Woke Up With AI: How I Integrated ChatGPT Into My Everyday Life
I woke up today, popped in my Apple AirPods, and instantly remembered that Apple just released a new version of them along with the iPhone 16. Of course, I’m probably going to get it—it features Apple Intelligence (and no, this isn’t a plug for Apple, but they do make the best earphones I own, sorry 3ANC, I have yours too, but they’re not as comfortable or secure). But I digress!
As soon as I opened up my ChatGPT app and tapped the headphone icon, I said, “Are you there, ChatGPT?” and just like that, I was having a conversation with a machine. Yes, you can do that! ChatGPT remembers things, and you can ask it to help organize your day, which I do regularly. So, if you haven’t already, start integrating AI into your daily routine.
Like many of you, I’ve had moments of worry about the tasks I haven’t finished and wondered how ChatGPT could help me. I’ve even considered asking it to be my therapist—yep, some Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) might be in my future via ChatGPT. As we chat, I’m constantly amazed by its capabilities. Every time I use it, it manages to surprise me!
A Morning of Volunteering and AI Thoughts
After a productive morning with ChatGPT, I headed to a volunteer event. During the orientation speech, one comment caught my attention: "We help people in crisis, helping them get back on their feet and find work." The first thought that ran through my mind was: If you want to stay relevant in the workplace, you’ve got to learn AI. Specifically, learning how to become a prompt engineer.
With big tech companies like META (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) releasing advanced AI models, the potential for AI to be everywhere is immense. META AI, in particular, is a game-changer. The idea of teaching people how to "fish" with AI—to empower them to provide for themselves—is not only possible but necessary.
T-Skills and the Future Workforce
Later, I had a conversation with one of the volunteers, a young man just starting his career, and I couldn’t help but feel excited about the potential of the next generation. They’re learning incredible skills, but I couldn’t resist talking to him about AI. I brought up something a manager once told me at EY about T-Skills: Imagine your professional skills as the shape of a “T.”
The vertical stroke represents your subject matter expertise—how deeply do you know your field? The horizontal stroke is made up of meta-skills like project management, communication, and time management. I added a new one to the mix: Prompt Engineering, or more broadly, the ability to leverage AI in your work, your life, and even your relationships. We don’t need to fear AI taking our jobs—though it might. Instead, we need to focus on how to use this amazing tool to improve our lives and add value.
Here are some tools and resources:
Online Courses:
- AI for Everyone (DeepLearning.AI): This course provides a comprehensive introduction to AI, covering its basics, applications, and societal impact. It's designed for beginners and has received over 40,000 positive reviews.
- AI Foundations for Everyone (IBM): This course offers a practical and specialized introduction to AI, including its uses in the workplace and hands-on experience with IBM Watson.
- Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) (IBM): This course covers the basics of AI, including algorithms, machine learning, and deep learning. It's suitable for beginners and can be completed in 1-4 weeks.
- Elements of AI: This is a free online course that provides a broad introduction to AI, including its history, applications, and ethical considerations. It's designed for non-experts and has been taken by over 1 million students.
Learning Platforms:
- Coursera: Offers a wide range of AI courses from leading universities and institutions, including IBM and DeepLearning.AI.
- DataCamp: Provides interactive courses and hands-on projects in AI and machine learning, suitable for beginners and advanced learners.
- Google AI: Offers comprehensive resources, including tutorials and courses, that cover various aspects of AI and machine learning.
AI Tools for Beginners:
- Notion.ai: A tool for writing and content creation that uses AI to assist in brainstorming, revising, and summarizing information.
- Lumen5: A free online video creation tool that uses AI to create videos from text input.
- Murf AI: A text-to-speech engine that allows users to generate natural-sounding synthetic vocal recordings in multiple languages.
Guides and Resources:
- How to Learn AI From Scratch in 2024: A Complete Expert Guide (DataCamp): Provides a detailed learning plan, including resources and projects, to help beginners learn AI.
- How to Learn Artificial Intelligence: A Beginner's Guide (Coursera): Offers a comprehensive guide to learning AI, including steps to create a learning plan and resources for beginners.
- How to Learn AI in 2024 for Beginners (IU International): A comprehensive guide that covers AI basics, machine learning, and practical applications using Python.
These resources provide a solid foundation for beginners to start their AI learning journey.
Structuring Prompts with PICO
Now, let's talk about how to structure an AI prompt. Whether you're working on writing prompts for ChatGPT or any other language model, use the acronym PICO to help guide your approach:
- Person: Define the role of the AI. Example: "You are an expert chef."
- Instruction: Give a clear directive. Example: "Create a recipe for banana bread."
- Context: Add any specific requirements. Example: "Replace walnuts with sunflower seeds, and make it gluten-free."
- Output: Specify the desired format or structure. Example: "Provide a list of 20 sequential steps that are easy to follow."
Final Thoughts
Incorporate AI into your everyday life. Chat with it, have fun with it, and be excited about the possibilities! Personally, I’m all in—and if you’re reading this blog, I hope you are too. Get access to one of the big language models like ChatGPT or Claude, and start by writing some basic prompts. You’ll be amazed at what you can do!
And remember, AI isn’t here to take over the world—unless, of course, it’s tasked with making a better cup of coffee.
Joke: Why did the robot go on a diet?
Because it had too many bytes!
Tariffs of up to 245 % on some Chinese imports, Beijing’s 125 % counter‑tariffs, rare‑earth choke‑points, and an AI arms‑race have converged into the most abrupt economic realignment in a generation. Supply chains are fraying, hospital drug cupboards run thin on China‑made antibiotics, and AI layoffs are already moving from rumor to reality. Yet inside that chaos sits the same lifeboat that threatens to drown us: Artificial Intelligence.
