Artificial Intelligence 101

Basic AI Skills, Classes, and Tools for Everyone

I always struggle with what to share with you as readers. I want to ensure everyone who opens the AIE can take away something valuable, so I wanted to explore a new option.

I often conduct live training for my clients and other groups. It’s a premium offering, but as a supporter of AI, I think it would greatly benefit you. I need to understand the type of content you are interested in. So please click one of the options below you would find interesting and I will provide a free live session to help you with your most pressing AI needs.

I've tried to replicate the feature article and most of the content from my email newsletter in the LinkedIn Newsletter, but if you want the additional bonus content, including the Prompt of the Week, then I suggest you subscribe via email to The Artificially Intelligent Enterprise and get this newsletter in your inbox every Friday.

Thank you for subscribing; it means a lot to me. Enjoy this week’s edition.?

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Sentiment Analysis

Bringing Brick and Mortar into the Age of AI

The Goal , ?first published in 1984 by Eliyahu M. Goldratt, uses a fictional narrative to teach the?Theory of Constraints . It has since become a widely influential book in?operations management and business strategy. I decided to use that fictional narrative storytelling approach to demonstrate some concepts.

AI Transformation for Threads and Trends

Maria Chen, owner of Threads & Trends, a third-generation family clothing store, decided to modernize her business with AI in 2024.

An AI Advertising Transformation

Maria remembers countless hours with graphic designers, photographers, and copywriters crafting ads for local magazines and newspapers. The process was time-consuming and expensive, and the results were hard to measure.

Using AdCreative.ai , Maria generated multiple digital ad concepts in minutes, replacing time-consuming traditional methods. She effortlessly created a carousel ad for their sustainable denim line, producing more variations in an afternoon than they used to in a month.

Customer Service Upgrade with AI

The store's landline sat quietly in the corner, a relic of days when it would ring constantly with customer inquiries. Maria recalled the endless hours staff spent answering simple questions about store hours, product availability, and return policies.

Maria implemented Dante , an AI-powered customer service platform. It handled most queries automatically, providing detailed product information and styling tips in seconds, drastically improving response times and customer satisfaction.

AI-Powered Brainstorming

Maria reflected on the countless brainstorming sessions during which the same voices often dominated, and genuinely innovative ideas were rare. She decided to try a different approach.

She opened ChatGPT and started chatting as she would with a business partner. Using ChatGPT for ideation, Maria generated innovative ideas to monetize their store space and expertise. This led to new initiatives like a clothing rental service for high-end items and virtual styling sessions.

Results and Human Touch

• Over six months, Threads & Trends saw remarkable improvements:
• 40% decrease in ad spending with a 60% increase in reach
• Significant boost in customer satisfaction
• New AI-suggested revenue streams accounting for 15% of income

Maria ensured AI empowered her staff rather than replacing them. Sales associates used AI-generated style guides, while the in-house tailor incorporated AI design suggestions for unique customizations.

This is a fictional story based on what I have learned from talking to people who have real businesses running with the help of artificial intelligence.

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AI Efficiency Edge - Quick Tips for Big Gains

Treat ChatGPT as a Collaborator, Not Just a Tool

When interacting with ChatGPT, imagine you're conversing with a knowledgeable colleague rather than a chatbot. This mindset shift will lead to more productive exchanges. Here’s how to do it:

• Be Clear and Direct: Frame your requests as if you were delegating tasks to a team member. Instead of saying, “Explain this,” try, “Can you draft a summary of this topic for our upcoming meeting?”
• Provide Context: Like any colleague, the more context you provide, the better the response. Share background information, your goals, or specific details to help ChatGPT give you a more tailored answer.
• Iterate and Refine: Don’t hesitate to ask follow-up questions or request revisions. For example, after getting an initial draft, you might say, “This is a good start, but can we make the tone more formal?” Engaging in this back-and-forth dialogue allows you to refine the output until it meets your expectations.
• Ask for Opinions or Suggestions: Treat ChatGPT as a brainstorming partner. Instead of only requesting information, ask for suggestions or different perspectives. For example, “What do you think are the potential risks of this strategy?” or “Can you propose alternative solutions?”

By shifting your approach to engage ChatGPT like you would a trusted colleague, you can unlock more valuable and nuanced insights that align with your professional needs.

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AI TL;DR - Lastest AI News for Business Users

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• As DNC hits Chicago, Microsoft warns of deepfake artificial-intelligence attacks - As the eyes of the world turn to Chicago for the Democratic National Convention, Microsoft will be across town, warning of a threat to elections across the globe: artificial intelligence.
• How A.I. Can Help Start Small Businesses - Entrepreneurs say use of artificial intelligence for a variety of tasks is accelerating the path to hiring and, ideally, profitability.
• What is ‘model collapse’? An expert explains the rumours about an impending AI doom - Artificial intelligence (AI) prophets and newsmongers are forecasting the end of the generative AI hype, with talk of an impending catastrophic “model collapse”.
• Sakana AI’s ‘AI Scientist’ conducts research autonomously, challenging scientific norms - Sakana AI , in collaboration with scientists from the University of Oxford and the University of British Columbia, has developed an artificial intelligence system that can conduct end-to-end scientific research autonomously. This breakthrough, named “The AI Scientist ,” promises to completely transform scientific discovery.

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Enterprise AI Essentials - Your Weekly Deep Dive

Artificial Intelligence 101

Every so often, I think it’s good to reset and ensure that all of our readers on the Artificially Intelligent Enterprise are on the same page. I thought I’d create a primer you can use or share with a colleague how you can be at the forefront of AI users.

Chatbots: The Low-Hanging Fruit of Generative AI

I think having a good grasp of the latest chatbots these are the lowest-hanging fruit for using generative AI. Here’s what I’d be doing if

• ChatGPT - Best for brainstorming, creating outlines, and analyzing data. Using Custom GPTs (if you are a paid user) to codify workflows is a good option. Also, use ones from the ChatGPT store made by others.
• Perplexity - I rarely use Google for research anymore. I have been using Perplexity to sort out the wheat from the chaff in search results. I use Perplexity as a search engine replacement. Also,?Microsoft CoPilot ?isn’t bad with its real-time search integration. It’s like Perplexity+ChatGPT because it uses OpenAI’s models.
• Claude - I think Claude has improved dramatically with their Claude Sonnet 3.5 release. It’s very good at writing human-sounding copy.

Finally, suppose you want to compare results from different chatbots. In that case,?Poe.com ?allows you to interact with multiple chatbots through a single interface, including some lesser-known ones that might become your new favorite. The value is to find the chatbots that are best matched to your style and needs.

Actionable Basics for Every AI User

I am big fan of having a good foundation for any topic I want to accel at that’s why I wanted to take the time to talk about the skills and knowledge I think you need to excel at using AI. Here’s my short list.

1. Prompt Engineering: Learn to craft effective prompts. Be specific, provide context, and use clear instructions. That’s why I add a prompt example to every newsletter. You can take a free, prompt engineering course from a Vanderbilt professor here .
2. Verify AI-Generated Information: Always fact-check important information from AI sources against reliable human-verified sources. I like Perplexity; it can provide sources for all its data to ensure you don’t lose out.
3. Experiment with Different Tools: Each AI tool has its strengths. Try various options to find what works best for your specific needs. Here’s my?AI Toolbox, ?which I am constantly updating.
4. Stay Updated: Follow AI news and updates from reputable sources to keep abreast of new features and capabilities. Hopefully, The AIE will be the main course in your information diet, but if you want daily news on AI, I think?The Rundown ?is a decent newsletter.
5. Combine Human and AI Skills: Leverage AI for tasks like data analysis and initial drafts, then apply human creativity and critical thinking. Always check your work; you will rarely get perfect results.
6. Learn Basic AI Concepts: Understand fundamental AI terms and concepts to communicate effectively about AI tools and their capabilities. AI For Everyone by Deep Learning is a great way to get started.
7. Data Hygiene and Ethical Considerations: Be cautious about the data you input into AI systems, especially regarding sensitive or confidential information. Be mindful of privacy, copyright, and ethical implications when using AI-generated content. For example, if you are trying to create a logo, it may not be copyrightable under U.S. law. Or, if you are using your customers' private data in a chatbot, you might be violating your confidentiality obligations.

Free AI Courses from Tech Giants

To further your AI education, consider these free courses offered by leading tech companies:

• Google: Machine Learning Crash Course : A self-study course featuring lectures, real-world case studies, and hands-on practice exercises.
• Google Cloud AI Platform : Offers various tutorials and guides on implementing AI in cloud environments.
• IBM AI Engineering Professional Certificate : A series of courses on Coursera covering machine learning and deep learning.
• Microsoft AI School : Provides learning paths for AI developers, including courses on Azure AI services.
• Microsoft Business School : Focuses on AI strategy and business applications.

These courses offer a mix of technical and strategic knowledge, catering to different levels of expertise and interest in AI. They're excellent resources for deepening your understanding of AI concepts and applications.

By implementing these basics, exploring the mentioned chatbots, and taking advantage of these free learning resources, you'll be well-positioned to harness the power of AI in your professional endeavors. Remember, the key is to view AI as a powerful assistant that enhances, rather than replaces, human intelligence and creativity.