# How I AI: Agents, Projects, and Skills (oh my!): A no-fluff guide on when to use each one

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/how-i-work-960132/how-i-ai-agents-projects-and-skills-oh-my-a-no-fluff-guide-on-when-to-use-each-one
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/how-i-work-960132/how-i-ai-agents-projects-and-skills-oh-my-a-no-fluff-guide-on-when-to-use-each-one.md
Podcast: [How I Work](https://stenobird.com/podcast/how-i-work-960132)
Published: 2026-07-26T20:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://omny.fm/shows/how-i-work/how-i-ai-skills-projects-agents-2026-07-final
Audio file: https://mgln.ai/e/187/traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/190bd54e-82e6-43fb-8f6a-af46001792de/2151e272-164f-43cb-85e5-b48a00628405/audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=71f0c47d-eac4-4e42-b713-af46001792ec
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Duration seconds: 807

## Resource

The AI world has has done a spectacularly bad job of naming things. Agents, GPTs, gems, notebooks, projects, skills - you'll find a completely different word for what is essentially the same kind of tool. Agents in one place, GPTs in another, gems somewhere else. Different names, similar ideas - and no handbook to tell you that.  But the tools themselves are not that complicated. Once you know what each one is built to do, knowing which to reach for becomes straightforward.  In this How I AI episode, Neo and I cut through the jargon and map out what Agents, Projects, and Skills actually are, how they differ from each other, and which one to reach for depending on what you need to do.  How I AI is a special series within How I Work where Neo and I explore how high performers are using AI at work to boost productivity, make better decisions and reduce overwhelm.  What you'll learn:  Why agents, GPTs, and gems are the same kind of thing (just with different names)  When a project is the right choice over an agent  What makes a skill different from a long prompt  Practical AI tools for productivity and focus  Real-world AI workflows used by high performers  How to use AI at work without burning out  Smart shortcuts for managing time and mental load  Connect with Neo Aplin on LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/neoaplin/ ) and via inventium.ai ( https://inventium.ai ), where he leads Inventium's AI training and upskilling work with organisations and teams.    My latest book The Energy Game is out now. You can order a copy here:  https://amzn.to/48ID29M   Connect with me on the socials:&nbs…

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