AI and You? Think Before You Do

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"If you can't clearly explain what you want a computer to do, or what you're trying to automate, how can you effectively communicate your needs to the machine?"

Chances are you don't know how, and that's okay.

Working with AI and No-Code has taught me a lot. Most importantly, it has reminded me to communicate better.

That's what I'd love to share with you this week, as we ease into all things AI.

So grab your masala chai or espresso, and take a few minutes exclusively for you.

So, Here are this week's TLDR nuggets:

- Can AI improve how we communicate?

-Free Automation Training with Gareth Pronovost https://www.gapconsulting.io/

?-My latest AI rabbit holes: NoCodeOps by Zapier Cognition prettysim.pl

?-Where to Learn AI: With Pinar Demirdag "Build AI Aptitude in Your Organization"? ?https://bit.ly/3wS0npo

Effective Communication is now a SuperPower

AI is changing everything in tech. Nearly all the apps and gadgets we use these days are either built from the ground up with AI or have added it in.

It's a big deal, and we need to wrap our heads around what that means for us.

Most people by now would have had one or many interactions with AI.

Some of those experiences have left an impression, and others not so much.

This begs the question: Are we effectively communicating with these intelligent systems?

?Anecdote: Setting up My First Automation

I recall my first experience with setting up an automation using Zapier.

I hit an immediate roadblock, in all my excitement, when I couldn't articulate my objectives clearly.

Even with Zapier's handy AI helper, one has to think and take a pause before doing more than ever before.

Why? Now that we have the magic of AI tools at our disposal, it's the other aspects we can't see, like critical thinking and being able to effectively map out your data, that still falls on us.

So take your time and remember: "Touch, pause, engage..." (But keyboard last! ??

?Communication Breakdowns: Common As...

?From annoying customer-in-your-face AI chatbots to text-to-video generation tools, it's easy to blame the tech rather than take an honest look at ourselves.

As so often the fault lies with our lack of clarity and context.

Think about when you first meet someone.

Without any context, how would they know your unique quirks or even what kind of jokes make you laugh?

Thats why context matters so much.

Another Use Case Anecdote: Image Generation Mishaps

?Using tools like Ideogram for image gen, something I do daily has led to less-than-desired outcomes.

As much as I wanna have a go at the makers of the tool, it says everything about the user, ME.

If I wanted the words to be printed on the person's T-shirt in my image, why didn't I clearly specify that in my request?

Similarly, if I was only looking for black-and-white color schemes, where did I mention this preference?

Be specifically specific.

Tip: Not sure how to describe what you want? No worries! Just peek at the ideogram gallery and find a design that speaks to you. Check out the words they used to get that awesome effect and boom - you've now got a starting point!

?The Responsibility of Clear Communication

Whether chatting with Claude or receiving outputs from Gemini, the adage "garbage in, garbage out" rings true.

We must take responsibility for the quality of our communication with AI.

How can we get better? Keep at it. As we say in Yoga: "Your best practice is your daily practice!"

?The Rise of AI Assistants

?The emergence of AI assistants on platforms like Zapier and Canva highlights a shift towards AI guiding us through tasks and offering tailored suggestions.

This trend further reminds us of the importance of clear communication and thoughtful decision-making.

?Thinking: Yes, Even with AI, You Still Have to Think, Guys...

?In our interactions with AI, we're forced to think more than ever before.

Whether building a chatbot or utilizing AI assistants, clear thinking is essential in articulating our needs and objectives.

Even when I am building with No-code tools, and a template is selected, I still have to think:

1. What do I want to create?
2. Who is my audience?
3. Have I created a back-end database?
4. Is this the correct design look and UI I feel I need?
5. Will this project require automation?
6. What tool stack should I use?

?Tip: Don't "over-engineer," as they say in coding, but "Think Before You Do!"

?Embracing Better Communication: The Way Forward

?AI is getting better by the day, and so should the way we communicate.

Sure "prompt engineering" might not be around for much longer, but for now, the way we communicate with AI is by typing out what we want to say in our everyday language.

The clearer and more to the point we are, when explaining to AI what we need, the better it can help us with our work and collaborations.

That's the whole point of AI - to make our lives easier and to get the most out of the tech.

So I'll leave you with my Call to Action:

?Let's view this AI communication journey as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for genuine personal growth and self-improvement.

?My last little story I'd like to share with you...

I've been writing to you since late last year, and it's pretty amazing how far AI has come in such a short time. {This is my 20th Edition, whoop!}

What I have learned is that AI can't read your mind or guess lottery numbers (a pity re lotto numbers hee hee)

But if you're clear about what you need, it can do some really cool stuff.

The key is being a good communicator. Just take a moment to think about what you want to say and how to say it, so AI can help you better.

Basically, a little thought on your end can make a big difference.

Remember to pause and plan before jumping in!

Blessings always,

Nix G

Cape Town

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