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Training
Smart Brevity® and AI
Introducing teams to using AI with Smart Brevity — so speed doesn’t come at the expense of clarity
AI is powerful. Smart Brevity makes it effective.
This course is designed for organizations looking to upskill in-house teams.
This one-hour training for teams (up to 100 people) shows you how to use AI as a true creative partner while applying Smart Brevity fundamentals to produce communication that’s clear, confident, and unmistakably human.
In this corporate training session, teams learn how to:
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Use AI to sharpen thinking, not just speed up drafts
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Apply Smart Brevity principles to AI-assisted writing
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Spot the difference between deceptive workslop and effective communication
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Turn long, vague, or AI-heavy drafts into concise, human messages
They'll walk away with:
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Practical frameworks to use immediately
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Before-and-after examples of AI + Smart Brevity in action
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Proven prompts that help AI elevate clarity, structure, and tone
Meet your trainers:
A former Presidential Briefer, a New York Post writer, and the Grammar Hammer
Phil Dufresne
Smart Brevity Trainer
Phil Dufresne
Smart Brevity Trainer
Phil is an Editor and Trainer, teaching corporate leaders, communicators, and professionals at organizations of all sizes how to improve critical communications.
- He’s helped teams across industries, including major financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase and HSBC, reimagine how they inform stakeholders and engage staff.
- He has led engaging training for both new Smart Brevity adopters and those working to expand and operationalize it across their organization.
- His insightful sessions and real-time feedback help customers quickly understand the methodology so they can apply it, feel its benefits, and continue to improve their craft.
Prior to Axios HQ, he was a CIA analyst, writing and editing in a style not far from Smart Brevity. He also served as an editor for the President’s Daily Brief.
1 fun thing: Phil is an actor on the side. Most recently, he played Claudius in a production of Hamlet.
Reed Tucker
Smart Brevity Trainer
Reed Tucker
Smart Brevity Trainer
Reed is an Editor and Trainer at Axios HQ and has helped hundreds of customers — like Takeda and UPS — learn Smart Brevity through customized strategy and training sessions.
- He builds a deep understanding of customers’ communication goals, then works with them to advise on and develop programming that addresses it.
- He leads hands-on, tailored workshops that connect the dots between unique customer communications — like emails, articles and narrative pieces — and the principles of Smart Brevity to help folks pave a strategic path forward.
- His insightful sessions and real-time feedback help customers quickly understand and apply the methodology so they can start to feel its benefits.
Prior to Axios HQ, Reed was a Google content editor and a senior features writer at the New York Post.
1 fun thing: Reed is the author of Slugfest, a 2017 book about the rivalry between Marvel and DC Comics.
Kate Samano
Smart Brevity Training & Editing
Kate Samano
Smart Brevity Training & Editing
Kate is a Lead Editor at Axios HQ who is passionate about helping professionals at all levels understand how Smart Brevity and AI can make writing and editing easier.
- Kate delivers hands-on edits and Smart Brevity guidance to enhance customers’ content production and editorial processes.
- She helps them reduce their volume of communication while boosting open rates through routine consultation on critical, recurring staff and stakeholder outreach.
Prior to Axios HQ, Kate was the head of content for a financial start-up and a director of content marketing in the higher education space where she led a team of writers, editors, and strategists.
1 fun thing: Her former colleagues dubbed her the “Grammar Hammer,” and she has the insignia on a real hammer in her toolbox.
After the training
You’ll receive a batch of resources to help you stick with what you learned and apply it to your every day communications.
Presentation slides
Smart Brevity checklist
Smart Brevity books
AI training FAQs
What is Smart Brevity?
Smart Brevity® is a communications methodology created in the Axios newsroom. The formula is based on years of research into brain science and data. It has played a pivotal role in the success of the Axios media organization.
Today, Smart Brevity is helping leaders and employees style and format their communications to be clearer and more effective.
- The Axios newsroom invented it.
- The world’s busiest readers embraced it.
- Then, Axios HQ productized it.
We are making the Smart Brevity framework available to professionals and organizations across the globe through highly customizable workshops and the Axios HQ software.
Organizations such as JP Morgan Chase, HSBC, bp, Calvin University, and Johnson & Johnson use Smart Brevity to maintain effective communications.
How long is the training?
You can choose between:
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60 minutes: Core instruction, examples, and practical takeaways
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90 minutes: Includes a guided hands-on exercise where participants apply Smart Brevity + AI in real time
Both options are designed for up to 100 attendees.
Who is this training for?
This training is designed for teams, not individual learners. It’s ideal for communications, internal comms, HR, marketing, and leadership teams who want a shared, practical approach to using AI without losing clarity, judgment, or voice.
How many people at my company can join the training?
Each Axios HQ workshop is designed for up to 15 participants. We keep the groups small to make sure every attendee gets an opportunity to practice and receive feedback from our trainers.
How is this different from other AI writing courses?
Most AI courses focus on tools and shortcuts. This training focuses on thinking.
You’ll learn how to pair AI with Smart Brevity fundamentals—the decision-making framework AI lacks—to create communication that’s clear, concise, and human. The result isn’t more content. It’s better communication.
Do participants need prior experience with AI tools?
No. The training is designed for teams at any level of AI familiarity. We focus on practical, repeatable ways to use AI as a creative partner—whether you’re just getting started or already experimenting.
Can this be customized for our organization?
Yes. We can tailor examples, prompts, and use cases to match your team’s audience, channels, and goals—whether that’s internal comms, executive messaging, or cross-functional updates.
What types of teams benefit most from this training?
Teams that produce high-stakes communication — especially internal updates, leadership messages, change communications, or cross-functional content — see the biggest impact. It’s particularly valuable for organizations navigating AI adoption at scale.
How do we book this training for our team?
You can request a session for your team by filling out the form on this page. Our team will follow up to confirm timing, format, and customization options.
More programs to explore
Smart Brevity Fundamentals
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Smart Brevity Workshops
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Smart Brevity Certification
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