Mastering Prompting in Your Business Process

Insights from "The AI Process Playbook for Business"

Hello Friends and Colleagues on LinkedIn,

I'm excited to share some key insights from my upcoming book, "The AI Process Playbook for Business," set to be published by the end of 2024. Today, we'll explore how to effectively integrate AI tools into your business processes for enhanced problem-solving and creativity, complete with a practical example to illustrate these concepts in action.

The Art of Prompting: Maximizing AI Output

To get the best results from generative AI, master these prompting techniques:

1. Adopt a Persona: Set the stage by defining a relevant expert persona for the AI to assume. For example, "You are an engineer with 20 years of experience who specializes in developing new EEG electrodes."
2. Be Specific: Avoid vague instructions. Instead of simply asking to "Summarize the meeting notes," provide a more detailed request: "Summarize the meeting notes in a single paragraph. Then write a markdown list of the speakers and each of their key points. Finally, list the next steps or action items suggested by the speakers, if any."
3. Avoid Negative Examples: Focus on what you want rather than what you don't want. Instead of saying "Do not ask for personal information," rephrase it positively: "The agent should refrain from asking the user for personal information."
4. Use Structured Prompts: Develop a consistent structure that includes: Persona + Goal (Vision and Mission) Context Instructions (task description) Tone Format Your Input

Practical Example: AncientBites Marketing Strategy

Let's walk through how this process might work for a fictional product called AncientBites, a new line of gluten-free crackers made from ancient grains.

1. Problem Definition: How can we increase market share and brand awareness for our new AncientBites crackers in a saturated snack food market?
2. Reverse Brainstorming: We considered how to decrease market share (e.g., use unappealing packaging, ignore health trends) and reduce brand awareness (e.g., don't advertise, use generic branding).
3. Initial AI Interactions: We used AI to generate innovative strategies based on our reverse brainstorming results. Some ideas included creating striking eco-friendly packaging, emphasizing health benefits, and developing engaging marketing campaigns like a "Time Travel Taste Test."
4. SCAMPER Technique: We applied SCAMPER to our product and marketing strategy. For example: Substitute: Replace traditional wheat flour with a blend of ancient grains and seeds Combine: Mix different ancient grains in each cracker for unique textures and flavors Adapt: Create an AncientBites-based cereal line Modify: Offer various sizes for different uses (snacking, dips, etc.) Put to another use: Market crushed AncientBites as a healthy breadcrumb alternative Eliminate: Remove all artificial colors and flavors Reverse: Create a "design your own AncientBites" online platform
5. Mind Mapping: We created a mind map structure for our marketing strategy, including branches for Product Innovation, Target Audience, Brand Positioning, Marketing Channels, Customer Engagement, Partnerships and Collaborations, Distribution Strategy, and Measuring Success.
6. Documentation: Finally, we drafted an executive summary of our AncientBites marketing strategy, synthesizing all the ideas generated through our AI-assisted process.

This example demonstrates how AI can be leveraged throughout the brainstorming and strategy development process, providing fresh perspectives and helping to organize and refine ideas.

Remember, AI is a powerful tool to augment human creativity and expertise, not replace it. The key is to view AI as a collaborative partner in your problem-solving process.

Upcoming AUTM AI Course – For Humans Only

Speaking of AI integration, I'm thrilled to announce that I'll be one of the instructors for AUTM's new 4-week virtual course: "The Future of Tech Transfer: Leveraging AI to Find & Secure Licensing Deals, Research & Find Your Best Company Licensee."

This course is designed to help you harness the power of AI while preserving critical human elements. You'll learn to:

• Challenge assumptions and recognize potential biases in AI-assisted processes
• Create an AI workflow that balances analytical power with critical thinking and human expertise
• Question AI outputs and make more informed decisions
• Understand how your own biases might influence your use of AI tools

By participating, you'll be equipped to leverage AI effectively while maintaining the human-centric approach that's crucial for innovation in tech transfer. You'll learn to use AI as a powerful tool to augment your unstructured brainstorming and decision-making processes, not replace them.

Course Details:

• Dates: October 15 to November 7
• Format: Virtual, allowing for flexible participation

This is your chance to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI-assisted tech transfer. You'll be at the forefront of shaping a more reflective and effective future for our field, one that embraces AI's capabilities while preserving the irreplaceable human touch.

Don't miss out! Spaces are limited, and the price will increase soon. Secure your spot now and invest in your professional growth.

Save my spot now!

I hope these insights have been helpful, for you to apply in a real-world scenario. Stay tuned for more updates on "The AI Process Playbook for Business," and I look forward to seeing some of you in the upcoming AUTM course!

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about integrating AI into your business processes or about the upcoming course. Let's continue to explore the exciting possibilities at the intersection of human creativity and artificial intelligence!