AI keeps me up at night — not from fear, but from excitement

Three Sleepless Nights…

That was author Ethan Mollick’s verdict after his first real encounter with AI, as described in his excellent book Co-Intelligence. Not because it was bad — quite the opposite. Because it was so good. So disruptive.

“The world will never be the same,” he said.

My experience was a bit calmer. No sleepless nights. Maybe a raised eyebrow.

My first ChatGPT test (the free 3.5 version at the time) was with a colleague. The task:

Write a short email reminding our team to fill in their timesheets.

Not exactly rocket science. But the result? Weirdly… just right.

So of course, we took it further (or so we thought):

Now write it in an angry tone.
Now do it as a poem.

And ChatGPT delivered. Quickly. Smoothly. With flair.

We laughed, we were impressed, and we figured: fun little gimmick.

But somewhere in the back of my mind, a seed was planted:

This isn’t a gimmick.
This is a train.
And I don’t want to miss it.

So I subscribed to ChatGPT 4 — €21 a month.

Not cheap for a “toy,” but I call it an investment in myself.

And let’s be honest: it’s the cheapest coworker I’ve ever had. And still the smartest.

From Gimmick to Gamechanger

Today, ChatGPT is my steady sidekick — my co-intelligence, as Mollick puts it.

And honestly? I feel at least ten IQ points smarter. Maybe twenty.

Thirty on a good day.

Because here’s the truth: I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed.

But ChatGPT lets me function at a level I’d never reach on my own.

And nowhere is that more true than in my biggest passion project: Dartschool.

Dartschool + AI = A Surprisingly Strong Match

For the non-darters out there: Dartschool is where I create books, tools, and workshops that help players score better, calculate faster, and think smarter.

Darts sounds simple, but it’s surprisingly complex — think mental pressure, math stress, and endless variations of possible checkout routes.

And without AI as a creative and structural partner?

No way I could’ve done all this.

The Everyday Uses:

Copy editor & writing assistant

I still write everything myself, but ChatGPT helps sharpen the text — clearer, more fun, more consistent.

Translator

My books are now in Dutch, English, and (partly) French. GPT keeps my tone intact across languages.

Practical assistant

I call her Martha. She helps with emails, planning, info texts… you name it.

The Smart Applications:

Brainstorm partner

Whether it’s a new book idea or a workshop outline — GPT helps me structure and explore.

Feedback from virtual darters

I simulate a mix of beginner, advanced, and pro players in GPT to test if my material works for all levels.

Advisory board

When I’m stuck, I pitch ideas to “GPT as investor,” “GPT as pragmatic coach,” or “GPT as critical darter.”

And yes — sometimes, GPT is also my therapist.

Because running a solo business is no walk in the park, and digital creators often go it alone.

What I’ve Learned as a One-Person Business

AI isn’t magic.

But it is one heck of a lever — especially when you’re doing everything yourself, from idea to e-book.

Here’s what I’ve figured out:

• Without AI? 2 books. With AI? 6 — in 3 languages.

• Garbage in = garbage out. Prompting is a skill.

• AI doesn’t replace you — it extends you. It amplifies your work.

And Now, the Sleepless Nights do happen

Not out of panic — but from excitement.

Because of all the ideas I can finally bring to life, together with my digital sidekick.

More and more often, I jump out of bed in the middle of the night because inspiration strikes.

And when it does, I listen. Period.

And if you’re thinking:

“Okay, cool story — but what’s the best checkout route for 86?”

You’ll find it at dartschool.be 😉