Key Takeaways
- AI's most profound opportunity lies in democratizing access to learning, making “everything you want to learn… in your pocket” and significantly boosting personal agency.
- Founders should shift their focus from abstract efficiency gains to building AI that solves deeply personal, often urgent problems, like Netic does for HVAC and pet care services.
- Counter the negative mainstream narrative about AI by creating products that visibly enhance human capability and offer critical support in stressful situations.
- Melisa Tokmak, drawing from her own journey to Stanford despite resource limitations, believes AI can remove traditional barriers to education and opportunity.
The Agency Machine: AI for Education
Melisa Tokmak, founder and CEO of Netic, doesn't just see AI as another tool for efficiency. She sees it as a lever for human agency. Her vision, honed by her own path to Stanford from a background with resource limitations, centers on AI's power to democratize access to learning. “I will give the answer of education because I I think it will change so many lives of people who otherwise would not even think about this world exist,” Tokmak says. This isn't just about online courses; it's about putting “everything you want to learn and everything you want to do is kind of in your pocket.” Imagine a world where geographic, economic, or social barriers melt away, replaced by instant, personalized learning. For a founder, this suggests a radical shift: instead of optimizing for productivity, design for empowerment. What if your AI product didn't just automate tasks, but actively taught users new skills, connected them to mentors, or gave them a clearer path to their ambitions? Tokmak believes this creates a world “a lot more about agency,” where individuals have unprecedented control over their own development and trajectory.
Beyond the Hype: AI on Your Worst Day
Mainstream discussions about AI often spiral into fear-mongering about job displacement or existential threats. Tokmak believes this negative narrative misses the point entirely. “The second thing I am really excited about a lot in America or in generally right now more mainstream topic about AI is very negative,” she notes. Her counter-strategy isn't to debate, but to build. Her company, Netic, creates AI to autonomously run real-world service businesses like HVAC and pet care. These aren't just "old school" industries; they're sectors where things often go wrong, and people need help now. Tokmak explains, "What I'm exciting about with use cases like I'm working on it's many times the people's worst day in their lives and they really need help and how do we make sure that you get help." This is AI as an essential service, a safety net. Whether it's a broken furnace in winter, a sudden pet emergency, or understanding complex health records, AI can step in when people are most vulnerable. By focusing on these high-stakes, high-impact applications, founders can not only create valuable businesses but also actively shift public perception towards the positive, helpful side of AI.
What to Do With This
Stop chasing generic efficiency. This week, list three specific scenarios where your potential customers experience a "worst day" or face a significant barrier to personal growth. Then, brainstorm how AI could not just alleviate the problem, but actively give them more agency in that moment. For example, if you're building in fintech, don't just optimize loan applications; envision AI that teaches financial literacy and helps users map out a path to their dream home. Draft a one-paragraph internal memo for your team describing how your AI product can solve a specific "worst day" problem and create a tangible, positive impact. This focused approach will differentiate your product, build trust, and ultimately, carve out a more resilient business in an increasingly crowded market.