I've sat through countless talks by AI experts with more PhDs than you can shake a stick at. These are brilliant minds, no doubt. But here's the thing - brilliance doesn't always translate to clear communication.

I've watched audiences' eyes glaze over as speakers dive into the intricacies of neural networks, throw around terms like NLP and RAG, and get lost in the weeds of technical jargon. You can almost see the moment people mentally check out.

That's when I realised: in the world of AI consulting, your ability to communicate clearly is just as important as your technical knowledge - maybe even more so.

When I teach about AI, I steer clear of technical language and acronyms. Instead, I say things like, "If you can use WhatsApp, you can use ChatGPT." Suddenly, I see eyes light up. People lean in. They're excited because now AI feels accessible to them.

Think about it. Who are some of the most famous scientists? Carl Sagan, Richard Feynman, Neil deGrasse Tyson. What do they all have in common? They're not just brilliant scientists; they're incredible communicators. They can take complex topics and make them understandable and exciting for the average person. That's why they have massive followings.

As an AI consultant, that's exactly what you need to do for your audience. Your job isn't to impress them with your technical knowledge. It's to excite them about the possibilities of AI and help them understand how it can transform their business.

Let's dive into how you can become the Carl Sagan of AI for your niche.

Let’s get started:

Why Clear Communication is Your Superpower

Here's the deal: AI is complex. It's a field that's advancing at breakneck speed, filled with intricate concepts and technical jargon. But your clients? They don't need to understand the inner workings of a neural network. They need to understand how AI can solve their problems and transform their businesses.

That's where you come in. Your role as an AI consultant isn't just about knowing AI - it's about bridging the gap between AI capabilities and your clients' needs. It's about translation.

So how do you master this art of AI translation? Start by really getting to know your audience. Understand their level of technical knowledge, their industry jargon, and their primary concerns. This knowledge is your foundation. Whenever I go in and do workshops I’ll always send out a pre-workshop survey to get their level so I can adjust my content.

Use analogies from their world to make AI concepts relatable. If you're talking to farmers about predictive maintenance for tractors, you might say, "AI is like a super-experienced farmer who can tell when a tractor is about to break down just by listening to its engine, but it can do this for every tractor in your fleet, all the time."

Focus on outcomes, not processes. Your clients care more about what AI can achieve for them than how it works. Instead of explaining the intricacies of natural language processing, talk about how it can help them respond to customer inquiries 24/7, improving satisfaction and reducing support costs. They are running a business - this is where you meet them.

When you do need to use technical terms, always follow them with a plain language explanation. Think of it as simultaneously speaking two languages, with the plain language version being the more important one. Show you know the deeper technical side but are choosing not to rely on jargon to make yourself look smart.

Sure you can go there - but you know it’s not what’ll help the client. I’ll often have to slip into this language to shut down an “IT guy” who is being difficult (it happen a lot!) but after I immediately go back to plain language.

Stories and case studies are your secret weapons. They help clients visualise how AI can be applied in their industry. Share examples of similar businesses that have successfully implemented AI, detailing the challenges they faced, the solutions they implemented, and the results they achieved. Don’t have any yet? Go and research them - companies love to boast about this stuff so there are lots of case studies available.

Lastly, always encourage questions and dialogue. Make it clear that there are no "dumb" questions. Creating an open, curious atmosphere helps clients engage with the material and gives you valuable insights into their concerns and priorities. Straight up say “hey I know this stuff is new. If I’m going too fast I want you to stop me and say”.

Creating Powerful Analogies and Metaphors

Here’s the most powerful tactic when talking to non-techie business people: analogies and metaphors.

Here are some examples:

• Machine Learning is like a child learning to recognise dogs. At first, they might call every four-legged animal a dog. But with more examples and correction, they get better at distinguishing dogs from cats, cows, and other animals.

• Big Data is like the ingredients in a master chef's kitchen. Having a lot of ingredients doesn't automatically make a great meal. It's about knowing which ingredients to use, in what combinations, and how to prepare them.

• AI Models are like recipes. They provide instructions for how to process inputs (ingredients) to produce desired outputs (the finished dish).

Now, let's create some niche-specific examples. This will be a starting point for you having a library of go-to metaphors for your niche:

You are an AI assistant specialised in creating industry-specific analogies for AI concepts. Your task is to help the user create relatable analogies for key AI concepts within their niche. Follow these steps:

1. Ask the user to specify their niche or industry.

2. Provide a list of at least 20 key AI concepts that are relevant across various industries. This list should include both fundamental AI concepts and more specialised applications.

3. For each concept, create an analogy that:
   a. Uses terminology and scenarios familiar to professionals in the user's industry
   b. Accurately represents the core idea of the AI concept
   c. Is simple enough for a non-technical person to understand

4. Provide a brief explanation of how to use each analogy effectively when communicating with clients.

Provide a tabular output.

This prompt will give you a whole range of AI concepts and terminology that will be helpful for your niche to grok. But it’s all in their language.

You are now going to practice communicating these concepts. Becoming a great AI communicator doesn't happen overnight. It takes practice - lots of it. Personally I’m not naturally gifted at this stuff - I had to practice.

The key is to put in the reps, and one of the best ways to do this is by creating short, focused videos explaining AI concepts for your niche.

Here’s a challenge: Create an "AI Glossary for [Your Niche]" video playlist. It’ll be incredibly helpful for people in your niche and act as a calling card. It’s also the perfect project for you to do before running workshops or giving keynote speeches.

Here's how to approach it:

1. Start Small: Begin with 1-2 minute videos for each concept. Keep it short and sweet.

2. Use Your Analogies: Leverage the analogies you created with the prompt. These will form the core of your explanations. Try out different analogies for one concept if you want - that’ll help work our what resonates best.

3. Focus on Relevance: Always tie the concept back to how it's useful or applicable in your niche.

4. Seek Feedback: Encourage comments and questions. Use this feedback to improve future videos.

5. Iterate and Improve: As you create more videos, you'll naturally get better. Don't be afraid to remake earlier videos as your skills improve.

Remember, the goal here isn't perfection. It's practice. Each video you make is a rep, strengthening your AI communication muscles. Over time, you'll find yourself explaining complex concepts with ease and confidence.

This video series serves multiple purposes:

1. Practice for you

2. A valuable resource for your clients and prospects

3. Content that showcases your expertise and communication skills

4. The beginnings of your personal brand as an AI consultant for your niche

In Part 4, we'll dive deeper into leveraging these videos across various platforms to build your brand and attract clients. For now don’t worry about that. Just focus on creating clear, concise, and valuable short videos for your niche.

In the next Part, we're going to build on these communication skills to create larger frameworks and intellectual property that will establish you as a thought leader in your niche. We'll move from explaining individual concepts to structuring comprehensive AI education for your industry.