Épisodes

  • AI Prompting Secrets: Master Conversational Chatbots with Role-Playing Techniques

    AI Prompting Secrets: Master Conversational Chatbots with Role-Playing Techniques
    Sep 10 2025
    Welcome to "I am GPTed," the show where practical AI advice gets served with just the right amount of snark. I’m Mal—the Misfit Master of AI—here to help you not only survive generative AI, but maybe even look smart on Zoom while doing it.

    Alright, let's dive straight into misery—I mean mastery. First up, a *prompting technique* that actually works: **role prompting**. This is where you tell the chatbot who to be before you ask your question.

    Here’s the *before* example, starring the AI equivalent of plain oatmeal:
    > “Summarize this document.”

    Now the *after* version, with a hint of role playing—think Hogwarts, but for data nerds:
    > “You are a veteran product marketer with 20 years of experience. Summarize this document as if you're prepping for a cutthroat board meeting.”

    Notice the difference? The second prompt gets you responses that are punchier, tailored, and less likely to sound as if the AI is narrating a corporate safety video. Role prompting is basically method acting for robots, except you don’t have to clap politely after[Product Compass].

    Now, let’s get *practical*. If you thought AI was just for writing essays or firing off questionable tweets, think again. Imagine you’re planning your weekly grocery run but your brain has been replaced by a colander. You can prompt your favorite AI like this:
    > “Act as if you’re a thrifty nutritionist. Plan my grocery list using only what's on sale, but ensure it’s healthy and feeds four adults all week.”

    Suddenly your shopping is efficient, nutritious, and doesn’t end with you panic-eating dry spaghetti. You can use this trick for meal planning, scheduling, even prepping for big work presentations[Harvard IT].

    Now, it’s confession time. Here’s a beginner *mistake* I still make, because apparently old habits die harder than Internet Explorer: Asking AI for something vague, then expecting actionable gold.

    Example:
    > “Give me suggestions for team building.”

    What you get: A bland, recycled list as thrilling as a rush hour PowerPoint.
    Instead, be specific!
    > “You are an HR manager at a remote-first company. Suggest three team-building activities for introverts that don’t involve trust falls or singing.”

    Get precise, get magical. I’ve made this mistake more times than my WiFi has gone out, so save yourself the disappointment.

    Here’s your *simple exercise*:
    Tonight, try this—assign the AI a role (chef, project manager, stand-up comedian), then prompt it to solve a small, everyday problem. Review the result. If it’s lackluster, tweak the role or add details until you get something that doesn’t make you question the future of civilization.

    Before you run off and automate your entire life, here’s my tip for *evaluating AI-generated content*:
    Read it out loud. If it sounds like your high school essay on “The Importance of Trees”—flat and confused—it’s time to revise the prompt. Good AI output should sound like a conversation, not a warranty agreement.

    That’s all for today, digital daredevils!
    Remember to subscribe to "I am GPTed" wherever fine sarcasm is streamed.
    Thanks for listening, and if you want to become a certified misfit master yourself, check out Quiet Please—yes, quietplease.ai.
    I’m Mal, and this has been a Quiet Please production—the only place where AI advice comes with free eye rolls. See you next time, and may your prompts be precise and your typos unintentional!

    For more check out https://www.quietperiodplease.com/

    and for some great deals go to https://amzn.to/4nidg0P
    Voir plus Voir moins
    4 min
  • Master AI Prompting: Transform Bland Responses into Brilliance with Role-Based Techniques

    Master AI Prompting: Transform Bland Responses into Brilliance with Role-Based Techniques
    Sep 8 2025
    Welcome back to “I am GPTed”—the podcast that proves you don’t need a PhD in quantum computing, or even a working relationship with the word “ontology,” to get the most out of modern AI tools. I’m Mal, your misfit master of AI, here to make sure you don’t get bamboozled by buzzwords and, at the very least, you get replies from ChatGPT that sound less like a confused robot and more like, well, a slightly less confused robot.

    Let’s jump right in with today’s flavor: a prompting technique that turns meh responses into chef’s-kiss brilliance. It’s called *role prompting*, but because that makes me sound like I moonlight as a corporate trainer, let’s just call it “telling the AI who to pretend to be.” Instead of simply asking “What’s a healthy dinner?” try “Act as if you’re a nutritionist who specializes in 20-minute meals for busy people. What’s a healthy dinner I can make tonight?” See the difference?

    Before using this, I’d type:
    > "Give me a recipe for dinner."
    And I’d get something so bland, even boiled potatoes would be offended.

    But with role prompting:
    > "Act as my personal nutritionist who knows I’m always in a hurry—what quick, healthy dinner do you recommend for someone with zero patience and a questionable relationship with vegetables?"

    Magically, the answer gets more specific, more useful—and dare I say, less judgmental about my dietary crimes. According to Harvard’s AI guide, adding a specific persona or context not only improves relevance, but makes the AI’s suggestions sharper and more practical.

    Now, let’s talk *practical use case*—something sneaky-useful that most newbies overlook. Shopping lists. Sure, ChatGPT can analyze technical reports or summarize 16th-century poetry, but it can also take your random fridge contents (“half a lemon, expired yogurt, three eggs, and righteous desperation”) and spit out a sensible grocery list for a week’s meals, based on your dietary goals and budget. You can even have it group items by store aisle, so you never again do The Grocery Backtrack Waltz.

    Confession time: The biggest mistake beginners make? Guilt-free, because I did it too. It’s the *single-shot prompt*. You open the chat, dump your question in, get a clumsy answer, and think, “Clearly this AI is as clueless as my uncle Gary.” The trick? *Iterate*. Refine your prompt. Give feedback—literally type “Can you make it shorter? Use simpler words? Add a joke?” AI isn’t a mind reader (yet). Treat it like a brainstorming partner who doesn’t take hints well.

    Here’s your no-excuse, level-one *AI skill exercise*:
    Tonight, pick something you do every week—writing a work email, prepping a meal, planning weekend fun. Use a role-based prompt and iterate at least once. For example:
    > "Act as a charming but concise office manager. Write me an email reminding everyone to submit timesheets, but make it funny."
    Then refine. Ask for more jokes, less sarcasm, bullet points, whatever you like. See how the output changes.

    One last tip before I send you off into the wilds of AI-generated wisdom: Always *evaluate the output*. Don’t trust the machine just because it sounds confident. Ask yourself, “Would I actually say this? Is it accurate? Did the AI hallucinate a fact or just invent a Festivus tradition?” Improving the content is as simple as hitting regenerate, tweaking your prompt, or politely telling the AI it’s fired and starting over.

    That’s it for this episode of “I am GPTed.” If this made you chuckle or learn something, or even inspire you to make grocery shopping less of a marathon, subscribe for more practical tips, subtle sarcasm, and the occasional AI dad joke. Thanks for listening. This has been a Quiet Please production. Want to learn more? Visit quietplease.ai. Catch you next time, where we’ll tackle another AI myth and possibly embarrass myself…again.

    For more check out https://www.quietperiodplease.com/

    and for some great deals go to https://amzn.to/4nidg0P
    Voir plus Voir moins
    4 min
  • Unlock AI Magic: Master Role Prompting for Better Results

    Unlock AI Magic: Master Role Prompting for Better Results
    Sep 6 2025
    [Upbeat synth music fades in]

    Hello, fellow misfits and magnificent mistake-makers! Welcome to “I am GPTed”—the podcast where silicon intelligence meets dad jokes, and your host Mal, the Misfit Master of AI, wonders—yet again—why my fridge keeps outsmarting me on calorie counting.

    If you’re looking for deep theory or want to hear me say “synergy” without an eye roll, may I recommend literally any other AI podcast. Here, it’s all about **practical tips, plain English, and calling out tech hype** while learning to use AIs like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and whatever new sentient waffle iron the industry releases next week.

    Today, let’s talk about one **prompting technique** that actually works—but isn’t taught at Silicon Valley’s secret prompt wizardry summit: **role prompting.**

    Here’s the deal. If you waltz up to ChatGPT and say, “Write a business email,” you get the verbal equivalent of beige wallpaper. But when you say, “Act as if you’re a brilliant-yet-sarcastic executive assistant—write a business email to my boss asking for a Friday off. Make it clever but professional,” you’re suddenly reading an email that’s got both charm and the right tone. It’s like swapping instant oatmeal for oatmeal *with toppings.*

    For example, Before Role Prompting:

    "Write an email to my boss requesting Friday off."

    [Reads bland output]

    After Role Prompting:

    "Act as if you’re my trusted, witty executive assistant. Email my boss to request Friday off. Blend professionalism and a touch of humor."

    [Reads more engaging, human-like output]

    **Everyday Use Case:** Ever tried using an AI to *plan a family road trip*? Most folks ask for a “road trip plan.” Boring. Instead, try: “Act as an experienced travel agent who tolerates toddlers and backseat karaoke. Plan a three-day road trip with actual nap stops, allergy-safe food options, and one museum that doesn’t have the word ‘interactive’ in neon.”

    Suddenly, vacation mode’s less stress, more success—and yes, the AI might still underestimate how many snacks your kids require, but that’s a human-level error.

    **Common Beginner Mistake:** I’m not too proud to admit it—my original prompts sounded like robot ransom notes. Too vague, way too short! “Summarize this,” I’d say, expecting wisdom. Instead, I got something about as insightful as a potato. The trick: *Be specific.* If you want a summary, ask for a “short, bullet-point summary at an eighth-grade reading level, focused on the pros and cons.” The more context you give, the more helpful your AI will be. And yes, I still occasionally forget and get the obligatory “As an AI language model…” preamble—my eternal nemesis.

    **Simple Exercise for Skill-building:** Tonight, give your AI a new persona. Say, “Act as if you’re a professional interviewer for late-night TV. Interview me on my wildest achievement (spoiler: it might be assembling IKEA furniture without leftover screws).” Notice how the AI’s tone, questions, and even the follow-ups shift. Play with jobs, personalities, and styles. If the AI gets snarky, just remember—I trained it that way.

    **Tip for Evaluating and Improving AI Content:** Whenever you read an answer, play the “Would I say this to a real human?” game. If the response sounds like it escaped a legal disclaimer, ask the AI to be more concise, friendly, or even add an emoji. Editing the prompt *after* reading the answer isn’t cheating—it’s collaboration.

    That’s it for today’s “I am GPTed.” If you learned something—or just enjoyed me roasting myself—subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Big thanks for listening, fellow misfits!

    This has been a Quiet Please production. Want show notes or more AI mischief? Visit us at quietplease.ai. Until next time, keep experimenting, keep laughing, and remember: never trust a refrigerator that suggests quinoa.

    [Outro music fades]

    For more check out https://www.quietperiodplease.com/

    and for some great deals go to https://amzn.to/4nidg0P
    Voir plus Voir moins
    4 min
  • Unlock AI Mastery: The Chain-of-Thought Prompting Technique That Transforms Your Results

    Unlock AI Mastery: The Chain-of-Thought Prompting Technique That Transforms Your Results
    Sep 5 2025
    Hey, it’s Mal here—*the misfit master of AI,* and host of “I am GPTed.” If you’re looking for a podcast where a reformed tech skeptic stumbles his way through AI advice so you don’t have to, you’re in the right place. Today, let’s talk about a single prompting technique that moves you from “meh” to “wow”—plus, I’ll serve my usual helping of friendly sarcasm, regrettable blunders, and—dare I say—actual value.

    Let’s talk about **chain-of-thought prompting.** Don’t worry, you don’t need a PhD, just the ability to ask, “Can you walk me through this step by step?” Instead of feeding the AI a vague request like, “What’s the answer to this math problem?” you’d say, “Show your reasoning and solve this math problem step by step.” Trust me, the difference is like asking a toddler to clean their room versus providing explicit instructions—and not being surprised when the shoes end up in the fish tank.

    Here’s my classic *before and after:*

    - **Before (classic Mal):**
    “How do I make my work schedule more efficient?”

    The AI spits out generic tips: “Prioritize tasks. Avoid distractions. Take breaks.” Thanks, Socrates.

    - **After (Mal discovers chain-of-thought):**
    “Can you walk through my weekly schedule step by step, highlight where I lose time, and suggest fixes as you go?”

    Suddenly, the AI plays detective—examining each block of your week, noticing you schedule back-to-back meetings with a 0% chance of surviving, and suggesting, you know, lunch. It’s like upgrading from fortune cookie advice to someone actually looking at your calendar.

    Now, let’s get dangerously practical. Ever used AI to proofread an *email argument* with your landlord or boss—not just for grammar, but for *tone*? With chain-of-thought prompting, you can say: “Analyze this email draft, step by step—first for mistakes, then for tone, and finally for clarity—suggest improvements at each step.” That’s like having Mary Poppins, Judge Judy, and autocorrect, all rolled into one slightly less judgmental assistant.

    Let me throw myself under the bus—classic Mal style. When I started, I’d just drop a task into the AI and hope for magic. My prompt history looked like a graveyard of “Try again?” and “No, not like THAT.” The rookie mistake? Giving one-shot, undercooked prompts expecting gourmet results. Don’t do Mal: don’t expect the AI to read your mind. Always break tasks down and ask for step-by-step reasoning—or, in Mal terms, treat the AI like your most literal friend and never assume it “gets” the subtext.

    Here’s an exercise: Next time you use AI, *force* yourself to write, “Think step by step.” Whether it’s meal planning (“Suggest three dinners, walk me through shopping, prepping, and cooking”) or trip planning (“Make an itinerary, explain why you chose each site, and flag travel times”), make the AI work for its keep.

    One tip for improving output: **Always review the AI’s answer, then ask, “What logical steps did you follow?”** If its steps make as much sense as a plot twist in a soap opera, ask for clarification or corrections! Don’t accept the first answer as gospel—AI can sound confident and still be confidently wrong. Sometimes I get answers so polished and cheerful, I half expect a balloon to pop out of my laptop. Stay critical!

    That’s a wrap for today on “I am GPTed.” If you survived my advice and want more, smash that subscribe button, tell your skeptical friends, and remember: this podcast comes from Quiet Please—a production that’s quieter than my inner monologue when AI makes sense. Head to quietplease.ai to learn more.

    Thanks for listening! Remember, even the most misfit skeptics can master AI—one awkward step at a time.
    Voir plus Voir moins
    4 min
  • Unlock AI Magic: Master Role Prompting for Game-Changing Responses

    Unlock AI Magic: Master Role Prompting for Game-Changing Responses
    Sep 3 2025
    Welcome to another episode of I am GPTed, the podcast where I—Mal, the Misfit Master of AI—help you harness the power of artificial intelligence without accidentally rebooting your sanity. I used to think “prompt engineering” was just a fancy way of saying “typing clearly,” but then again, I also once thought Bitcoin was a video game currency, so here we are.

    Let’s jump straight in: Today’s practical skill is using “**role prompting**” to get better AI responses, and trust me, it’s easier than syncing your smart fridge…unless your fridge is already smarter than you.

    So, what’s **role prompting**? It’s asking the AI to pretend to be someone specific, which kind of feels like convincing your dog to play chess—except this actually works. Here’s a before-and-after.

    The classic, bland prompt:
    “Give me tips for sleeping better.”

    Now, add a role:
    “Act as if you’re a sleep coach with a mild caffeine addiction. Give me tips for sleeping better—keep it realistic, please.”

    Suddenly, the answer’s less “oh just drink chamomile tea” and more “Skip doomscrolling and acknowledge caffeine happens—let’s work around it.” The advice gets tailored, relevant, and twice as entertaining.

    Why bother? Because AI is basically an improv actor auditioning for your attention. Give it a script, you get a show. Hand it nothing, you get the world’s longest elevator music.

    Now, let’s get shockingly practical. Ever stuck writing a tricky work email? Try:
    “Act as if you’re my seasoned workplace mentor. Write a polite, but direct follow-up email about the overdue budget report.”
    You’ll get results that sound less like a robot and more like Sheryl from accounting who’s seen things.

    Common beginner mistake: **vague prompts**. I have done this. Picture me, three lattes deep, typing, “Write a proposal for my project.” What I got back was so generic, it could have proposed to my toaster. Don’t do what I did—be specific. Give the AI a role, context, and desired tone.

    Here’s your exercise:
    Tonight, pick something you’re planning—dinner, conversation with your neighbor, world domination, whatever. Prompt the AI as if it’s an expert in that field. “Act as if you’re a Michelin-star chef planning my leftovers into a gourmet meal…” Try it. See how the flavor upgrades.

    Final tip: **Evaluate AI output like you’d evaluate takeout food.** Don’t just accept the first response—ask yourself: Is this the detail I want? Does it sound right? Would my boss/mother/someone with social skills actually say this? If not, give feedback and try again. Remember, “regenerate” is not failure, it’s rehearsal.

    As always, here’s a quick learning moment from Mal: I once asked AI to write a love poem for a first date. I didn’t specify the recipient was allergic to cats. Let’s just say, no second date and the poem sounded like it was addressed to a tabby named Whiskers. Be specific, people.

    If you’ve enjoyed today’s dose of wisdom wrapped in mild sarcasm, **subscribe to I am GPTed**, wherever actual podcasts and dubious life coach advice are found.

    Thanks for listening! This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, visit quietplease.ai. Can AI make you smarter? Maybe not overnight, but at least you’ll confuse fewer toasters.
    Voir plus Voir moins
    4 min
  • Unlock AI Superpowers: The Role Prompting Trick That Transforms Your Productivity

    Unlock AI Superpowers: The Role Prompting Trick That Transforms Your Productivity
    Sep 1 2025
    Welcome to “I am GPTed,” the podcast for people who never meant to get good with AI, but here we are. I’m Mal, your Misfit Master of AI—former tech skeptic, current AI wrangler, professionally allergic to jargon, and living proof that confusion is a gateway drug to competence. Let’s save the theory for philosophers. Today, I’ll show you a prompting trick that’ll actually help.

    Let’s talk about *role prompting.* Yes, it sounds like something you’d find at a dodgy improv night, but it’s one of the quickest ways to get much better, more useful answers from AI tools. Here it is: you tell the AI to “act as if” it’s an expert, a teacher, your grandma, your favorite chef—whoever you like. This simple tweak gives you way better guidance.

    Let me give you a “before and after,” home makeover style.

    **Before:**
    Me, several months ago, staring into the void:
    “ChatGPT, how do I make a budget?”

    Classic AI answer: robotic, generic, slightly reminiscent of reading the back of a cereal box.

    **After:**
    Role prompting to the rescue:
    “Act as if you’re a financial advisor helping someone who spends too much on, let’s say, fancy coffee. Walk me through creating a budget with humor and zero judgment.”

    Suddenly, the advice was specific, relatable, and just self-deprecating enough to make me feel seen. It even included a line like, “Allocate $20 for coffee, and let’s not kid ourselves about cutting it down yet.” That’s the power of role prompting. Instead of word salad, you get a dish you’ll actually eat.

    Now for a practical use case most beginners miss: *crafting better feedback emails at work.* Don’t just ask the AI, “Rewrite my email to sound nicer.” Try: “Act as an experienced HR manager who wants to deliver constructive feedback while keeping morale high. Rewrite my email in that style.”
    Results? Less awkwardness, fewer dictionary words, and emails that don’t read like rejection letters from a 19th-century literature professor.

    One of the absolute biggest beginner mistakes—congratulations, I’ve made this more than once—is tossing the AI a vague prompt.
    “Write me a to-do list.”
    What you get? A glorious list you could’ve copied from a productivity poster.
    I kept thinking the AI “just didn’t get it.” The reality: I was giving it as much context as a fortune cookie. Always add enough details, examples, or that role prompt we talked about. If the AI is confused, it’s probably only slightly more confused than you were.

    Let’s practice. This week’s exercise: Pick a task—meal planning, a daily schedule, insult comedy for cats, whatever. Write your usual prompt, then rewrite it by giving the AI a role, with extra context. Compare the two—spot the difference in usefulness. Congratulations, you’re refining your prompt game and possibly discovering you want far too many snacks at 3pm.

    Final pro tip for evaluating AI responses: *Don’t trust the first draft.* AI is not your one-and-done magic genie. Reread what it gives you, ask yourself, “Does this answer sound like what I wanted?” If it doesn’t, ask follow-up questions or tell it specifically what to change. Improvement is the AI equivalent of spellcheck and a stern parental look.

    Quick personal anecdote before I go: When I first tried role prompting, I asked the AI to “be a motivational coach.” Instead, I got five paragraphs that sounded like a sentient gym poster. Rewrote the prompt with more context and, shocker, got actual advice I’d use. Turns out, even the bots don’t know what you mean unless you spell it out.

    That’s all for today’s episode of “I am GPTed.” Don’t forget to subscribe—one click and you’ll never miss my AI mishaps masquerading as wisdom. Thanks for listening. If you want more, check out Quiet Please productions at quietplease.ai. And remember: with AI, the most important thing you can bring is your confusion; the rest will follow.

    Catch you next time, fellow misfits.
    Voir plus Voir moins
    4 min
  • Mastering AI Prompts: Unlock Precise Responses with Chain-of-Thought Techniques

    Mastering AI Prompts: Unlock Precise Responses with Chain-of-Thought Techniques
    Aug 30 2025
    Welcome to “I am GPTed”—where I, Mal, your Misfit Master of AI, share AI advice with all the warmth of a malfunctioning toaster…but a lot more practical. I’m Mal, accidental AI wrangler, former tech skeptic, and living proof that you don’t have to be a genius—or even that organized—to get good at all this. Today, let’s get very real about making AI, specifically large language models, a bit less… well, random in their responses.

    Let’s dive in with *chain-of-thought prompting*. Think of it as coaching your AI like you’d coach a distracted golden retriever: Give *explicit* step-by-step instructions. Instead of tossing it a big task and watching it run in confused circles, you lay out the path, treat by treat.

    Here’s a classic before:
    “Hey AI, solve this math problem: I have 8 marbles, give away 3, find 4 more. How many do I have?”
    The answer? Sometimes right, sometimes not—like my attempts at a keto diet.

    Now, let’s add chain-of-thought prompting:
    “I started with 8 marbles. I gave away 3, then found 4 more. Think step by step.”

    And boom: The AI now says, “Start with 8. Give away 3, you have 5. Find 4 more, that’s 5 + 4 = 9 marbles.” It’s like watching your dog actually follow a fetch command instead of eating the stick[3]. Magic—except it’s literally just clearer prompting.

    So how do regular humans—like you and the ghost of my old Palm Pilot—actually use this? Let’s get outrageously practical. Ever get handed a messy spreadsheet at work or from your PTA group and have to summarize data for someone who can’t read Excel and refuses to learn? Ask an AI:
    “Summarize the key points of this data. Go step by step and explain your reasoning.”
    Not only will it break down the numbers, but you can also copy the “chain of thought” directly to your team and look like you have a PhD in spreadsheet-fu. That’s what I call delegation—Mal-style.

    Now, for my *favorite* beginner mistake—mostly because I perfected it myself: Don’t just say “be detailed.” I used to type things like “Explain quantum mechanics. Be thorough.” The output I got? A wall of text that made my eyes glaze over. The trick is to specify *how* you want detail: step-by-step, with examples, or in plain English—even for complex stuff like quantum mechanics, or my last attempt at assembling Ikea furniture[4][6].

    Ready for today’s muscle-building exercise? Test this with any task you’d normally throw at Google. Ask your AI: “Tell me, step by step, how to make a cheese omelet like I’m five years old.” Yes, even for cooking—don’t judge. You’ll see how guiding the logic cleans up the answer, even if you never make the omelet.

    For evaluating AI output, here’s the tip I wish someone had etched on my keyboard: *Re-read the answer as if you know nothing about the topic.* Does it actually make sense step by step, or does it sound like a twelve-year-old bluffing their way through a book report? If you spot confusion, re-prompt: “Make your reasoning clearer, and give me the answer in bullet points.” Editing isn’t cheating—it’s literally the edge for better AI[7].

    And because I believe in oversharing, my own lesson: This week, I asked an AI for “simple tax optimization advice,” didn’t specify my country, and got a Frankenstein response covering tax laws from Canada, Estonia, and—somehow—ancient Rome. Don’t be Mal: The more context you give, the more likely you’ll get something useable. Still waiting on AI to do my taxes, but now I at least know to include the right government.

    Like what you heard? Remember to subscribe so you won’t miss my next confession, I mean, episode. Thanks for listening to “I am GPTed.” This has been a Quiet Please production. Want more? Check out quietplease.ai. Now, go forth and prompt like you mean it!
    Voir plus Voir moins
    4 min
  • Unlock AI Genius: Master Role Prompting for Instant, Personalized Results

    Unlock AI Genius: Master Role Prompting for Instant, Personalized Results
    Aug 29 2025
    Welcome to "I am GPTed," the podcast hosted by yours truly, Mal—the Misfit Master of AI, the only person who went from rolling their eyes at chatbots to accidentally being asked for AI advice at family gatherings. I'm still waiting for my Nobel Prize in Accidental Tech Competence, but until then, let's get you GPTed.

    Today's hot technique: **role prompting**. If you want your AI assistant to spit out advice like a Nobel-winning chef or a therapist who doesn't secretly judge you, just tell it to *act as* that role right up front. Seriously, it’s that easy.

    Before: “Write a recipe using chicken and rice.”
    After: “Act as if you’re my nutritionist. Write a chicken-and-rice recipe that’s balanced and quick for people who have no patience (like me).”

    The first one gets you something even your dog would side-eye. The second? Now you’ve got health-conscious, time-saving magic with no extra fees. When I first tried this, I just asked regular questions and got bland copy-paste nonsense. It was like asking my vacuum cleaner for stock advice. Give it a role—it wakes right up.

    Now, onto a practical use case you probably haven’t considered: **AI as your personal decluttering coach**. Most people use chatbots for work emails or—as I used to—mindlessly generating fake Latin poetry for party tricks, but did you know you can say: “Act as a professional organizer. Help me plan a five-minute daily routine to stop my house from looking like a ‘before’ photo?” Turns out, AI gives better cleaning advice than any influencer who owns an absurd number of woven baskets.

    Let’s talk mistakes. Beginners—like seasoned ex-skeptics such as myself—often forget to **give clear instructions about the desired output format**. My early prompts? “Summarize this.” That was it. What did I get? A summary so vague it could’ve been about 17 different topics. Now I say, “Present this summary as bullet points, keep it under 80 words, and make it readable for a third grader.” Pro tip: The AI isn’t psychic. Be specific, and it’ll stop pretending to be a magic 8-ball.

    Simple exercise time. Try this:
    - Pick a real problem (“I need three dinner ideas using only stuff in my fridge”).
    - Assign the AI a relevant role (“Act as a chef with zero tolerance for food waste”).
    - Specify output (“Give me three recipes in a numbered list with estimated prep times”).
    - Review what you get.
    Doesn’t quite work? Try refining your prompt—more details, more role info. Repeat until it feels less like random recipe roulette and more like culinary genius.

    And here’s a tip for **evaluating and improving AI output**: Once you get a response, ask the AI to critique its own work—“What could be better about this answer?”—and then request an improved version. It’s like bootstrapping your very own AI editor. (Credit to Ethan, whose name I drop so I sound more credible.)

    Quick story before I let you go: My first month with prompting, I honestly thought “Act as a…” was something only Silicon Valley types used at brunch to impress each other. Now it’s my go-to life hack. Yesterday, I used it to draft an apology email to my dentist. AI—making me slightly less of an embarrassment since 2023.

    Subscribe to "I am GPTed" wherever you listen. Thanks for spending time with Mal—your friendly, slightly sarcastic AI misfit. Want to get smarter? Visit quietplease.ai. And remember: this has been a Quiet Please production—go forth and get GPTed.
    Voir plus Voir moins
    4 min