Beginner’s tips for the mindful use of ChatGPT and other generative AI technologies
More and more people are using technologies like ChatGPT, Gemini, SwissGPT, Perplexity and other AI-based systems. For some, these technologies have already become an integral part of their daily lives, while others are still hesitant to use them. In the following article, I will present some tips for beginners that aim to encourage people who are still unsure about how to use these technologies to adopt a far-sighted and responsible approach to AI from the outset.
For the following article, my AI assistant has also created a podcast episode. Those who prefer to listen rather than read can access the podcast via the following link (NOTE: the podcast has been created by AI only and no guarantee can be given for its accuracy).
To the podcast episode of Sophie’s AI Assistant
Important information before using AI technologies for the first time
Before you get started, here are a few tips and pointers that companies should share with their employees before they use it for the first time.
1. Accounts and licences
Employees need to know which account information they are allowed to use to log in. They also need to know which licences are available from the company and how they can use them.
2. data protection and security
OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, itself states that the data is stored within the chat dialogues and used for further training purposes. The same applies to most other providers of AI technologies.
Personal or sensitive data should therefore never be entered into the input field of an AI technology, but must be anonymised beforehand. There are exceptions, such as AlpineAI’s SwissGPT solution, which only hosts on Swiss servers and does not use the input for training purposes.
3. dealing with false statements
Unfortunately, it also happens time and again that ChatGPT makes a false statement. The ‘dangerous’ thing about this is that all of the AI’s statements actually appear correct at first glance. Every answer from AI technology must therefore be critically scrutinised and should be checked for accuracy.
Tasks for a mindful start with AI technologies
Not all employees immediately understand the purposes for which they can use the new AI technologies. Others, in turn, cannot yet assess the limits of the technology and may even overdo its use. To help keep the two in balance and to ensure that employees learn how to use AI technologies mindfully and responsibly from the outset, I have created three tasks for you below.
Task 1: AI as a supplement to brainstorming
Tools like ChatGPT are well known for supporting your own brainstorming. This is also known as scaling a person’s cognitive thought processes. AI technologies broaden our horizons and spark new (creative) ideas.
Aim of the task:
Participants learn how AI technologies complement creative and thought processes. They get to know the limits of technology and compare their own human abilities directly with those of artificial intelligence.
Procedure Scenario 1/2:
- Give them a term or topic — for example, ‘topics for a company blog’. All participants then write this term on a large sheet of paper or on a blank Word page or similar.
- They are now challenged to collect their own ideas on the topic and write them on the (digital) sheet within 5–10 minutes.
Procedure scenario 2/2:
- After 5–10 minutes, have the participants repeat the task with an AI technology such as ChatGPT, SwissGPT, Gemini or similar.
- Depending on the participants’ level of knowledge, you can support them in creating prompts or show them a few basic rules for successful prompts before their first entry. You can even find instructions for successful prompts in my blog.
- A possible prompt could be ‘You are a content editor in our B2B company. Our target group is XYZ and we offer XYZ. Give me 10 topic ideas for our company blog that will help us to be found better via Google searches.’
Discussion
In addition to completing the actual task, the discussion is also an important part of this task. The following questions or topics should definitely be discussed:
- Who was more creative: the participants or the AI?
- How useful are the results of the AI?
- For which similar topics or applications can AI technologies be used?
- Where did problems or challenges arise?
- How can the results of the AI be used in regular work processes?
- What security and data protection requirements must be taken into account for this application?
2nd task: Who is more creative — humans or AI?
Aim of the task
The participants get a feel for the creative abilities of AI technologies. They learn how AI technologies might be able to expand and complement existing processes or results in the future.
Procedure Scenario 1/2:
- The participants are asked to write their favourite author or singer on a (digital) sheet.
- In the next step, the employees create a short text section in the style of their favourite artist. This could be the company’s mission statement, for example.
- Participants can complete this task alone or in a small group.
Procedure scenario 2/2:
- Now the participants are to complete the same task with an AI technology, such as ChatGPT. You can also provide a possible prompt: ‘Write the following paragraph on the topic of mission statements in the style of Jane Austen: ….
- Compile the results and discuss in the group:
- What inspiration did the participants get from the exercise?
- What limitations of genAI became apparent? (e.g. English-speaking vs. German-speaking authors)
- Was there over-inventiveness on the part of the AI because it wanted to give us an answer but there was too little input online for the style requested?
Discussion
In addition to completing the actual task, a discussion will follow. The following questions or topics should definitely be discussed:
- Who was more creative: the participant or the AI?
- What were the limitations of the AI technology?
- Where did problems or challenges arise?
- What security and data protection requirements need to be considered for this application?
- For what other creative tasks can AI technology be used mindfully in the future?
3rd task: learning different communication styles with AI
Aim of the task
Employees learn how to communicate with AI technologies. In doing so, they understand how to engage with AI and also solve problems iteratively.
Procedure Scenario 1/2:
- Participants are asked to organise an event and to request help from an AI technology from the outset.
- The following tasks must be solved with the help of the AI technology:
- You have to organise an event of your choice.
- First of all, you need an event agenda for your target group.
- Then you have to send out invitations. Write at least two different invitations, depending on the target group.
- Now it’s time to organise the event. We need a task plan with responsibilities and milestones.
- After the event, the success of the event must be evaluated. How do you do that?
- In the first round, the participants should solve all requirements with exactly one prompt — that is, with one request to the AI technology.
Procedure Scenario 2/2:
- Now the task is to be carried out a second time. This time, however, the participants are allowed to work in steps.
- The employees should ask the AI technology for help with the individual questions step by step.
- If possible, employees should establish a dialogue with the AI and ask the AI technology to improve the individual answers.
Discussion:
Discussion is also a central function in this task. The following questions can be discussed:
- How useful were the results of the AI technology?
- Which type of communication worked better?
- How did you feel in the dialogue with the AI?
- What best practices did you identify during the dialogue with the AI?
- What similar applications for AI technology are there in your professional life?
Success factors for a mindful approach to AI technologies
The tasks listed above make it easier for employees to familiarise themselves with new technical possibilities. However, it is essential that companies recognise that responsible use of AI technologies cannot be taught in the long term through three simple tasks. As a rule, more comprehensive training and education formats are required. Ideally, there should be various content or networking sequences within the company or team that continuously encourage employees to use the technology mindfully and promote interactive exchange with colleagues.
You can read more about this in my article ‘Mindful and responsible use of AI technologies’.
Support for the responsible and mindful use of AI technologies?
I have created a variety of offers, templates and useful links for the responsible and mindful use of AI technologies. Take a look at my page on AI with foresight.
About the offer ‘AI with foresight’
Nothing for you?
Then write me a message with your wishes and questions and we will find an offer for you. Just send me a message via WhatsApp message or via email.
Or join my WhatsApp group — where I regularly post use cases, news, best practices, events and much more about chatbots, ChatGPT and the like.
By the way, this post is also available as a podcast episode
Attention! The podcast was created entirely by my AI assistant based on my post — no guarantee for incorrect content.
