51 Real-World Ways to Put AI to Work in Your Life

Helping you grow confidence with this incredible technology

Thomas here!

1. Finding Your AI Entry Point

If you're ready to jump straight into action, scroll down to the middle of this post for a carefully curated list of 51 easy-to-use AI prompts. But if you're curious about why starting small is actually the best way to master AI, read on.

I've been weaving some AI examples into recent write-ups, promising a comprehensive guide for anyone looking to get started. This is that guide. When generative AI exploded into the mainstream less than two years ago, so many people gave it a try—but due to lackluster results from early models and insufficient knowledge about prompting techniques, many people I know quickly wrote it off. Yet most of the people I speak with—founders, parents, creatives—still feel stuck at square one, often asking:

"Where do I even start?"

They either type a few vague words into a prompt and give up after a mediocre result or never even try, intimidated by complex business applications.

2. Flip the Starting Point

There are certainly a million use cases for generative AI with work but here's my unconventional advice: forget the business use-cases initially. Instead, begin by applying AI to the delightful chaos of everyday life:

• A bedtime story you're too exhausted to invent.

• A quick dinner from random fridge ingredients.

• A note to your child's teacher that you've postponed.

When AI solves these everyday problems, three crucial things happen:

• Low stakes and low stress let you play freely.

• Faster feedback loops teach you how to better instruct AI.

• Growing confidence makes other use cases obvious.

3. How to Feed the Machine

A great AI output always starts with a clear input. Master these two micro-habits to get 80% of the value:

• Specify a role: "You are an expert luxury travel advisor with a specialty in the Greek Islands."

• Clarify the ideal output: "Create a 7 day child friendly itinerary which includes breaks for quiet times and naps, that balances relaxation and exploration."

For even better results, integrate pieces of your personality into your prompts. To stick with this same theme, here's the profile I wrote for our family: