How to AI
Cut through the hype. Master the basics. Transform your work.
Will be published approx. on 27. January 2026
Book
Hardback
256 pages
978-1-0354-4101-3 (ISBN)
Description
AI is nothing to be afraid of.
After all, AI is merely software.
It's great at some things and (at least right now) terrible at others. But for workers who take time to experiment with AI and develop expertise, AI will make them more productive and more creative, saving them time, giving them job security, and boosting their income.
In How to AI, Wall Street Journal columnist Christopher Mims introduces readers to people just like them who are at the forefront of using AI in the world of work. Imagine a freelance lawyer who suddenly has a whip-smart assistant to help her nail every deposition. Or a family-run construction company whose new software tool is automating construction bids that used to eat up hundreds of hours.
But even as half a billion people around the world have leapt at the chance to use ChatGPT and other tools, millions of us have stayed on the sidelines. Are you one of them? Maybe you feel you should be using AI tools, but you don't know where to begin. Or maybe you love AI but find yourself struggling to get your co-workers or employees on board. In How to AI, Mims teaches readers twenty-four simple but eye-opening "laws" of AI and how we should approach it, including:
AI is an assistant, not a replacement.
AI isn't creative, but it can help you be.
Give AI your least favorite things to do.
AI can't create finished products, but it's great at prototypes.
Animated by the wit and brilliant explanatory power that have earned Mims's Wall Street Journal columns a devoted following, How to AI will prepare readers to become a part of the AI revolution-and, most importantly, arm them with the tools to make it work for them.
After all, AI is merely software.
It's great at some things and (at least right now) terrible at others. But for workers who take time to experiment with AI and develop expertise, AI will make them more productive and more creative, saving them time, giving them job security, and boosting their income.
In How to AI, Wall Street Journal columnist Christopher Mims introduces readers to people just like them who are at the forefront of using AI in the world of work. Imagine a freelance lawyer who suddenly has a whip-smart assistant to help her nail every deposition. Or a family-run construction company whose new software tool is automating construction bids that used to eat up hundreds of hours.
But even as half a billion people around the world have leapt at the chance to use ChatGPT and other tools, millions of us have stayed on the sidelines. Are you one of them? Maybe you feel you should be using AI tools, but you don't know where to begin. Or maybe you love AI but find yourself struggling to get your co-workers or employees on board. In How to AI, Mims teaches readers twenty-four simple but eye-opening "laws" of AI and how we should approach it, including:
AI is an assistant, not a replacement.
AI isn't creative, but it can help you be.
Give AI your least favorite things to do.
AI can't create finished products, but it's great at prototypes.
Animated by the wit and brilliant explanatory power that have earned Mims's Wall Street Journal columns a devoted following, How to AI will prepare readers to become a part of the AI revolution-and, most importantly, arm them with the tools to make it work for them.
Reviews / Votes
The antidote to AI panic. Read it. You'll breathe easier. -- Scott Galloway, professor at NYU Stern School of Business and co-host of podcast Pivot Finally, a new AI book that focuses on the key question so many people are facing: How do I work with AI right now? Christopher Mims gives us a clear, practical, and hype-free guide to the AI revolution that will resonate with anyone trying to figure out the how to make AI deliver real value. How to AI is packed with so many good stories, tips, and explanations that anyone, novice or expert, is going to find insights that will change how they use (and think about) AI. Accessible, entertaining, and useful! -- Ethan Mollick, Wharton professor, New York Times bestselling author of Co-Intelligence Mims masterfully demystifies AI's true potential, proving that the real revolution isn't in replacing humans but in amplifying their capabilities-exactly the strategic insight every CEO needs right now. -- Aaron Levie, CEO of Box Engaging, practical, and grounded in real-world stories. -- Marc Benioff, Chair and CEO, Salesforce Mims' book is a rare find: an optimistic, realistic, and down-to-earth practical guide on how to use AI in daily life. Highly readable and immediately valuable. -- Melanie Mitchell, author of Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking Humans A clear and practical guide to making AI a true multiplier of human talent. -- Allan Thygesen, CEO of Docusign For anyone looking to be on the cutting edge of technology, from understanding AI to improving their lives with it, this book is a must-read. A significant and pioneering survey of artificial intelligence that is as engaging as it is useful. * Kirkus * We've heard so much about how AI is going to change our world, but we've heard precious little about how we can actually make it work for us. This practical, no-nonsense guide sets out in simple terms exactly what modern AI tools actually do, and how we can make them work for us. Follow the lessons of this book, and you'll immediately benefit from the technology that is changing everything. -- Michael Wooldridge, Ashall Professor of the Foundations of Artificial Intelligence, University of OxfordMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Headline Publishing Group
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Trade binding
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 156 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-0354-4101-3 (9781035441013)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
01/2026
Headline Press
€13.99
Available for download
Person
Christopher Mims is a columnist who writes about technology for The Wall Street Journal. He has written about bidets, brain implants, the cult of the founder, the history of technology, innovation, venture capital, robotics, batteries, energy, materials science, wireless communications, AI, data science, telepresence, microchips, logistics, IT, 3D printing, and autonomous boats, trucks, cars, drones, and flying taxis. Mims joined the Journal from Quartz, where he also covered technology, and is the author of Arriving Today.