AI is seriously changing the way we work. I didn’t believe it myself until I finally took the time to understand how to collaborate with it.
Recently, I had the opportunity to help Ali Abdaal develop his latest course. Since he is a huge fan of AI (he and his team built VoicePal), we used a ton of AI in the course creation process.
We weren’t trying to replace our own creativity but we were looking to get more ideas and enhance efficiency, structure, and depth.
I want to take this chance to walk you through the step-by-step process we used.
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Step 1: The Brain Dump
Before we jumped into structuring the course, I needed to fully understand Ali’s philosophy, thought process, and framework. Since this was his course, not mine, my first job was to extract his raw insights.
We kicked things off with what I call the “brain dump.” This wasn’t a formal sit-down, boring interview but a free-flowing conversation where Ali and I took a walk and he shared his thoughts with me. A couple of key highlights here:
- Recording everything: We used Ali’s own AI-powered transcription tool, VoicePal, to capture the conversation in real-time so that no ideas were lost.
- Asking deep, structured questions: I prepped a bunch of questions in advance to guide Ali into deeper insights, uncovering useful examples and metaphors.
- Iterating on the process: While we did this in one go, I believe breaking it down into two or three sessions would be even more effective. Each round would allow me to come up with more follow-up questions to find deeper clarity.
This brain dump step was invaluable because I now had rich material to work with straight from the source.
Step 2: Crafting the Sales Page
Once we had the core ideas, the next step was to define how this course would be positioned. Yup, still not yet creating the course!
A well-crafted sales page doesn’t just describe the content—it speaks directly to the audience’s needs and desires.
We didn’t write the entire landing page though. We only wanted to focus on the most crucial part: the top three lines.
- Pre-headline: Provides context about who the course is for
- Headline: Grabs attention and speaks to the transformation the course offers
- Post-headline: Clarifies what the course actually includes
These three lines had to be compelling, clear, and concise. Then they would guide me into sorting out the curriculum.
I came up with different variations and used AI to generate additional suggestions. Then Ali and I sat down and experimented with AI some more.
We used it to expand our thinking, offering alternative phrasings and angles we might not have considered.
Then, of course, ultimately we made the choice based on what we felt good about.
Step 3: Developing a Simple, Memorable Framework
A great course isn’t just a collection of lessons—it’s a structured learning experience. I always like to have a simple, memorable framework to anchor the course.
Because this was a short two-hour course, I wanted to avoid complex models. Usually there are a few different ways to make the content stick:
- Acronyms: Creating a short, easy-to-remember word that represents key concepts
- Metaphors: Using familiar imagery to explain abstract ideas
- Three-step formulas: Simplifying ideas into digestible chunks
Ali wanted to stay simple, so we went with just a simple three-step framework. But how do we make it memorable?
By injecting Ali’s DNA into it!
One step of the framework is called “Soul”. Ah, so Ali!
How can people forget?
A good framework makes it easier for students to remember who teaches them, retain important information, and apply what they learn in real life.
Step 4: Using AI to Build the Course Content
With the core structure in place, it was time to develop the actual lessons. Here’s where AI became an incredibly useful brainstorming tool.
- Planning lesson topics: I described the course goals and used AI to suggest different angles for each section
- Refining lesson structure: AI helped me organize topics logically
- Generating content ideas: I used AI to spark examples, case studies, and exercises, making the course more practical and engaging
However, AI was never the final decision-maker.
I had to make lots of decisions of when to take what AI shared and when to ignore it. I was the one making sure that the content aligned with Ali’s style and message.
Step 5: Making the Course Practical and Engaging
I’ve always said that the best courses don’t just teach theories — they make concepts feel real and actionable. This was a major focus throughout the process.
I looked into including relatable, day-to-day examples so students could immediately see how to apply what they learned. This way, they wouldn’t just consume information; they’d take action.
And when they did, they’d attribute their transformation to the course and Ali.
AI as a Creative Partner, Not a Replacement
This line was actually the main message Ali Abdaal wanted to get across in his course. It was funny how it was what I needed to hear myself.
I've become someone who cannot live without AI collaboration. This is why I think Ali Abdaal teaching this is so important — so many people still don’t realize the potential of working with AI.
I liked this line from the course the most —
“AI won’t replace you, but someone with AI skills will.”
At the end of the day, AI didn’t create the course — I did. AI was a powerful assistant to me and Ali, but it wasn’t a substitute for creativity, judgment, and human insight.
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