How to Make AI Work for You?
Posted on January 15, 2024 by Louise Howland
AI is not the new kid on the block it has been around for many years with the first usage of AI dating back to the 1950’s! It is only recently with the launch of tools like Chat GPT that its true power has been unlocked to the public. However, AI is not a magic wand it is only as good as the data and the questions we feed it. Therefore, if we want to make the most of AI, we need to learn how to ask the right questions.
What are the right questions?
The right questions are those that are specific and detailed enough for AI to be able to craft an answer that will actually help us gain new insights and make better decisions.
For example, suppose you wanted to use AI to help you plan your next holiday. A vague question like “Where should I go?” is not very helpful, because it does not specify what type of holiday you want, who is going and what your budget is. A better question would be “What are the best destinations for a family trip in Europe that are affordable, safe, and have good weather in December?” This question is more detailed and will help AI narrow down the options and find the best match for your needs.
How to ask the right questions?
Asking the right questions or ‘prompting AI’ is not always easy, but it is a skill that can be learned and the better the prompting the more useful AI will become. Here are some tips to help you ask the right questions to AI:
- Define your goal. What do you want to achieve or learn from AI? What is the purpose of your question? Having a clear goal can help you focus your question and avoid irrelevant or unnecessary details.
- Know your data. What kind of data do you have access to? What are the sources, formats, and quality of the data? How much data do you have? Knowing your data can help you understand what kind of questions you can ask and what kind of answers you can expect from AI.
- Choose your method. What kind of AI method do you want to use? There are different types of AI methods, such as machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, etc. Each method has its own strengths and limitations, and can be used for different purposes. Choosing the right method can help you get the most accurate and reliable answers from AI.
- Refine your question. Once you have a draft of your question, try to refine it by making it more clear, specific, relevant, and meaningful. You can use the following criteria to check your question:
- Clarity: Is your question easy to understand? Does it use simple and precise language? Does it avoid ambiguity or confusion?
- Specificity: Is your question focused and detailed? Does it include all the necessary information and parameters? Does it avoid generalisations or assumptions?
- Relevance: Is your question related to your goal and data? Does it address the problem or issue you want to solve or explore? Does it avoid irrelevant or unnecessary details?
- Meaningfulness: Is your question important and valuable? Does it have a significant impact or implication? Will it help you gain new insights and make better decisions?
By following these tips, you can learn how to ask the right questions to AI and make AI work for you. Remember, AI is a powerful tool, but it is not a mind reader. It can only answer the questions you ask, so make sure you ask the best questions possible.
We run a masterclass for business leaders on harnessing the power of AI. This can be run exclusively for your Leadership Team, onsite or at our Surrey Offices or you can also book individuals on to our Open Course which runs on the last Wednesday of each month. If you are interested in understanding AI and how to use it in your organisation click below for more information.
