It’s AI this and AI that everywhere you turn. ChatGPT and DeepSeek are dominating headlines, Google slaps AI results at the top of every search, and there are smarter options in the apps and services you use every day.
Freebie alert: I’m giving away my latest ebook, “50 Smart Ways to Use AI” (a $9.95 value). Hope it helps you!
I hear from folks all the time on my national radio show who have no idea where to start. That’s why you have me. AI isn’t going away, so let’s dive into a few things you need to know and prompts to get you started.
5-MINUTE CLEANUP FOR YOUR PHONE AND COMPUTER
First, get to know the tools of the trade
There are so many options. I recommend you start with one of the big names. They’re easy to use, intuitive and have free options. I’ve been most impressed with:
Another AI tool worth checking out is Google NotebookLM. Upload audio, notes, documents or any other files, then you can search them, find citations (from your own docs) or even produce a snazzy podcast based on your files.
A listener, Bob, told me after he heard about it on my radio show, he used NotebookLM to create training modules for his employees.
How to get the best results out of AI chatbots
In reality, using AI is as simple as using Google. Still, it doesn’t hurt to know a few things about how it works. You’ll spend less time feeling like you’re fighting the algorithms and get results you want more reliably.
“Priming” is the insider term for telling a chatbot exactly what you want from it. With ChatGPT or any other, the more constraints you give, the better your answer. You might say, “Limit your response to 250 words,” “Give me the list in bullet points” or “Format the results as a table.”
Remember, AI can’t read your mind. Chatbots feed us the answers they think we want based on our prompts, how they’re trained and what they know about us. Here’s an easy way to give direction: Use “do” and “don’t” in your prompts.
Say you’re cooking for friends, and some have allergies. Say, “Create a recipe for six people. Do include protein, fruits, vegetables and carbs. Don’t include dairy products, shellfish or nuts.”
AI ISN’T GOING ANYWHERE: PROMPTS TO MAKE LIFE EASIER
10 AI prompts to try
Want more? Get “50 Smart Ways to Use AI” free right now.
Think of AI as your first step, not your last
AI is a fantastic tool to help you brainstorm, speed up your work and even teach you new things — but it’s not perfect. It doesn’t think for itself; it just predicts the next best response based on the data it’s been trained on.
AI tools can make mistakes, provide outdated information or totally miss the mark. Always double-check anything important, especially when it comes to work, finances or legal matters.
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Award-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.
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