# How to Get Started Using AI: 10 Real Ways AI Helps Me Work Smarter Source: https://humanspark.ai/how-to-get-started-using-ai/ ## The hardest part about AI isn't using it - it's knowing what to use it for. Here's my tip: don't start with AI prompts or tools - start with where your work feels stuck. That's where AI can help you today. - Why AI works best when used to solve specific workflow problems - 10 friction points where AI genuinely improves your work - Real-world example of using AI from chaos to clarity You don't need a 200-prompt template pack or another list of generic AI instructions. What you need is clarity on where your work gets stuck. AI has become a force behind my productivity - not because I use it for everything, but because I use it specifically for the messy parts of my workflow where I traditionally struggle. I don't use AI to take over my work. I use it as a thinking partner. Instead of treating AI as a writing tool or question-answering machine, I've built a collection of thinking partners that help me navigate the messy middle of creative and strategic work - the space between raw ideas and finished products. ## The 10 Specific Tasks Where AI Actually Helps Me I organise by friction points, not tools: Shaping ideas - turning rambling thoughts into structured outlines Analysing messy input - making sense of transcripts, notes, and research Refining drafts - improving flow and clarity while keeping my voice Creating audience profiles - building target reader/customer personas Checking accuracy - extracting claims for verification Writing support content - quick blurbs, emails, summaries, proposals Keeping me on task - managing priorities and follow-through Making decisions clearer - framing trade-offs and structuring options Shortening and simplifying - cutting words without losing meaning Formatting output - prepping content for different platforms The most valuable use case? Turning mess into clarity. ## My Actual Process: From Chaos to Coherence Let me walk you through a typical writing workflow: 1. I start with chaos - unstructured voice notes or rambling thoughts 2. AI helps transform this raw material into a rough outline 3. I do another round of expansion and thinking 4. AI helps organise this new material using my tone guidelines 5. I manually edit and finalise everything This works because the AI isn't writing for me - it's helping me think more clearly while maintaining my voice. ## Custom AI Tools I've Built for Specific Problems I've created several purpose-built AI tools that address specific friction points: **For writing challenges:** - A developmental editor that identifies weak structure - A text shortener that preserves key points - A style analyser that maintains my voice **For strategic thinking:** - A target reader builder for audience clarity - A scenario planner for complex decisions - A prompt creator for better AI instructions **For administrative burdens:** - A proposal generator based on past work - A meeting summary writer - A GDPR toolkit for compliance One I use regularly: the [Fact-Checker that extracts and lists every claim I make](https://chatgpt.com/g/g-67cea02a29e88191ba4705585e1dcd86-fact-checker-from-humanspark-ai) (stats, facts, etc) from my writing so I can verify them - sometimes automatically, sometimes manually (try it with one of your blog posts or emails). It keeps me accountable without adding hours to my process. ## A Real Example From Last Week I was creating a client strategy document and hit several friction points: - **Initial chaos:** I had too many disconnected ideas and couldn't see the structure - **Solution:** Recorded a 4-minute voice note of my thoughts - **AI role:** Transcribed and organised it into a logical outline - **Weak arguments:** Some sections felt unconvincing - **Solution:** Used my "developmental editor" AI - **AI role:** Highlighted three sections needing stronger evidence - **Accuracy concerns:** Wasn't sure all my claims were solid - **Solution:** Used my fact-checker AI - **AI role:** Extracted 17 claims for verification (found 3 needed additional support) - **Tone mismatch:** My casual style didn't fit this slightly more formal client - **Solution:** Quick tone adjustment - **AI role:** Adjusted formality while keeping my core message The result? A document completed in half the time, with higher accuracy and better structure - and the client specifically commented on how clear and well-reasoned it was. ## The Not-So-Secret: Context Creates Quality Here's the unsurprising part: generic prompts produce generic garbage. But specific, contextual prompts create remarkable results. **Garbage In, Garbage Out**. We've always known that. When I'm working with AI language models in particular, I try to always provide: - Voice notes containing my actual thoughts (lots of context) - Examples of my past work (more context) - Specific rules about my tone and style (I have this in my profile/settings) - Project background information (lots more context) - My specific concerns or questions The more context I give, the more valuable the AI's contribution becomes. ## How to Apply This to Your Work Today Start by mapping your friction points. Where do you get stuck? What's difficult or so? Is it starting a project or task? Organising? Editing? Formatting? What specifically makes it difficult? Too many ideas? Unclear? Then look for AI assistance - just ask it how it can help. Feel free to [DM me a question on LinkedIn](http://linkedin.com/in/alastairmcdermott/) and I'd be happy to recommend you a specific tool or technique that could help.