Generative AI produces text, images or other output from instructions. Treat it as an assistant, not an authority: it can sound confident while being wrong. Pick a task with a clear, low-risk outcome, such as turning your own notes into a checklist.

1. State the goal: “Turn these meeting notes into a task list.”
2. Add context: who will use it and what matters.
3. Specify the format: numbered actions with owner and due date, or “unknown” when absent.
4. Review the result against the original notes and correct omissions.

Example: Ask for a 100-word plain-language summary of a public article, then verify its key claims in the article itself. Do not ask the model to invent facts that are missing.

Exercise: Use a non-sensitive paragraph you wrote. Request a summary and a list of open questions. Compare both against the original.

A useful prompt names the task, provides relevant context, gives constraints and describes the output. Work in small steps: ask for an outline, inspect it, then request one revision at a time. For current facts, use a search-enabled assistant and open its cited pages yourself.

1. Ask for a first draft or structure.
2. Identify unsupported claims, vague wording or missing points.
3. Request a targeted revision without changing verified facts.
4. Check names, numbers, quotes and links against reliable original sources.

ChatGPT and Gemini can analyze supported uploaded files, but limits and account access vary. File analysis can miss details; compare important answers with the source file. Avoid uploading confidential records unless your organization and account terms allow it.

Exercise: Give an assistant a public text and ask for a table of claims and where each appears. Check at least three rows yourself.

Choose one recurring task and make a reusable prompt template with placeholders. Keep a human checkpoint before sending, publishing or making a decision. Never paste private customer, student or workplace data into a consumer tool without permission.

1. Write down the input you can safely provide.
2. Set an output structure that is easy to inspect.
3. Add “If information is missing, say so; do not guess.”
4. Save the reviewed prompt and note the tool and date, since features and limits change.

Mini-project: Create a study-note helper that turns your own lesson notes into (a) a concise summary, (b) five recall questions and (c) a list of points to verify. Test it on a short, non-sensitive lesson and correct the answer key manually.

Revision: AI drafts are not evidence. Clear task + context + format improves usefulness. Verify important output. Protect sensitive data. Free access and usage caps change by product and plan.