If you want to get hired, or keep your job, in 2026, you need more than just basic ChatGPT knowledge.

Employers are raising their expectations when it comes to AI skills. And while most people are still just experimenting with AI, this is your opportunity to move to the front of the line.

In this episode of Career Blueprint, Carey O’Connor breaks down the 5 essential AI skills everyone needs in 2026:

✔ AI Literacy – When to trust AI (and when not to)
✔ Prompt Engineering – How to give AI clear, effective instructions
✔ Building Your AI Tool Stack – Choosing the right tools for the job
✔ Working with AI Agents – Managing AI that can take action
✔ AI Safety – Protecting privacy, accuracy, and your reputation

You’ll learn:

1. Why most people are still underusing AI at work
2. How AI actually writes (and why that matters)
3. How to spot hallucinations and logic gaps
4. Why “lazy prompting” is holding people back
5. How AI agents are changing recruiting, finance, and customer service
6. What employers really expect from professionals in 2026

This episode is designed for:
🎓 Students
💼 Young professionals
👩‍👧 Parents guiding the next generation
📈 Anyone who wants to stay competitive in the future of work

AI is not a final product. It’s evolving. And the people who stay curious — and keep learning — will have the advantage.

🎧 Subscribe to Career Blueprint for clear, practical insights on AI and the future of work.

AI is entering a new phase and it goes far beyond chatbots.

In this episode of Career Blueprint, we break down the rise of AI agents and agentic AI—systems that don’t just respond to prompts, but can plan, act, and complete tasks on your behalf.
You’ll learn:

1. What makes AI agents different from tools like ChatGPT

2. Real-world examples already in use (including Claude Cowork and Amazon Rufus)

3. How industries like retail, insurance, and healthcare are adopting agentic AI

4. Why context engineering is becoming a critical new skill

5. What this shift means for the future of white-collar work and knowledge jobs

This conversation is designed for curious professionals, business leaders, and early tech adopters who want clarity—without hype—on how AI is actually changing work today.

🎧 If you care about staying future-ready, this episode will help you understand what’s coming next—and how to prepare.

Subscribe to Career Blueprint for clear, accessible insights on AI and the future of work.

AI is changing the world of work fast — but not all jobs are affected in the same way. In this TLDR-style episode of Career Blueprint, we'll break down the four predictors that reveal whether YOUR job is vulnerable to AI, safe for now, or somewhere in between. No jargon, no tech overwhelm, just a clear, practical framework for understanding where you stand.

You'll learn:

✔ Why computer-based roles feel AI pressure first

✔ Which daily tasks make a job more automatable

✔ How human interaction protects certain careers

✔ Why your industry and employer determine how soon AI shows up

✔ What AI still struggles with — and why that matters for your future

If you’ve seen “Top 10 Jobs AI Will Replace” lists… this episode explains why those lists miss the nuance. Your career deserves more than clickbait — it deserves context, clarity, and a blueprint for navigating change.

👉 Subscribe for more clear, accessible career guidance in the age of AI.