“AI” is a popular topic these days. This series of blogs is a brief introduction to what AI is, why it matters, and ways to help keep you and your information safe.
Artificial Intelligence is everywhere these days. If you want to try it out to become more comfortable with the software, you can use ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Copilot, or Google’s Gemini for free and without signing up for an account. There are limitations—you have to be logged in to create images, and you can only ask so many questions a day without an account—but if you just want to see if it can help you, these are free options.
Here are some popular uses for AI
- Draft an email, cover letter, or other written project.
- Check your grammar and tone of voice for drafts you write.
- Brainstorm ideas for work or home.
- Help with planning for meals, or meeting fitness, cleaning, or other personal goals.
How To
It can be intimidating to start using a chatbot. Here are some tips for crafting a prompt to help you get the most out of using one.
- Have a clear goal in mind for what you want the AI to do or create.
- Put in as much context as you can. If you put in specific information, you’re more likely to get helpful responses. “I want to figure out what to cook for dinner based on what’s in my fridge.”
- Tell it exactly what you want it to do. “Create a spreadsheet from this list of groceries, using these categories.” Then list the categories.
- If you’re working on a draft of a cover letter or other writing project, tell the AI who your audience is. For example: “write this for an audience of hiring professionals,” or “use casual language for a beginner audience.”
Things to Consider
Once information is added to AI, there is no way to take it out again. When creating prompts, avoid giving it personal identifying information. This can be your personal information, or someone else’s.
- Don’t give it your name, address, social security number, credit card numbers, or anything else that is sensitive.
- Don’t put in anyone else’s sensitive information.
- If you’re using AI for work, check to see if your company has best practices or things not to put into an AI.
- Always double check anything an AI creates to make sure its response is helpful and accurate. Sometimes it isn’t.
It’s also good to keep in mind that popular depictions of AI in fiction are just that: fiction. AI can’t solve every problem, but because it’s becoming such a popular tool, trying it out can help you feel more comfortable with it. If you want some fictional takes on AI, try these books.
Nanomachines, cyborgs, artificial intelligence and more! From the contemporary to the far-flung future, check out one of today's hot topics of the real world in a fictional format.
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