AI Fluency: How companies evaluate you
- Andy Mowat
- Nov 1
- 2 min read
AI has changed the game for companies and for hiring.
It is not enough anymore to know how to use ChatGPT.
Virtually every companies is prioritizing candidates who are fluent in AI. These companies are looking for people who:
Have implemented AI solutions
Are hands-on vs. just managers (this mentality is not just for startups but has recently spread to bigger companies)
Can drive real-change in their business with AI
This playbook dives into how to prepare for this changing world of AI
Get Fluent
Below are some key ways you can get fluent fast in AI:
Know the core use cases in your function and the vendors that enable them
Listen to podcasts (see our playlist of great podcasts to educate yourself about AI)
Read up on the internet, ChatGPT and in books (good one here) on how AI works at a deep level
Build something with AI. Start with Lovable / Replit / Bolt and build a functional product
Take on an AI project at your current company
The core trait here you need to become fluent is technical curiosity. Don’t just read an article… get your hands dirty and play with the tools to deeply understand them.
Understand what companies are looking for
We consistently hear candidates share that employers are going deep in interviews to understand their AI fluency.
“We have moved from self-reporting by candidates of their AI skills to a formal assessment. We want to understand their natural inclination and curiosity.” Wade Foster, CEO of Zapier on Whispered’s How I Hire podcast (episode coming soon)
Our friends at Captivate Talent put together a great rubric on AI fluency which looks for each core GTM function at the difference between:
AI Curious
AI Active
AI Native — this is what most companies are targeting
This focus by companies on AI fluency doesn’t stop at AI. It is also critical to demonstrate the same technical curiosity around a company’s product and market. If a company has a B2C / PLG product you MUST play with it before an interview.
“If someone hasn’t used our product before interviewing with us, this is an AUTOMATIC ding for every role in our company.” Executive at leading PLG company
If you aren’t AI fluent, calibrate the companies you target
~70% of people who apply to Whispered list OpenAI and Anthropic in their target companies!!!
But to get roles at the top AI companies you will definitely need to be AI-Native.
If you aren’t AI Native, that is OK. Not every company is operating at this level YET. Just make sure you are realistic about the companies you fit for and adjust your target company list accordingly.
