In The World of AI, the Only Differentiator is You
Why showing what you sell matters, why your actions speak louder than words, and how to stand out in an AI-driven world.
Life is awesome, irrespective of the cards you’ve been dealt by circumstances. I build businesses with people I like to pursue a rich emotional and financial life. I share lessons I learn along the way.
Here are this weeks insights:
In The World of AI, the Only Differentiator is You
You Need To Show What You’re Selling
Your Actions Say More Than Your Words
You can access previous editions of my weekly emails here. Let’s begin!
(1) In The World of AI, the Only Differentiator Is You
Large Language Models are disrupting how we work. AI is now embedded in your laptop and phone. You can summarize emails, generate replies, create tasks, and even track your finances with a simple prompt. AI can map out your career trajectory, predict your financial future, and give advice based on your unique circumstances.
I heard Mark Zuckerberg recently say that AI will be as ubiquitous as email. Everyone will have their own customized version to do their work better, faster and cheaper than any human can.
When Microsoft AI’s CEO was asked about how AI is being used he said that they have observed three trends:
Replacing Search - Instead of clicking through Google results, AI finds the exact answer for you.
Education - AI is transforming learning for students and professionals alike. It is already smarter than most teachers.
Companionship and Emotional Support - AI listens, helps break down problems, and offers non-judgmental advice.
And then he said something that made me stop and think.
“These models are going to have a near perfect memory. They are going to be very useful as a kind of second brain. Anything that occurs to you. Any idea that you have. Any open question that you have. Any historic documents that you have. Any task that you have. It is really going to be a way for you to augment your everyday thought process and brain. And that’s what I mean by an AI companion who is always by your side, seeing what you see in the physical and digital world, hearing what you hear, living life alongside you. I think its going to become a friend. You will be able to point to things and say “take a look at this” and “what do you think of that?”. And it will know what “this” or “that” is. Because it will have a sort of presence living life with you. It will know what your style is. What your tone is. How you like to talk. You will apply for a job with it because of how well it knows you. It will fill in a lot of the gaps that you have to allow you to be your best self.”
This isn’t some distant future.
Yesterday, OpenAI launched Operator, an AI agent that performs real-world tasks on the web for you. It can book a restaurant, order groceries, and even plan a trip—all on its own. The demo showed it seamlessly handling tasks that previously required a human.
Which makes me wonder…
How long before booking agents, travel planners, and middlemen disappear because AI does the job better? It already beats 93% of coders.
The Middle Class Will Feel the Heat
AI is already disrupting design, coding, and knowledge-based work. And the list will keep expanding.
India’s middle class will feel the brunt of this shift.
A recent blog post from Marcellus highlights how AI will further erode income potential for middle-class workers. Their incomes have stagnated for a decade. They pay the highest taxes. And the education system they rely on isn’t preparing them for an AI-driven world.
Who Will Still Be Relevant?
Some jobs will be AI-proof. Others will thrive because of AI.
Sales & Trust-Based Roles – People buy from people. Trust isn’t built through an algorithm. If your job requires human-to-human credibility, you’re in demand.
Food & Beverage – We all need to eat. Most of our social interactions happen over meals. If you have 1,000 true fans who love your product or restaurant, you’re in good hands. AI will help you personalize orders, remember customers, and strengthen relationships—not replace them.
Sports & Entertainment – These will always be in demand, but only the best will thrive. For every Virat Kohli or LeBron James, there are thousands who never make it. The same applies to content creation. YouTube and social media offer anyone a shot at fame, but grabbing attention consistently is another game altogether.
The Wealth Divide Will Only Grow
The 80/20 rule will hold—except it might become 90/10.
The gap between the haves and the have-nots will keep widening. A small percentage of people will dominate and enjoy the best life has to offer. That’s how history has always played out.
Where Does This Leave You and Me?
Should we be worried? Should we resist change?
This is where mindset comes into play.
If you wait for change to happen to you, you’ll get left behind. But if you proactively position yourself on the right boat, you’ll rise with the tide.
I’m choosing to upskill, evolve, and stay relevant. AI isn’t a threat—it’s a tool. And if used wisely, it can help you get ahead instead of falling behind. For example, yesterday I created my first custom GPT. It was a simple workflow that I created to help replace my checklist. It worked like magic!
Life is awesome IF you’re willing to do the work to be on the right side of history.
(2) You Need To Show What You Are Selling
My dad owns an incredible piece of property in Goa. It’s on an island 🏝️. Private. Scenic. Perfect for someone who values solitude and doesn’t want to be in the middle of the crowded beach culture.
A buyer came in ready to offer the price my dad wanted. But there was a problem. The plots weren’t properly cleaned up.
I told my dad: Presentation matters.
Even though the buyer is interested, they left with a weaker impression than they could have had. Not good. When you’re selling something, you can’t rely on imagination. People need to see the value clearly.
The Best Brands Understand This
People buy what they can experience. That’s why the most successful brands make it easy for customers to see, touch, taste, or test what they’re getting before they commit. For example:
Cars – You don’t buy without a test drive.
No one purchases a car based on a spec sheet. You need to feel the grip of the steering wheel, test the acceleration, and see how it handles on the road. Brands like BMW, Mercedes, and Tesla create immersive test drive experiences because they know that once you drive it, you’ll want to own it.
Zara – You try clothes before you buy.
Why do Zara and H&M stores still attract massive foot traffic when online shopping is more convenient? Because fit matters. You don’t just want to see a shirt or a dress—you want to try it on, feel the fabric, and check the fit in a mirror before you make a decision.
Nike – You try on shoes before committing.
Nike understands that comfort and performance are everything. That’s why their stores let you walk, run, and jump in their shoes before buying. Even the best online descriptions can’t replace the confidence you get from physically trying on a pair.
If You’re Selling Something, Don’t Leave It to Imagination
Make it easy for buyers to see, feel, and experience what they’re paying for.
Show. Don’t just tell.
(3) Your Actions Say More Than Your Words
People don’t listen to what you say. They watch what you do.
You can preach good habits, but if your own actions contradict your words, no one will take you seriously.
Flush. Leave the toilet better than you found it.
It’s a small act, but it speaks volumes. It shows respect for the next person. It’s the simplest form of leadership—leaving things better than they were.
Pick up garbage if you want to tell your community not to litter.
You don’t need a sign that says “Don’t litter”—you just need people who take responsibility. The best way to create change is by showing others how it’s done.
Eat well if you want to teach your family how to be healthy.
Your kids won’t follow what you tell them. They’ll follow what they see you do. If you snack on junk, they’ll snack on junk. If you prioritize real food, they will too.
Don’t sell cigarettes if you believe smoking is bad for society.
Integrity means aligning your values with your actions. You can’t preach about health while profiting from disease.
Don’t be obese if you own a gym.
If you stand for fitness, live by it. People trust those who embody what they promote. If you run a gym, be the proof that your methods work.
Put the weights back at the gym so the next person doesn’t have to clean up after you.
It’s not about the weights. It’s about ownership. It’s about recognizing that small acts of responsibility make life easier for everyone.
Be the walking, talking, living example of the values you stand for.
Harsh Batra (LinkedIn)
Thank you for reading. If you’re curious about the businesses I build, here they are:
iDeals VDR - If you are running M&A transactions, planning an IPO, or sharing anything confidential online, you won’t find a better Virtual Data Room partner than us. Here is a 90 second video of iDeals. Companies like Pfizer, Mercedes and Tata trust us. Thousands of investment bankers, lawyers and insolvency professionals use us everyday to run their due diligence processes. If you have a need to share anything sensitive online, send me an email on harsh@idealscorp.com. I’d love to work with you.
Happy Ratio - I founded Happy Ratio because I am immensely passionate about health. To get the most out of life you need to be healthy. To be healthy you need to eat the right foods and drink the right beverages. In a world dominated by fast food and busy schedules, making the right choice isn't easy. Happy Ratio provides clean, nutritious and delicious foods and drinks. When eating well feels complicated, we make it simple.
Marcellus Investment Managers - I am a Marcellus client because their investment philosophy resonates with how I think about investing. Their approach to investing in clean, honest and cash flow positive businesses can yield stupendous results over time. I trust them with my savings and evangelize their approach. Investing comes with inherent risks so please do your own due diligence before deciding where to put your money. I am also an Independent Financial Advisor with Marcellus.