When I began serving my term in 1987, the world looked very different. There was no public internet, no email, and no smartphones. Very few people had personal computers in their homes.
By the time I returned to society in 2012, entire industries had risen and fallen. Technology had reshaped communication, commerce, and employment. While I was serving my sentence, I did not have direct access to computers and could not experiment with software. I decided to prepare in the only way available to me: through reading and study.
I read books and articles about the internet. I studied business magazines that discussed emerging technologies. I paid attention to the language people were using. Words such as digital, software, automation, and data became part of my vocabulary long before I ever used a computer.
Because I studied those changes for years, I returned home with a working understanding of how technology shaped business and communication. I did not have to start from zero. I understood how businesses used software to scale operations and increase efficiency. Even without hands-on experience, I had prepared my mind for the job market.
That preparation shortened my learning curve after release.
The Pace of Change Is Accelerating
Today, change is happening more rapidly.
In 2022, artificial intelligence began moving from research labs into daily life. From the beginning, I subscribed to leading AI platforms so I could learn how to use the tools. Early versions made mistakes, but even imperfect systems increased my productivity and accelerated my learning.
The improvements came quickly. Every few months, new models emerged. Each version became more capable. As of February 2026, AI systems could write computer code at a level that exceeds many professional engineers. People use AI to draft legal documents, analyze large sets of data, build marketing strategies, and construct complex business workflows.
We are in the middle of another technological shift. The marketplace will reward people who understand how to use these tools. Those who ignore them may struggle to compete.
The Risk of Waiting
In prison, it is easy to delay preparation. A person may think he will learn once he returns home. That approach creates unnecessary risk.
The marketplace is not patient. Businesses are adopting technology to reduce costs and increase output. AI tools are improving efficiency in law, healthcare, logistics, finance, education, and manufacturing. Employers will increasingly expect workers to understand digital systems.
Even if a person cannot access AI directly from inside prison, he can prepare. He can:
Learn the vocabulary.
Study practical use cases.
Understand how automation increases efficiency.
Analyze how technology reshapes industries.
Reflect on how his own skills can integrate with emerging tools.
Preparation begins with disciplined learning.
Learning Without Direct Access
When incarcerated, I could not log onto the internet. I could not test search engines or open online accounts. But I could read about how businesses used websites. I could study e-commerce before I ever made an online purchase. Those small lessons built fluency in the language of the emerging economy, and helped me immensely once I got out.
The same strategy applies today with artificial intelligence.
Over the past few weeks, I have been studying AI agents. Agents are systems designed to understand a person’s goals and execute tasks on his behalf. As they learn more about the user, they can research, organize information, draft plans, and build workflows continuously.
Recently, I spent several hours training the first of many AI agents that I am building to improve the efficiency of Prison Professors. The more clearly I define objectives and expectations, the more useful the system becomes.
Even if members of our community cannot use these tools directly, they can learn the principles behind them. Think in terms of:
Efficiency
Systems
Leverage
Automation
Clear communication
If you do not have access to technology, take micro-steps:
Read articles about artificial intelligence and automation.
Study how companies are using AI to reduce costs and increase output.
Build vocabulary related to data, machine learning, algorithms, and digital infrastructure.
Practice writing clearly and logically.
Use your Prison Professors profile to document what you are learning and how you are preparing.
Instead of measuring time by how many days remain on your sentence, measure progress by how much knowledge you accumulate and how consistently you document your growth.
The world will continue to change. Your responsibility is to prepare for the world you intend to enter.
Journal Prompt
Write a detailed journal entry describing:
The type of work you expect to pursue when you get out, and share your thoughts on how you anticipate technology will influence that field.
Use your response as evidence of self-directed learning.