Bonus AI Tips

I don't use AI as much as I could / should, but I follow the field a bit, mostly here. (E.g., ChatGPT cures jaw clicking; ChatGPT says why it was released to the world.) (One Step for Animals has tried AI video tools, but so far, nothing has performed better than our "classic" videos.)

Three bits:

1. If you want a very basic starting point, , here is a summary of the three main Large Language Models / chatbotsfrom The Neuron (see also this from 80,000 Hours):

• ChatGPT: The famous all-rounder. Great for creative tasks, coding help, and general questions. Try it.

• Claude: The thoughtful writer. Excels at nuanced tasks, analyzing long docs, and sounding human. Try it.

• Gemini: Google's speedy researcher. Best for up-to-date info and integrating with Google apps. Try it.

All have free tiers, so you can experiment without paying a dime.

How to Use Them (It's Simple!):

1. Go to one of the sites above.

2. Sign up (usually free & quick).

3. Type what you want into the chat box (this is your "prompt").

4. Hit enter and get your answer!

Yep, that's basically it. And remember: it's a conversation.

Pro tip: Chat with it about something you know well—make it something fun. Whether you know the ins and outs of yacht rock, crochet, or the D&D Monster Manual, it’s very well-versed.

The #1 Tip for Better Results: Be Specific!

The key to getting good answers is asking good questions. Don't just say “write an email.” Instead, try: “Draft a short, friendly email to my team updating them that Project X is delayed by one week. Keep the tone positive.” See the difference? Giving context and details makes the AI much more helpful.

Quick Ideas to Try Today:

• Summarize: Paste a long article and ask for bullet points.

• Brainstorm: “Give me 10 catchy headlines for a presentation on AI.”

• Draft: “Write a thank-you note to a client after a meeting. [Details here]”

• Explain: “Explain cloud computing like I'm 5.”

Why Bother? Because AI is quickly becoming a standard workplace tool*. Learning the basics helps you automate tedious tasks, generate ideas faster, and simply work more efficiently. 

Spend literally 5 minutes trying one simple task on ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini today. You’ve got nothing to lose and potentially a lot of productivity to gain. Once you’ve played around a bit, check out this list of awesome resources to dive deeper in.

2. Here is a good discussion of AI as a "co-intelligence." Good stuff at the link and in the discussion; highlights:

• *Treat AI as a teammate, not a tool. An eager, hyperactive, indefatigable, mistake-making assistant. 
• Let AI ask you questions. E.g., this prompt: "Before answering my questions directly, please ask me 1-3 targeted questions that will help you understand my context, goals, and constraints better."
• Push beyond “good enough” ideas. E.g., "For this [project/task/conversation], my objective is [brief description]. Please help me think beyond my first ideas to discover more creative possibilities." 
• "For complex problems, please suggest multiple approaches with meaningful variation rather than just refining a single solution."

3. Of the uses for AI listed in the graphic below, #3, #5, and #2 (in that order) are the most useful to me so far.