Hey there,
Welcome back to AI, Eh? and a warm welcome to anyone joining us for the first time. Really glad you are here.
If you have been following along, here is a quick recap of where we have been:
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📌 Issue 1: 4 AI tools worth trying this week (no tech skills needed) 📌 Issue 2: Are you talking to AI the right way? 📌 Issue 3: 5 things you can ask AI to do for you today |
In Issue 2, we talked about how to write a prompt that actually gets you what you want. That was the foundation. This week we are going one level deeper.
Why one mediocre answer does not mean AI is useless
Because here is the thing: a lot of people try AI once or twice, get a mediocre answer, and assume that is just how it works. It is not. The difference between a frustrating AI experience and a genuinely useful one usually comes down to a few small habits. And once you know them, you cannot unsee them.
Five tricks that immediately improve your results
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1. Tell it who you are AI does not know anything about you unless you tell it. It does not know you run a landscaping company in Red Deer, or that you are a grade six teacher in Halifax, or that you manage a small team at a non-profit in Winnipeg. When you give it that context upfront, the quality of the answer jumps immediately. Think of it like calling a contractor. "Can you fix a leak?" gets you a different conversation than "I have a 1960s bungalow in Saskatoon with old copper pipes and there is a slow drip under the kitchen sink." Same question. Very different answer. Fill in the blank prompt:
Ready to use example:
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2. Tell it who it is This one sounds a bit strange at first, but it works really well. You can ask AI to respond as if it were a specific kind of expert. Not a fake expert, just a useful frame that shapes how it approaches your question. Ask it to respond like an experienced accountant, a patient teacher, a plain English explainer, or a no-nonsense editor. The framing changes the tone and depth of the answer you get back. Fill in the blank prompt:
Ready to use example:
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3. Tell it what format you want By default, AI tends to write long paragraphs. That is fine for some things, but if you want a bullet point list, a short email, a table, or a step-by-step checklist, you have to ask for it. AI follows directions well. You just have to give them. This is especially useful when you know exactly what you need. If you want three options to choose from, ask for three. If you need something you can copy and paste right into an Instagram caption, say that. Specificity is your friend. Fill in the blank prompt:
Ready to use example:
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4. Push back if the first answer is not quite right This is the one most people skip, and it is a big missed opportunity. If the first answer is not quite what you wanted, say so. You do not have to start over. Just tell AI what you liked, what you did not, and what you want it to try differently. AI is not precious about its first draft. It will not be offended. Treat it like a back and forth conversation, not a one shot submission. Most of the time, the second or third version is significantly better than the first. Fill in the blank prompt:
Ready to use example:
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5. Ask it to explain its reasoning This one is especially useful when you are using AI to help you make a decision or understand something new. If AI gives you an answer and you are not sure why, just ask. Asking "why did you suggest that?" or "can you walk me through your thinking?" often gives you more useful information than the original answer. It also helps you spot when AI has made an assumption you do not agree with. Which brings us back to the AI assisted, Human led idea: you are always the one making the final call. Understanding the reasoning behind a suggestion helps you make a better decision. Fill in the blank prompt:
Ready to use example:
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Put it all together
You do not need to use all five of these in every prompt. Even adding one or two to what you are already doing will make a noticeable difference. Start with telling AI who you are. That one alone will improve your results right away.
The more you treat AI like a conversation rather than a search engine, the more useful it becomes. It is not about memorizing some magic formula. It is just about communicating clearly, the same way you would with any smart person you are asking for help.
Your challenge this week
Take any prompt you have tried before that gave you a so-so answer and try it again using at least two of the tricks from this issue. Tell AI who you are, ask for a specific format, or push back on the first answer. See what happens. I think you will be genuinely surprised at the difference.
Coming up next week
Issue 5 is all about social media content. Specifically, how to write a full week of posts in about 30 minutes using AI. If keeping up with social media feels like a chore right now, this one is for you.
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AI assisted, Human led. Whatever AI produces for you, always read it, verify it, and make it sound like you. AI is an incredible first draft machine. Your judgment, your voice, and your values are always the final layer. |
As always, I read every reply personally. Which of these five tricks are you going to try first? Hit reply and let me know. I love hearing what is working for people.
If you found this useful, feel free to forward it to a friend, family member, or colleague who could use a hand with AI. The more Canadians who feel confident with this stuff, the better.
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Talk soon,
Chris
Founder, AI, Eh?
theaieh.ca 🍁
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