AI SURVIVAL GUIDE: From Zero to Expert: Side Hustles, Skills & Agents for the New AI Era

by Walter Rodriguez

Overview

AI Survival Guide: From Zero to Expert — Side Hustles, Skills & Agents for the New AI Era

You don't need a tech degree to thrive in the age of Artificial Intelligence. You need a strategy—and this book delivers it.

AI is already changing the world quietly but profoundly. It's transforming the workplace, reshaping industries, and creating new opportunities for those who understand how to use it. Whether you're a student, teacher, manager, entrepreneur, freelancer, or retiree, AI Survival Guide equips you to take advantage of this new era—without hype, fear, or technical jargon.

Written by award-winning educator and innovation expert Dr. Walter Rodriguez, this book is your blueprint for learning, using, and thriving with AI—even if you don't know where to start. It's clear, human, and practical. And it's packed with real-world examples, career strategies, creative prompts, cartoons, and case studies.

Inside this guide, you'll discover:

• The Quiet Disruption: Why AI is already impacting your career—and how to get ahead of the curve
• AI Without Coding: Use ChatGPT, AI agents, and tools to write, analyze, automate, and launch ideas
• The AI-Proof Skillset: Grow the human abilities that employers will always need—like creativity, empathy, critical thinking, and leadership
• Side Hustles & New Income: Learn how AI enables solopreneurs, freelancers, and creators to scale their ideas
• AI Agents & Assistants: Build your own AI-powered coach or operator—step-by-step, even if you're not technical
• Certifications that Matter: Discover the most valuable credentials in the AI economy and how to get them
• Real Case Studies: Read inspiring stories of people who reinvented themselves and their careers with AI
• AI Ethics & Risks: Understand deepfakes, disinformation, and how to protect your data and digital identity

Bonus sections:

• AI Playbook: Prompt Engineering, Machine Learning, and Agentic AI for Business
• Biz Prompts: Practical AI use cases in marketing, finance, HR, and customer service
• Self-Assessments: Reflective checklists to evaluate your AI readiness and career goals

Who is this book for?

This book is for professionals in all industries—healthcare, education, design, law, construction, finance, marketing, and more. It's also for job seekers, small business owners, freelancers, lifelong learners, and anyone who wants to stay relevant and resilient in an AI-powered world.

You'll benefit from this book if you:

• Want to understand AI in plain English—without getting a computer science degree
• Are looking to pivot or upskill for the future of work
• Need practical AI use cases for your current job, side hustle, or business
• Are building your first AI Agent or ChatGPT Assistant
• Want to stay competitive, creative, and human in a world increasingly run by algorithms

About the Author:

Dr. Walter Rodriguez is an engineer, entrepreneur, and educator with a passion for making complex technologies accessible to all. As CEO of Adaptiva Corp and founder of Coursewell, he has helped professionals across industries integrate AI into their workflows and build careers with impact. His motto: "AI is human ingenuity in action."

This is not a book about robots replacing humans. It's a book about humans who understand AI leading the way forward.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940184386744
Publisher:	Adaptiva Corp
Publication date:	09/15/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

About the Author

Walter Rodriguez, PhD, PE, is an award-winning educator, engineer, and entrepreneur with a passion for helping people harness emerging technologies to transform their work and lives. He is the founder and CEO of Coursewell.com and Adaptiva Corp, where he leads the development of AI-powered learning solutions and career-focused certification programs.

Dr. Rodriguez earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Construction Project Management) from the University of Florida and completed postdoctoral studies at MIT’s Sloan School, Media Lab, and CEE Intelligent Systems program. He has taught and led academic programs across multiple universities in the U.S. and Europe, including Florida Gulf Coast University, Ave Maria University, and SGMI in Switzerland.

His expertise spans AI in business, construction management, education, logistics, and strategic innovation. As a lifelong teacher and technologist, Walter blends practical insights with deep research to make complex topics like Artificial Intelligence accessible, useful, and even fun. His writing is fueled by a belief that “AI is human ingenuity in action.”

When not teaching or building intelligent systems, Walter enjoys tennis, creative writing, and mentoring young entrepreneurs. He lives in Southwest Florida with his wife and family, and can often be found experimenting with new AI agents or crafting interactive books to inspire the next generation of learners.