“We’ve been talking about agile at scale forever; now we’re talking about experts at scale.” — Ali Hajou
In this episode of SPCs Unleashed, hosts Ali Hajou, Mark Richards, and Stephan Neck explore how AI is transforming the skills practitioners need to thrive. The conversation moves beyond tools and techniques to examine mindsets, behaviors, and organizational patterns that separate the AI-literate from the AI-illiterate.
The parallels to Agile adoption are striking. Just as some engineers resisted continuous integration or test automation, today some professionals resist experimenting with AI. The difference? This wave is moving much faster, and the gaps between those who adopt and those who lag are widening at unprecedented speed.
Actionable Insights for Practitioners
1. Lead with Curiosity
Mark Richards reminded us that the foundation of AI literacy isn’t prompt engineering—it’s curiosity. “The number one skill is probably not a skill set so much as a mindset: curiosity.” Like learning a new feature in Excel or Word, curiosity drives the discovery of AI-powered tools hidden in plain sight. Practitioners who pause to ask, “What’s new here, and how could it make me more effective?” will naturally outpace those who only stick with familiar patterns.
2. Treat Critical Thinking as Non-Negotiable
Ali Hajou stressed that AI may produce convincing but flawed outputs. Whether drafting legal documents, generating reports, or writing code, practitioners must evaluate and fact-check. As he put it, “The AI haves will outrun the AI have-nots, especially if they develop critical thinking skills.” Debugging, diligence, and discernment become just as valuable as creativity.
3. Redefine Collaboration
Stephan Neck reframed collaboration for the AI age: “Collaboration is nothing new, but now it’s in a different setup—working with intelligent partners who may also hallucinate.” Working effectively means learning to communicate not only with human colleagues but also with AI agents. That includes setting boundaries, clarifying context, and handling mistakes with resilience.
4. Mind the Gap—or Be Left Behind
Skill gaps will widen quickly. Stephan warned of a “fear of missing out” dynamic, where those who delay adoption may never catch up. Recovery becomes harder the longer you wait, and organizations will inevitably favor those who can harness AI to accelerate delivery.
5. Scale Expertise, Not Just Effort
Perhaps the most powerful theme was Ali’s reflection that AI enables experts at scale. Instead of overwhelming high performers with endless requests, organizations can use AI to systematize their thinking. Capturing an expert’s mental models in prompts or digital assistants allows their knowledge to cascade without bottlenecking at the individual.
Conclusion
The AI shift is not about flashy tools; it’s about cultivating curiosity, critical thinking, and collaborative fluency. For practitioners, leaders, and change agents, the message is clear: the sooner you experiment, the sooner you build the muscle to thrive. In the AI era, expertise doesn’t just scale—it multiplies.
