Embrace, Don't Hide: Proudly Using AI to Improve Your Work

Do you use Generative AI tools for your job? Don't be embarrassed or ashamed. Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Bard, Copilot, and others have become invaluable to many professions. They're powerful tools you should be using. But there's a catch: it should never replace your unique voice. You should embrace Generative AI as a tool to augment and enhance your creativity, not replace it. You can use this tool to do your job better and feel good about it. In this article, I'll share insights on how to do just that.

The Power of Generative AI

As the sales pitch goes, Generative AI can write a novel, compose a symphony, or develop software. Generative AI leveraging large language models can generate a ton of cool stuff. But its true value in the workplace is found when it complements human ingenuity. The real power is when it enhances people rather than replaces them.

Many people use ChatGPT and other tools on their job every day. I certainly do. I recently built a video about generative AI tools for software development. I wanted to show off what I've learned in the last year of using tools to generate code for me. I'm very open with my employer and publisher about this (for which I'm writing a book on Generative AI).

"I use generative AI to make this stuff"

I admit it openly and have no shame in saying so. Why? Because I'm not generating new things with it. I'm not creating original works and trying to pawn it off as my own. There's a distinct difference here.

If I told ChatGPT, "Write an article about how to create a large language model in Rust," it could easily do it. I could copy and paste it, put my name on it, and send it off. I could write 50 articles a day on subjects I know nothing about. I win the praise of project managers, and everyone is happy.

That is until I get fired for "writing" too many inaccurate, boring, and pure trash articles. Since I don't know anything about what is being generated, I cannot validate what it says. My peers in the software development industry, highly skeptical of every article being AI-generated now, would pick it out and skewer me over it. It takes years to earn trust and seconds to lose it. This is exactly why you shouldn't do it either.

Instead, I take a set of ideas and write something up. Whether for an article, YouTube video, or part of one of my courses. I write a good first draft straight from my noggin. I write what I know and share my personal experiences. After that first draft, I head over to AI.

A Balanced Approach to AI in Creative Processes

Here is exactly how I use AI tools for videos, presentations, articles, and more.

I go to

• ChatGPT
• Bard
• Claude.ai

and in the prompt, I say something like:

Act as a world-class editor. Evaluate this writing. How is the overall flow? Is there anything unclear? Make suggestions for improvement

Evaluate this as a reader who knows nothing about {subject}. What questions would you have? What parts could use more clarity?

Act as a content marketer. How engaging is this content? What can I do to improve it?

Could you evaluate this writing for clarity, active voice, and tone? Is there a consistent voice?

These prompts help evaluate my words and suggest improvements. After several rounds of reviews, I ended up with a really good product that still sounds like I wrote it, just better.

There are other great uses of Generative AI such as:

• Outlining articles or chapters.
• Creating new ideas for content
• Finding problems people frequently ask about.

These are all things I do with Generative AI, and I don't feel bad about it. It's simply augmenting a tool to do a job faster and better. You can, too.

Software Development and Generative AI

For software development, use the same principles. Build your code. Write with what you know, and if you're unsure, ask Generative AI to explain it. Ask, "Is there a better way to do this?" There almost always is a better way.

Here are some tools I've used that have helped me tremendously.

• Tabnine
• Blackbox AI
• GitHub Copilot

And here's a video where I compare these tools .

Generative AI is a tool, not a crutch.

Your favorite tool isn't a robot to do your job. It's your extremely smart assistant or partner. Leverage it to enhance your natural abilities and help you work better and faster. Don't use it to fool people. Don't use it to generate full products like writing or sales copy. It's obvious and boring anyway. While large language models are great at evaluating text to make sure it's engaging and interesting, it sucks at creating new content that is. You can always spot an AI-generated article.

Generative AI isn't going anywhere. Everyone else is using it; you should, too. Be proud! If you use it properly, there's no reason to hide it. Be open about it and help your coworkers learn ways to leverage it. Help your whole team succeed and build cooler stuff.

If you have any questions about Generative AI, feel free to ask. And I've built a couple of GPTs (ChatGPT assistants) recently for my work that you should check out:

Stick to the Point : a writing editor versed in "Made to Stick" principles

Code Monkey : a code evaluation assistant with a comprehensive set of programming principles.

If you have any questions or comments,, feel free to reach out to me.

-- Jeremy

Note: This is not an AI-generated article. However, I used Claude.AI to review it.