It was supposed to be just a casual conversation—a friendly chat about the recent Stargate announcement by Trump and China’s latest open-source AI model, DeepSeekR1. But, as is often the case, this relaxed exchange quickly transformed into a full-blown consulting session. What started as light banter between me and Abiud Montes turned into a dual-tag brainstorming session when Abiud’s wife, Lina, joined in with questions of her own.
For context, Abiud is a highly decorated U.S. Marine Corps veteran, firefighter, and motivational speaker. We’ve been exploring the idea of writing a book together—a project still in its infancy. The goal of our call was to discuss strategies, tools, and content collection for the book. Yet, as often happens, the conversation spiraled into a masterclass in leveraging AI for productivity, storytelling, and community engagement.
The Stargate Catalyst
The conversation kicked off with a quick dive into Trump’s newly announced Stargate Project, a $100 billion investment in advancing AI and space technologies. For those unfamiliar, it’s essentially an initiative to reclaim AI dominance and counter China’s growing influence in the tech sphere. While the political implications were intriguing, what really caught our attention was DeepSeekR1, an open-source model originating in China—a modified and reworked version of OpenAI’s architecture.
Abiud, always sharp and curious, asked, “What do you make of DeepSeekR1?” That sparked a discussion about the ethical and security concerns tied to AI. We talked about how leaked models like DeepSeekR1 highlight the fine line between innovation and intellectual property theft. I explained how China’s open-source release is simultaneously a competitive advantage and a major security red flag. Imagine a tool as powerful as ChatGPT being optimized and shared without restrictions—it’s a double-edged sword for sure.
This segued into a fascinating moment: Abiud’s reflection on his Marine Corps days and how technological advancements always seem to outpace the ethical and cultural discussions surrounding them. His wife Lina chimed in, comparing the AI boom to the rapid proliferation of smartphones—both transformative and disruptive.
The Book-in-Progress: Unearthing Abiud's Story
As we meandered through Stargates and AI models, I pivoted to the reason for our call: laying the groundwork for Abiud’s book. We’d been dropping his website, YouTube videos, and transcripts into AI tools like NotebookLM, organizing content and pinpointing themes to highlight in his narrative. Abiud's story—spanning a tumultuous childhood, a decorated Marine Corps career, a lifetime of public service, and an ongoing mission to inspire others—is a goldmine of compelling material.
We started brainstorming the content that could anchor his book. I asked about his early life, which Lina enthusiastically elaborated on: a childhood marked by instability, moving out at 16, and scraping by through sheer grit. Abiud shared anecdotes about living with friends after boot camp and eventually finding stability through the Marines.
“People need to hear that,” I told him. “It’s relatable. Everyone loves a hero’s journey—overcoming challenges, finding purpose, and rising above adversity.”
Lina, ever the pragmatic partner, emphasized the need for structure and collecting all the raw materials first—videos, speeches, testimonials, and even old photos. I walked them through how tools like NotebookLM could digest all that content and create a research hub, effectively turning his website into a book-writing assistant.
Lina's Magazine Project: AI in Action
The consulting session took an interesting detour when Lina mentioned her work on a magazine for the Florida Powerboat Club. She described the challenges of ensuring every detail—boat names, owners, and photos—was accurate, especially when working with Excel sheets and scanned documents. I explained how AI could streamline the entire process.
“Take those PDFs,” I said, “and run them through an AI transcription tool. It’ll extract the data, clean it up, and make sure no one’s misrepresented. Plus, you can organize it into searchable text—it’ll save hours of manual work.”
That simple tip lit up her face. “You mean I don’t have to cross-check everything manually?”
“Exactly,” I said. “You’ve got AI assistants for that now. You’re building a magazine? Great. Let AI handle the grunt work so you can focus on making it pop.”
From a Conversation to a Content Engine
The session wrapped with a challenge: publish content every day. Whether it’s a blog post, an article, or even a quick thought on current events like Stargate or DeepSeekR1, consistent publishing creates an authentic digital presence.
“You’re a Marine, a firefighter, and a motivational speaker,” I told Abiud. “But you’re also someone with sharp opinions on AI, national security, and leadership. Write about those things. Be part of the conversation. Use every talk, every speech, and even random chats like this one as content.”
Abiud seemed energized by the idea, and Lina already had ideas on how to implement some of the tools we’d discussed. From uploading speeches to turning transcribed conversations into blog posts, the possibilities seemed endless.
Final Thoughts
This wasn’t just a call about AI tools or writing strategy—it was a reminder of how technology can amplify human stories. Abiud and Lina left with actionable steps, and I left with a renewed appreciation for the power of authentic storytelling.
And isn’t that the point? Whether you’re writing a book, publishing a magazine, or pondering the implications of Stargates and AI, the goal is the same: connect, inspire, and make an impact. And if AI can help get us there faster and better, well, why not let it?
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