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Out of the Back Room: Why AI Wow! Is the Future at Work

There’s a particular smell to being left behind. A kind of intellectual smoke in the air. Maybe you’ve felt it – the thick, stale vibe of indecision, of panels and PDFs, of strategy decks filed and forgotten. The feeling of sitting around a metaphorical (or literal) table, waiting for permission. It’s the smell of the back room. And it’s time to walk out.

I’m thrilled to share something real, alive, and future-forward: AI Wow! is a new offering from the Content Evolution coLab.

I’ve been collaborating with this team of wild thinkers and grounded doers for years. We’ve been prototyping with AI in practice — not just theory — across enterprise, government, higher ed, and NGOs. Now we’ve turned that deep work into a structured, experiential journey for other teams to jump into and run with.

And let me be blunt: it’s time.

What Is AI Wow!?

It’s not a webinar. Not a lecture. Not another keynote about the power of AI, the risks of AI, or the myths of AI. We’ve heard it all. What we need now is applied capability.

AI Wow! is a facilitated cohort experience designed to:

  • Build real strategic clarity around AI – what fits, what doesn’t.
  • Unlock responsible, human-centered AI use inside your organization.
  • Prototype possibilities with tools and methods that stick.
  • Turn futures thinking into operational action.

It’s strategy you can feel.

Why Now?

We are standing at a threshold. On one side: status quo, jargon, and delay. On the other hand, the next phase of organizational capability. And the difference between the two is not just technology. It’s mindset.

The teams that will thrive in the age of AI aren’t the ones who master the tools first. They’re the ones who know themselves. Who understand their humanness in the process. Who build responsibly, ethically, creatively.

That’s what we’re doing in AI Wow!

It’s part of my personal mission to move futures knowledge out of elite rooms and into real communities, teams, and leaders who need it. No gatekeeping. Just deeply human work, delivered with clarity and imagination.

Who’s It For?

If you’re a leader asking:

  • “Where do we even start with AI?”
  • “How do we align AI use with our culture and values?”
  • “How do I help my team not be afraid of this shift?”

Then you are exactly who this is for.

We’ve designed it for organizations that want more than a slide deck; they want a path forward. And they want to walk it with smart humans who’ve been to the future, and come back with maps.

Let’s Get You Out of the Smoke

You don’t have to sit in that back room any longer. We built this for you – because we built it for ourselves for and know it works!

Let’s co-create your AI future. It’s time.


Email our CE leader, Kevin Clark, to book a conversation: ce@contentevolution.net
Learn more about CE at: https://contentevolution.net


Cyndi Coon, Applied Experiential Futurist
CoLab Member, Content Evolution
Founder, Applied Futures Lab

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Artists and Algorithms

Technological advancements are continuously reshaping our world, and one of the most intriguing developments in the future of creativity is the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI). As an Applied Futurist, I’ve closely observed and engaged with this evolution, and I’m excited to share my perspective on how AI is revolutionizing the creative landscape.

AI’s role in the arts and creativity is transformative, serving as a collaborator that enhances my own human potential rather than replacing it. I am in no way afraid of this technology. I can see and feel the fear from other creatives who go immediately to “This is going to replace us.” It isn’t. Whenever new technology creeps into the human experience, we go straight to fear and survival. When photography first came out as a medium the Fine Artists with a capital FA, yelled and wouldn’t allow photographs in shows, they were concerned what would happen with art if one artist could make copies of their work and sell it many times over. Today, we don’t talk about photographs in that way because we realize that creatives will still create. Movies were exciting but caused a big stir in the theatre community as they thought no one would ever go to the theatre again if you could just record the actors and play the film at any time to any audience. Mathaleticians were up in arms when the calculator came out. Convinced that people would no longer do math because the calculator would cheat for them. Does all of this sound familiar to today’s rhetoric about AI?

Here’s the thing: AI does have dangerous sides, dark sides, and deep web possibilities. There is plenty to fear about the future of AI, but I would ask – What can you control? Do you have a degree in cyber security or work in the intelligence field? If your answer is no, then the very best thing you can do, as a creative or not, is to jump in. Get informed, educated and familiar with these tools. We can jump up and down all we want, but they are not going away. Learning them is our individual path for the future.

AI is not taking over the creative process, but instead is augmenting and amplifying human ingenuity. From the perspective of an artist, imagine having a partner who never tires, continually bringing new ideas to the table, and expanding the limits of your imagination. AI is redefining the traditional boundaries of creativity. It’s not just about creating art or writing stories; it’s about venturing into unexplored territories of creativity. With its ability to analyze vast amounts of data, spot trends, and synthesize information rapidly, AI enables artists to move swiftly from concept to prototype, tailoring creative outputs to specific tastes and preferences.

One of the most exciting aspects of AI in creativity is its democratizing effect. AI tools are becoming more accessible, allowing people from all walks of life to engage in creative activities. Whether you are a seasoned artist or a novice, AI levels the playing field, providing tools that assist in the creative process and making art more inclusive and diverse.

TI have been hanging out in AI play spaces where people from all different disciplines are gathering to connect and play, to experiment and to ask curious questions together. From one of these groups I came to meet seven amazing humans who are all on this journey and we decided to map it – together. We started by each writing down our experiences to date as we have engaged in AI. We create an anthology together as round one. It is called AI Futures An Anthology. Our next steps will be to video nd audio record our chapters and use those inside AI to create more things. It is an exciting play space to explore.n

As an Applied Experiential Futurist, I invite you to consider how AI can enhance your creative or professional work. Whether it’s through an AI-assisted design project, a data-driven marketing campaign, or an AI-curated educational curriculum, the opportunities are endless.

How will you embrace AI in your creative journey? Share your thoughts, and let’s continue to explore this exciting frontier together.

For more insights into the future of AI and creativity, visit Applied Futures Lab. To discuss these concepts further or get personalized guidance, connect with Cyndi Coon, on LinkedIn.

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The Rise of Secret Cyborgs

I have been hanging out in a lot of Generative AI (artificial intelligence) play spaces with people who are interested in and messing around with the tools. I noticed a compelling phenomenon – the rise of ‘secret cyborgs’ in workplaces. After Ethan Mollak introduced the concept through his article “Detecting the Secret Cyborg.”  These individuals aren’t entities in sci-fi stories but everyday professionals who are silently integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into their work. They represent a grassroots movement, a quiet yet significant revolution in how we approach productivity, creativity, and problem-solving in our professional lives.

This trend is not just about individual exploration or silent revolution. It’s a crucial wake-up call for organizational leaders and businesses. There’s an immense opportunity here to transform the workplace narrative around AI. Instead of viewing AI with apprehension, businesses can adopt a culture that supports and encourages AI exploration. This shift can transform secretive individual experimentation into a collaborative, innovative movement that benefits the entire organization.

The ‘secret cyborgs’ among us are potential vanguards of a new era in the workforce, where the integration of human intelligence and AI leads to unprecedented levels of efficiency, creativity, and problem-solving. Their story is a call to action for all of us in business to embrace AI with curiosity and openness, recognizing its potential as a transformative tool for human advancement.

As we navigate this exciting and uncharted territory, the key lies in fostering a culture where AI is not just accepted but actively integrated into our collective quest for innovation and excellence. Let’s embrace this change, leveraging AI to enhance our human potential and pave the way for a future where technology and creativity go hand in hand in shaping the next frontier of business success.

If you are interested in tips for leaders, I co-wrote this piece with my friend Shannon Mullen O’Keefe of The Museum of Ideas called:

How to Let the Secret Cyborgs Out: 7 Ideas for Leaders

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