Where I Keep Learning About AI
6 podcasts and newsletters I trust with the honest pros and cons
People often ask me how I keep up with AI when it changes so fast. The honest answer: I don’t try to read everything. Who has time to keep up? I follow a small handful of sources that translate the noise into plain English. Here are six I actually use, along with the honest pros and cons of each, so you can pick one or two that fit your life. You do not need all of them. Start with one.
A quick note before the list: most of these are free, and none of them require a tech background. If a source ever makes you feel behind or overwhelmed, that’s a sign to unsubscribe, not to try harder. Also we’re here if you want to geek out on something you read or heard.
1. Everyday AI (podcast + newsletter)
A daily show and free newsletter hosted by Jordan Wilson, aimed at helping ordinary people use AI in real life. This is my personal favorite starting point.
• Pros: Practical and beginner-friendly; daily so you can dip in anytime; focuses on everyday uses, not hype; the newsletter is a quick skim.
• Cons: Leans a bit toward work and career uses; daily can feel like a lot if you’re busy. It’s fine to just catch the episodes that sound interesting to you.
2. The Neuron (newsletter)
A daily email that explains AI in a light, Morning Brew style with short stories written in plain-language telling us “why it matters” and a tool pick.
• Pros: Probably the friendliest for true beginners; genuinely funny and easy to read; short enough for a coffee break; highlights new tools worth trying.
• Cons: Daily emails can pile up; occasionally covers industry news that won’t matter to a family. I would unsubscribe it feels overwhelming.
3. One Useful Thing by Ethan Mollick (newsletter)
Written by a college professor known for calm, no-hype thinking about how to actually use AI well. Weekly, and worth reading slowly.
• Pros: Thoughtful and trustworthy; great for the “how should I think about this?” questions, including ethics; not trying to sell you anything.
• Cons: Longer and more reflective. This is less of “do this today,” and more “here’s how to think”; comes out weekly, so it won’t keep you on breaking news.
4. The Rundown AI (newsletter)
One of the biggest AI newsletters in the world, with a daily roundup and a short “how to apply this” tutorial in each issue.
• Pros: Broad coverage so you won’t miss the big stuff; the mini-tutorials make it useful, not just informational; free and skimmable.
• Cons: More news-heavy and fast-paced; can feel like drinking from a firehose if you’re brand new. I would skim the headlines and ignore the rest.
5. AI for Humans (podcast)
A lighter, more entertaining show where two hosts walk through new tools and everyday uses in a fun, non-engineer way.
• Pros: Genuinely enjoyable and easy to listen to while doing chores; keeps things approachable; good for getting a feel for what’s new without the jargon.
• Cons: More playful than practical at times; occasional adult humor and pop-culture tangents, so it’s more for you than for listening with the kids.
6. Hard Fork (podcast, from The New York Times)
A friendly, conversational tech show that covers the biggest AI stories and what they mean for regular people.
• Pros: Polished and easy to follow; great for understanding the “big picture” conversations around AI, including safety and policy; well-balanced.
• Cons: Covers tech broadly, not just AI or family life; more about understanding the landscape than hands-on how-to.
Where I’d tell you to start
If you only pick two, make them The Neuron for a quick daily skim and One Useful Thing for the slower, wiser take. Those two are the most beginner- and family-friendly. Add Everyday AI when you’re ready for a podcast in your rhythm. Everything else is there when you want to go deeper.
You don’t have to keep up with all of it. You just need one or two trusted voices and permission to ignore the rest.
For the advanced user: go deeper with Everyday AI
Once the basics feel comfortable and you’re hungry to grow, this is where I’d point you next. The Everyday AI Podcast is a daily show and free newsletter built for exactly this stage, people who are past “what is AI?” and ready to actually get better at using it. Host Jordan Wilson brings in real experts and walks through practical, current uses you can put to work the same week.
It’s the resource I lean on most to stay sharp, and it’s the natural next step after the beginner picks above. Search “Everyday AI” wherever you listen to podcasts, or sign up for the free newsletter at their website. Then treat it like a daily vitamin, not a textbook. A few minutes a day is plenty.
