You're using AI like Google.

After 20 years in Big Tech, I can tell in 10 seconds of watching someone work, whether they’re getting value from AI or using it to go slightly faster on things they already knew how to do. Using AI like Google means typing a short question and taking whatever comes back, instead of giving the AI real context and a specific job to do. Both people have the same tools. Both use AI. The only difference is what they ask for.

Here are the five issues, and the prompts to fix each one.

a search bar blooming into a chat bubble

Issue & Fix # 1: They stop asking. Start assigning. | ⏱️ 5 min

“What’s a good structure for this presentation?” is a question. It gets you information. What you need to give AI is a job to do with context and stakes.

I have a 1:1 with [name/title] on [date].
She focuses on [their priorities].
Write me 5 talking points that frame my Q1 work
in terms of [business outcome].
Here are my projects: [list].

Issue & Fix # 2: Give it context or get generic back. | ⏱️ 3 min

One-line prompts produce one-size-fits-all output. Three things change every output: who you are, who this is for, and what to avoid.

Context: I'm a [role] at a [type of company].
I'm working on [project].
Audience: [who reads or receives this]
Task: [specific thing to write or do]
Constraints: [tone, format, what to avoid]
My voice: [direct, warm, formal]

Issue & Fix # 3: Build your AI operating system. Once. | ⏱️ 15 min

Kay having a conversation with AI instead of typing keywords

Every time you open a new chat, you pay a context tax. Claude Projects (or ChatGPT Projects) eliminates it. Set up your About Me file one time. Every conversation after that already knows who you are before you type a word.

My name is [name]. I'm a [title] at [type of company].
My manager's main priorities are: [list].
My communication style is: [description].
This quarter I'm focused on: [goals].
When writing for me, always: [style preferences].
When writing for me, never: [what to avoid].

Issue & Fix # 4: Bring AI in before the thinking. | ⏱️ ongoing

You use it after the draft exists. The people getting ahead bring it in before they write a single word.

AI For You infographic: using ai like google

I'm preparing [deliverable].
Here is my current thinking: [rough notes].

Before I write the full version:
1. What am I missing?
2. What would my most skeptical stakeholder push back on?
3. What is the strongest counterargument to my main point?
4. What question should I be asking that I am not?

Issue & Fix # 5: Stop saving 5 minutes. Start saving 5 days. | ⏱️ situation-dependent

This is the one. Giving AI the info and asking for a strategic brief, getting prepped for leadership pushback, building your narrative before your manager schedules the meeting. That used to require a team. Now it requires a well-directed prompt and a few minutes.

I need to [major deliverable] by [date].
My audience is [who].

Step 1: Analyze these materials and identify
the 3 most important patterns.
[Upload or paste documents]

Step 2: Draft [first piece of the deliverable]
with a focus on [specific priority].

Step 3: Anticipate the 3 objections [audience]
will raise and pre-address them.

Step 4: Write a one-paragraph executive summary
I can use in the meeting.

five stepping stones across water

This is all 5 prompts in one place. Save this to your phone and import it into Claude & ChatGPT.

Pick one of these you are guilty of doing now, the one that matches what’s sitting on your laptop right now. Let’s make a resolution to stop babying AI and give it a real job, stop asking it questions. Tell it what it needs to know. See what comes back.

Come tell me on LinkedIn which of the five you are going to try first.

VP @ Oracle | LinkedIn Top Voice for AI | LinkedIn Learning Instructor | Views are my own

AI For You is a weekly newsletter for corporate women (and yes, the guys reading this too, welcome) navigating careers in the AI era. Real tools, real context, no tech background required.