Elevating Innovation: The Evolution of Gen AI in My Toolbox

In the dynamic world of Generative AI (Gen AI), the last eighteen months have been revolutionary, marked by rapid advancements and shifts that have reshaped our approach to technology and innovation. Staying ahead of the curve has transitioned from a mere advantage to an absolute necessity.

Reflecting on this transformative period, I've dramatically altered how I leverage Gen AI, leading to significant enhancements in both my professional projects and personal efficiency. From refining prompt engineering to integrating Gen AI into my daily routines for smarter decision-making, here are four key ways I've adapted my approach to harness creativity and inject unparalleled value into every aspect of my life.

1. Enhancing my Prompt Engineering Skills:?

Mastery over prompt engineering has been a game-changer. By engaging in specialised courses and utilising ChatGPT as a personal tutor, I've significantly honed my skills. This comprehensive strategy has drastically improved my communication with AI, yielding more precise, relevant, and creative outputs than ever before.

I've gone from "Please revise this paragraph" to "I want to enhance the clarity and conciseness of the following paragraph, ensuring it communicates my ideas more effectively. The paragraph is part of an article about the critical importance of accessibility in technology. It's crucial that the revision maintains the emphasis on the necessity for inclusive design and the positive impact of making technology accessible to all. I prefer a professional tone but wish to avoid overly technical jargon that could alienate readers not familiar with accessibility terminology. Specifically, I'm concerned about repetitive words and phrases and the overall flow of the paragraph. How can I revise it to make it clearer and more compelling?"

Basically, state your objective, describe the context, highlight any key points, indicate the preferred style and tone, and note any questions or concerns.

Bonus tip - I used ChatGPT to analyse my writing style from various samples, and then customised ChatGPT to mirror that style.

2. Harmonising Tools

Combining different Gen AI tools has helped me unlock new levels of creativity and efficiency. For instance, I use ChatGPT to refine prompts for Midjourney, enhancing the depth and precision of my creative projects. I also look for creative ways to marry analog and digital. Take paper sticky notes, for example. Yes, they still have a place in 2024. By simply capturing a photo of handwritten notes, I digitise and process the text through AI for insight analysis and theme extraction.

Full disclosure, the accuracy of the handwriting recognition and the AI-analysed insights aren't flawless.? But this method serves as an excellent starting point and the efficiency gains are undeniable.

3. Integrating Generative AI into my Daily Routine

Gen AI has not only transformed my professional tasks but also enriched my personal life. Take my morning ritual, for instance, where choosing a workout routine used to consume about 5-10 minutes of my time. On a whim, I asked ChatGPT to design an application to generate suggestions based on my preferences. Within 30 seconds, I received html, javascript, and css files providing endless AI-generated suggestions.

However, my journey with AI recommendations hasn't always been smooth. A year ago, while on a three-month assignment in Kuala Lumpur, I faced the challenge of finding dining options. I used ChatGPT to find restaurants that met my dietary and budget requirements. Initially, the recommendations seemed promising, but I soon discovered many of the suggested places had shut down. This experience taught me the importance of understanding the data sources that Gen AI models, like large language models (LLMs), rely on.

4. Embracing Generative AI as a Collaborator

My approach to using Gen AI has evolved from applying it to specific tasks to integrating it as a constant collaborator. From composing emails to providing instant feedback and advice, Gen AI has become a crucial element in my daily workflow. It consistently ensures that efficiency and creativity are readily accessible, transforming how I navigate my day-to-day activities.

I deliberately describe Gen AI as a "collaborator." I'm not just assigning tasks to AI tools; I'm actively engaging with them to enhance my creativity and productivity. This distinction is critical. For instance, I didn't have ChatGPT write this post for me; instead, I used it to seek feedback and explore alternatives. Even when it misses the mark, it serves as a catalyst for refining my initial thoughts.

Reflecting on my journey with Gen AI over the past eighteen months, it's remarkable to consider the shifts in my behaviour and approach within just a year. Through refining prompt engineering, integrating diverse AI tools for creativity, incorporating AI into my daily life, and actively engaging with AI to enhance decision-making, I've experienced firsthand the boundless potential of this technology. If such significant changes can occur in a year, one can only imagine the possibilities that lie ahead.

#GenAI #Innovation #HumanCenteredDesign #TechnologyTransformation #AIInspiration