How I Used AI to Create My AI Channel (And Why That's Not Ironic)

I just launched a YouTube channel called "AI Can Do That?!" Everyday AI for Real Humans, and here's the kicker - I used AI to help me create the whole thing. The name, the concept, the content strategy, even troubleshooting technical problems.

And before you roll your eyes at the meta-ness of it all, hear me out. This isn't some elaborate performance art piece. This is exactly the kind of practical, everyday AI collaboration that I want to show real people.

The Lightbulb Moment

My goal was simple: make AI accessible to non-tech people for everyday use. I'd been using ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini for my own stuff and kept thinking, "Why isn't everyone doing this?" But when I tried to brainstorm video ideas on my own, I kept getting stuck in the same loop of obvious, boring topics.

So I did what any reasonable person would do - I asked an AI for help brainstorming content about AI.

The Real Collaboration

What happened next wasn't magic. It was work. Good work, but work nonetheless.

The AI didn't just spit out a perfect list of video ideas. We had a conversation. I explained my skills (limited to chat-based AI), my audience (real humans who don't want to become computer scientists), and my goals (practical tips with some goofy fun thrown in).

The AI pushed back when I wasn't specific enough. I pushed back when suggestions didn't feel right. We refined ideas together, explored different angles, and built on each other's thoughts.

The Unexpected Pivot

Here's where it gets interesting. Somewhere in our conversation, we realized that this process itself was the perfect content for my first video. Not some polished tutorial about AI capabilities, but the actual messy, collaborative process of figuring things out.

We spent time developing the channel name, testing different options through imaginary focus groups (the AI roleplayed as different personas - brilliant!), and even solved a technical problem when I couldn't figure out how to screen record on my iPhone.

What I Learned

AI is a thinking partner, not a magic answer machine. The best results came from treating it like a conversation, not a search engine. I gave context, asked follow-up questions, and wasn't afraid to say "that doesn't feel right" when something was off.

Specificity is everything. My initial vague request for "content ideas" got generic results. When I explained my actual situation - my skills, my audience, my goals - the suggestions became incredibly relevant.

The process is the product. The most valuable insight was realizing that this collaboration itself was worth sharing. People don't need to see the final polished result - they need to see how the sausage gets made.

The Bigger Picture

This whole experience reinforced why I wanted to create this channel in the first place. AI isn't some mysterious technology that only programmers can use. It's a tool that can help real people solve real problems - from crafting better emails to planning vacations to yes, even creating YouTube channels.

The key is approaching it like you would any other collaborative relationship: with curiosity, specificity, and a willingness to engage in actual dialogue.

What's Next

I'm planning to document this journey for the next 90 days, showing the practical, weird, and wonderful things AI can do for everyday humans. Not because I'm an expert (I'm definitely not), but because I'm genuinely curious about what's possible.

If you're curious too, come along for the ride. There's always something new that AI can do, and I have a feeling we're just getting started.

Written with love by Phanie and Claude