I hear this all the time. “I don’t trust AI. I don’t want to use it. I don’t even know where to start.”
I get it. I don’t trust everything AI gives me either. I check it. But I’m going to tell you what I’d tell you over coffee.
If you don’t learn how to use it, you’re going to get left behind. Period.
So let’s keep it easy and start here. I’ll show you three things I use AI for at work and what I check every time. Pick the one that would make your day a little easier.
You give it a job
AI gives you a draft
You check it and decide what to use
01 Turn messy notes into a team update
- What I ask
- “Turn these three notes into a short update for my team.”
- Fictional notes
- The team meets Thursday.
- Alex will bring the checklist.
- We still need to pick a start date.
- What AI might draft
- “Quick update for Thursday. Alex will bring the checklist, and we’ll pick a start date at the meeting.”
- What I check
- The notes say we still need to pick a date. They don’t say we’ll pick it at the meeting.
- What I’d send
- “Quick update. The team meets Thursday, and Alex will bring the checklist. We still need to pick a start date.”
02 Write an email that makes the ask clear
- What I ask
- “Write a short note asking my manager which task should come first. Both are due Friday.”
- What I’d send
- “Both tasks are due Friday. Which one would you like me to tackle first?”
- What I check
- Does it ask for a clear decision? Did it add a promise to finish both? Does it sound like me?
03 Find an answer in a document
- What I ask
- “When are requests due? Use only the guide I gave you. Show me the section and quote the exact line that supports your answer. If the guide doesn’t say, tell me.”
- What I check
- I open the guide and read the line myself. If it only talks about new requests, I check separately before using that deadline for renewals.
For the full walkthrough, read Ask AI to Show You Where the Answer Came From.
You’re still the one leading the work. You choose the task, check the facts, and decide what to send.
Copy the prompt
Turn these notes into a short update for my team. Use only the details I give you. If something is still open, say so. Before you return the draft, check it against my notes. Remove any unsupported details and flag anything you’re unsure about.
[Paste your fictional or approved notes here.]
You can practice with the fictional notes above. For real work, use a tool and information your workplace has approved.