you used. Talk about where the output was helpful and where it needed improvement. Invite someone to experiment with you.
Create a small group (internally and externally) that meets to exchange examples and lessons.
These actions may seem simple, but they create momentum. They make AI feel more approachable. They turn uncertainty into curiosity and curiosity into confidence.
AI is moving too quickly for any of us to navigate it completely on our own. The organizations that succeed will not simply be the ones that purchase the best tools. They will be the ones that build cultures where people learn together.
They will create internal AI champion programs, encourage peer-to-peer learning, and participate in communities such as CincyAI. They will make it safe to ask questions, test ideas, and admit when something does not work.
Like sea otters in a raft, we are less likely to drift when we stay connected. We do not need to have every answer today. We simply need to hold on, help one another, and keep moving forward together.
What does your AI raft look like right now? Hit reply and tell me.
Our private digital community of CincyAI Champions:
For $25/month or $250/year ($50 off!), access our paid member portal with: BIG thank you to the 112 members that have signed up already!
• 6 CincyAI Human Huddle virtual interest groups: AI for beginners, AI for intermediates, AI for advanced, AI for Women, AI for Arts and Creative, and AI for nonprofits. Adding a new huddle in August for AI for HR.
• Limited time only: “CincyAI Founding Champion” Badge
• CincyAI Champions Member Directory
• Monthly Office Hours with Helen & Kendra — Bring your AI questions each month.
• Cincinnati Area AI Job Board
• CincyAI & Community Partners Events Calendar
• CincyAI Champion Matchups
And more!
Limited time only: 30 days free trial as we’re seeding the community — join now to get your Founding CincyAI Champion member badge!!
https://app.heartbeat.chat/cincyai/invitation?code=D73D97#choose We are loving our digital community.
August 4, from 3-5pm CincyAI at Digital Futures. Special event as we will have a fireside chat with Congressman Warren Davidson about Privacy and AI. Don’t miss this special opportunity. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1990785260304?aff=oddtdtcreator August 26
September 3 8-10 am hosted by Clermont Chamber. Our AI in Action session https://business.clermontchamber.com/eventcalendar/Details/2026-clermont-classroom-class-1-ai-in-action-stop-watching-start-doing-real-tools-real-results-1752414?sourceTypeId=Hub
September 1, from 3-5pm CincyAI at Digital Futures. All levels of AI are welcome. We have 150 people each month. Always something new to learn and connect. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1995673652617?aff=oddtdtcreator
October 13-15 See you at MAICON in Cleveland! Let me know if you are going.
October 20, from 3-5pm CincyAI at Digital Futures. Save the date as this will be our 3 year anniversary. You know we have something fun planned as always.
November 3 WITCON All day conference. Join 550 attendees and multiple breakout sessions. All are invited. https://events.humanitix.com/cincinnati-witcon-2026
November 3, from 3-5 pm CincyAI at Digital Futures.
November 12 Best in Tech hosted by The Circuit. This is their don’t miss annual event. https://thecircuit.net/event/best-of-tech-awards-3/
December 1, from 3-5pm CincyAI at Digital Futures.
I love answering your AI questions. Feel free to message me.
Where AI and inspiration collide!
Kendra Ramirez
KendraRamirez.com
We provide AI Enablement (AI Speaking and Training, AI Readiness, AI Strategy, Workflow Automation, and Implementation). Our clients love that we sit side by side with them in our human centered approach to AI.
**For those new to my work, I have been in tech my whole career. Over 15 years of running my digital agency (website, social media, and lead generation) and 7 years of helping businesses navigate AI. Over the three years and, I’ve had the privilege of leading over 250 AI sessions and speaking sessions (over 20,000 people), empowering businesses to embrace the transformative potential of AI. My passion lies in simplifying complex technologies to help organizations grow, innovate, and thrive.
I am so excited that you are on this journey with me! Thank you! 🤗
I have been writing weekly about AI here for three years. You can search all of my enewsletters here if you are looking to brush up on a certain topic. kendratech.substack.com
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