Today it’s impossible to look at the news, watch TV, or scroll through social media without seeing something about Artificial Intelligence (AI). Conversational AI via a chatbot is no longer a futuristic concept—it's here, and it's transforming the way we live and work. In this blog post, we'll explore how AI Assistants like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, or Google Gemini can revolutionise your daily tasks, making you work smarter, not harder. We'll delve into real-world examples, including practical uses that showcase AI in action.
This blog is based on an AI training webinar delivered as part of the Pivotal Edge Everyday AI Academy, a video recording, which includes live demos of the examples described below, can be viewed on our YouTube channel.
What Is AI and Why Should You Care?
AI isn't a new concept. Since the advent of computers in the mid-20th century, AI has been evolving, helping us solve complex problems and mimic human-like behaviours. From recognising patterns to understanding speech, AI is all about making machines perform tasks that typically require human intelligence.
AI in Everyday Life
You might not realise it, but AI is already a part of your daily routine, it's the behind-the-scenes technology in:
- Navigation Apps: When you use Google Maps or Apple Maps, AI algorithms calculate the fastest route by analysing real-time traffic data.
- Streaming Services: Netflix and Spotify use AI to recommend shows and music based on your preferences.
- Virtual Assistants: Siri and Alexa understand your voice commands and perform tasks, thanks to AI.
So, why is everyone suddenly talking about AI now? The answer lies in Generative AI.
Generative AI: The Game Changer
Generative AI, specifically AI Assistants like ChatGPT, have taken AI to a new level. Unlike traditional AI that is typically used to analyse data and group information or predict numerical values, generative AI can create entirely new content from scratch. It can draft emails, write reports, generate images, and even compose music. Its conversational and human-like interactions make it an invaluable personal assistant.
Real-World Uses: AI in Action
Let's dive into some practical examples of how you can harness the power of AI Assistants like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, or Gemini in your daily tasks. These tools are all very similar in their abilities, the example prompts below will work with any of them.
Supercharging Your Work Efficiency
Imagine you've been handed a 60-page industry report by your boss, and you're tasked with summarising it and creating a presentation. Normally this would take hours of work to read and digest the report and prepare slides, here's how to turn hours into minutes:
Step 1: Summarise the Report
Upload the PDF into the AI Assistant and ask it to summarise the key points. Within seconds, you'll have a concise summary highlighting all the critical information.
Prompt: Summarise this report and tell me what are the key points.
Step 2: Draft an Email to Your Boss
Next, you need to acknowledge receipt of the report and assure your boss that you're on it.
Prompt: Help me write an email to my boss, thanking her for the report and saying that I will get a presentation prepared for her and the team. Her name is Jenny. Include a useful stat that shows I've looked at the report.
Step 3: Create a Presentation Outline
Now, ask the Assistant to help you prepare a five-slide presentation.
Prompt: Help me prepare a 5-slide presentation for her and our team on this report.
Step 4: Review and Improve
Asking the Assistant to review its output and suggest improvements will improve the quality of the final results. (Note - ChatGPT's new "o1-preview" model, released just at the time of writing, is showing great results without the need to review and improve output.)
Prompt: Review what you wrote and suggest improvements you can make.
By iterating through these steps, you've saved hours of work, allowing you to focus on refining the content rather than creating it from scratch.
AI as Your Legal Assistant
Legal documents can be dense and confusing. AI Assistants can help you understand complex terms and conditions, whether it's a mobile contract or a tenancy agreement. While not a replacement for a lawyer, it can help with simple legal tasks that you might not call on a lawyer for.
Example: Understanding Contract Terms
Most mobile phone companies have a copy of their standard terms and conditions on their websites. Say you need to find out a simple piece of information about your rights, AI Assistants can interpret the contract and answer your questions.
Prompt: Review these terms and conditions: [Insert URL to the terms]. I will ask you questions about it.
Now, you can ask specific questions like:
- How do I cancel the contract?
- What happens if I get poor signal?
The Assistant will provide clear answers, often citing the exact sections where the information is located. You can use this with all sorts of contracts and agreements that are published on a website, not just mobile phone contracts.
Example: Deciphering a Tenancy Agreement
Tenancy agreements are complex documents with lots of legal terminology but they contain important obligations and rights on both the landlord and tenant. Unless you're a legal expert, they can be difficult to understand, AI Assistants can help you make sense of complex legal terms to understand your rights and obligations.
Start by uploading the tenancy agreement document into the AI Assistant, this could be in Word, PDF, or other formats.
Prompt: Review this contract and tell me what I need to know.
You can follow up with questions such as:
- How much is the rent?
- Are pets allowed?
- What is the notice period and how do I give notice?
Enhancing Homework and Study Sessions
Whether you're helping your child with homework or learning something new yourself, AI Assistants are an excellent study aid.
Example: Assisting with History Homework
Imagine your 12-year-old is studying the Tudor monarchs. It may be a long time ago that you studied history, here's how to refresh your memory and get up to speed quickly.
Prompt: Help me with my 12-year-old's history homework. He is studying the Tudor monarchs. Summarise the key information on this.
The Assistant provides a concise summary, making it easier to understand and remember key facts.
If they need to preparing for a test, the AI Assistant can act as a tutor asking relevant questions one at a time and provide detailed feedback on the answers given.
Prompt: To help him prepare for a test on this subject, ask me 5 questions one by one and grade the answers.
This interactive approach helps reinforce learning and identifies areas that might need more attention.
Example: Explaining Math Concepts
Similar to the history example, AI Assistants can be used with maths, for example, if fractions are causing confusion:
Prompt: Explain fractions.
The Assistant will break down complex concepts into simple, understandable explanations.
Adult Learning
Perhaps you're a marketing manager wanting to learn how AI can benefit your work.
Prompt: Help me learn how I can use AI at work. Give me a study plan that I can follow.
The AI Assistant can outline a personalised study plan, complete with resources and timelines.
Safety and Best Practices
While AI tools are incredibly powerful, it's essential to use them responsibly.
- Data Privacy: Be cautious about the information you input. Avoid sharing sensitive or confidential data.
- Company Policies: Understand your organisation's guidelines on using AI tools to prevent any compliance issues.
- Review and Edit: Always review the content generated by AI to ensure it aligns with your voice and is free from errors.
Conclusion
AI Assistants like ChatGPT, MS Copilot, Google Gemini, and Claude are more than just technological novelties; they're transformative tools that can make your personal and professional life easier. By embracing AI, you're not just keeping up with the times—you're staying ahead.
These tools are accessible and, in many cases, free to use. So why not start today? Experiment with these tools and discover how it can become your personal assistant, study buddy, or legal advisor.
If you found this blog post helpful, feel free to share it with others. For more insights and tutorials, follow Pivotal Edge AI on LinkedIn and subscribe to our YouTube channel. Our aim is to make AI accessible to everyone!
