Like Four Lean Hounds…

Hi, my name is Mike Murphy 👋.

I've been making tutorials consistently for nearly 10 years, but lately I've been soul searching about my direction online and the future content creation business.

Earlier this week, I asked ChatGPT to help me explain my purpose—something I’ve always felt but struggled to put into words.

What came back genuinely blew me away.

ChatGPT said I'm like a lighthouse because:

• It doesn't move, but it changes everything around it.

• It guides without shouting. It just stays on, reliable and calm.

• It’s built in solitude, but its whole purpose is to help others find their way.

This hit deep. I never mentioned to ChatGPT my affinity for lighthouses (which I've had ever since Uncle D told me I'd make a great lighthouse keeper – which I would!).

I don't make tutorials because my calling is to teach tech tools. I make tutorials because I love helping people who are lost (in the fog).

Why I Started AI Unplugged?

This newsletter marks a clear mindset shift. I'm planting my flag and ending the BS I've been telling myself about my progress as a solopreneur and content creator. Yes, I work extremely hard and show up daily. Yes, I create more tutorials than any person should. But I've been "waiting" for doors to open instead of simply pushing through the ones staring me in the face. This newsletter launch officially marks my new chapter, and I couldn't be more excited for where I'm headed.

AI Unplugged is my way of documenting this journey — learning AI, building digital products, and finally transforming my content creation into a real business (one that actually generates revenue).

It's not about AI trends or hype. It's about practical tools, real projects, and honest insights for creators who want to build something meaningful — and make a good living doing it.

I'm not an AI expert. I'm a creator figuring it out — just like you. Let's learn together.

💬 Quote of the Week:

🧠 AI Term of the Week:

What does GPT stand for in ChatGPT? You’ve heard the name a thousand times...
But do you actually know what the letters mean?

GPT = Generative Pre-trained Transformer

• Generative → It creates things (text, images, code...)

• Pre-trained → It was trained on massive data before you used it

• Transformer → A type of neural network really good at understanding language

🧩 Fun Fact:
The original GPT-1 launched in 2018. ChatGPT is based on GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 — the newer, much smarter versions.

🛠 Tool of the Week: Google Gemini

🔗 gemini.google.com

You probably already have access to Google Gemini—and might not even realize it.

If you use Gmail, Docs, or Google Search, you’ve likely seen Gemini show up with suggestions, summaries, or writing help. It works right inside the tools you already use.

But the real magic is at gemini.google.com/app — Google’s full-featured AI chat assistant (think ChatGPT, but built into your Google account). It’s fast, powerful, and 100% free.

🧠 Why I like it:
Gemini is kind of a sleeper hit. It’s surprisingly good, already knows your Google world, and costs nothing. Worth exploring.

➡️ What I Made This Week

I finished a massive tutorial project (code name Build 106) where I built a dock-able panel for Adobe After Effects Using Cursor AI that has a Wiggle Button and 10 of my favorite effects for making hand-drawn, stop-motion style animations. It’s called The Wiggly Jiggly Panel. 

The Full Playlist → Watch it here

💬 Thank You!

– Mike Murphy
Learning AI.
Building digital products.
Make a living as a content creator.

• 🧠 “GPT” stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer

• 📦 I just shipped Build 106 — a wiggly panel for After Effects

• 🪨 Quote: “A lighthouse doesn’t run around the island looking for boats.”
  – Anne Lamott

🗳️ (Click to vote — responses are anonymous) 👇