I wanted to write a first introductory blog to explain what’s happening or happened this month. There’s been a lot of talk about AI and there are now a range of options on the market. I thought it would be interesting to join my voice to everybody else. Time to share some thoughts and options on AI Assistants.
First thing (but not the last time) to mention, I have to say I’ve really enjoyed this process!
I decided to be “meta” which is a different way or another way of saying ‘self-referential’ by using the relevant AI assistant to write each blog. As I said, I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s given me an interesting insight into working with them, what they are capable of, and of course prompt engineering.
Prompt engineering
If you’re not sure what this means, let me explain (a bit). It’s the main way that we interact with all of these AI assistants. It’s like an instant message, chatting with them via text.
When you need them to do something you need to give them that information. Ideally in as much detail as possible and that’s called a prompt. Anybody who’s had any experience with engineering, design, technology, or any manufacturing type thing, you know that the first version is not normally very good (a bit like pancakes). We see the flaws and ways that it needs to be improved. So what we do is try again or iterate, until we get to a final product that we’re happy with.
And that’s what we do with the prompts for AI.
You try out a slight tweak to what you did before. Then rinse and repeat. Until you end up either with something that’s exactly what you want, or very similar to it. With the very similar you can then do the final tweaks yourself.
And that’s exactly what I’ve done.
The Proof is in the Blog(s)
What you’re reading in each blog is the end result.
Note: This is only one that I have written without any AI assistance – it’s all me!
In keeping with the theme, I decided to take a copy of all of the prompts that I used, as I was creating each blog and share it with you. So you can see the process that I used in all it’s detail.
AI Assistants List
While there are a lot of options available, I’ve chosen to focus on the ones that I think are most well known.
Which ones have I chosen?
- ChatGPT
- Claude
- Google Gemini
- Microsoft Copilot
- Jasper
The First Prompt
For all of the blogs, I started with the same first prompt:
“Hello, I would like help writing a blog post about using <AI Name>. It needs to be an easy read giving key information about pros and cons of using it and some suggestions to start playing around for small business owners. I’m an IT Trainer with c30 years experience and I like to write in simple terms, easy to understand with a little bit of comedy. Please write it in the first person with English UK spelling.”
The only thing I changed between each AI Assistant is the name, making sure that I used the right name on the relevant platform.
When you’re working across 5 different platforms that took a bit of concentration. 😄
Different Paths
Of course, after that first prompt, each AI went down it’s own path for the content.
Each post has it’s own linked files, which is only on the matching post and can be viewed or copied, free without the need to sign up for anything. You can see each additional prompt I used to change it, to tweak it and follow my process through. I hope that you find all of these interesting and will give whichever AI assistant or assistants a try.
Free AI Guide
Sigh, it’s been a busy period, because I created a new guide (free by signing up to my email list).
This free guide is your personal roadmap to mastering 4 top AI assistants – ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot. Inside, you’ll discover 5 proven strategies to unleash the full power of these incredible tools and transform the way you work. Get ready to boost your productivity and enjoy personalized assistance tailored to your unique needs.
Mastering AI Assistants: 5 Must Know Tips for Effective Collaboration
Happy prompt engineering
Relevant YouTube Videos
Exploring Canva’s AI Magic Write Feature – Is It Worth the Hype?
Can LinkedIn’s AI Rewrite Improve Your Posts? Let’s Find Out (Nov 12)
X’s Grok AI: Why I’m Not Subscribing (Nov 19)
Related AI Posts
AI Assistants Under The Microscope: A Trainer’s Meta-Experience (current post)
ChatGPT: The Ultimate Time-Saving Sidekick for Small Business Owners
Unlock Your Business Potential: A No-Nonsense Guide to Claude AI (20 Nov)
Gemini: Google’s New AI Superpower, Explained Simply (27 Nov)
AI Simplified: How Microsoft Copilot Can Revolutionise Your Small Business (4 Dec)
Boost Your Small Business with Jasper AI: Pros, Cons, and Quick Tips (11 Dec)
Recent Posts
- ChatGPT: The Ultimate Time-Saving Sidekick for Small Business Owners
Hello, fellow small business warriors! Now, unless you’ve been living under a rock (or perhaps buried under a pile of invoices), you’ve probably heard of ChatGPT for business. It’s the AI chatbot people can’t seem to stop talking about. But what can it actually do for you, the small business owner? Let’s break down the… Read more: ChatGPT: The Ultimate Time-Saving Sidekick for Small Business Owners - AI Assistants Under The Microscope: A Trainer’s Meta-Experience
I wanted to write a first introductory blog to explain what’s happening or happened this month. There’s been a lot of talk about AI and there are now a range of options on the market. I thought it would be interesting to join my voice to everybody else. Time to share some thoughts and options… Read more: AI Assistants Under The Microscope: A Trainer’s Meta-Experience - Why virtual desktops are great for screen sharing
When it comes to screen sharing, there’s a really useful feature built into today’s operating systems. Yes, it’s both Windows and Mac – virtual desktops. Let me explain what I mean and how you can use it when screen sharing. What is a Virtual Desktop? A virtual desktop is like having multiple computer screens or… Read more: Why virtual desktops are great for screen sharing - Is your desktop prepared for unexpected screen sharing?
Screen sharing has become a standard part of our working practices, ever since online meetings became the norm. But what about when you get an unexpected screen sharing request? Here are several things to consider before you start the share. Have the apps and/or files already open When you click on the share option, you’ll… Read more: Is your desktop prepared for unexpected screen sharing? - How to Choose Between Window and Full Screen Sharing
With the rise of online meetings, has come the popularity of using the screen sharing option. Whether it’s to show colleagues what you’re working on, or to give advice, or assistance with something. One question that I get asked or there’s confusion about – should I be using a window or full screen? You can… Read more: How to Choose Between Window and Full Screen Sharing
ai assistant experience, ai assistant list, ai assistant for productivity