Tag Archives: AI

The development and application of artificial intelligence systems to perform tasks, solve problems, and enhance human capabilities.

#71 How people actually use AI (not just talk about it)

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I read a lot about AI — but not about how people actually use it

I read a lot of stuff about AI all over the place, but what I rarely read about is how people are actually using it, in practical terms. Everybody talks about their projects, but almost nobody describes the processes and the day-to-day tricks that help them finalize those projects with accuracy and success.

Maybe I’m not the most reliable person to make such a statement. There are probably communities that discuss this extensively. But I’m the average guy when it comes to this topic: learning by doing and checking three or four sources regularly (YouTube being one of them).

That said, the work environments I’ve been part of recently have been my best source of knowledge when it comes to using AI tools. One thing I’ve noticed is that most people I interact with are learning to use these tools in very different ways. It’s a deeply personal approach — one that reflects how we deal with many other aspects of life.

There’s the methodical AI user, the scared one, the spontaneous one, the skeptical one, the addicted one. Then there are the philosophies:
the doomsday thinker who believes robots will take over the world within six months;
the optimist who thinks cancer will be eradicated soon;
the world conqueror who wants to develop chips to enhance intelligence and learn kung-fu like Neo in The Matrix.

And so on, and so forth.

What I want to share here are four super-intuitive tips — plus two extra ones — that are genuinely helping me every day to crack and solve problems that felt extremely complex and time-consuming before AI entered the picture.

This is not a guide about AI projects or future promises, but about practical AI use in daily work, learning by doing, and building workflows that actually save time.

And the best part? You can apply them immediately and start improving your current (and future) opportunities right now.

Tip n. 1 — Treat AI like a smart collaborator, not a magic box

I’ve seen friends and colleagues share results obtained from a single prompt — no exchange further exchange with the AI tool, just one prompt. Sure, maybe Sam Altman is capable of writing a prompt so perfect that no follow-up is required.

But most of us absolutely need to dig into the results of our prompts — until all the dark corners, potential misleading information, and questionable sources are double, triple, quadruple-checked.

I’ve noticed that when I carefully read what AI returns — like actively listening to a colleague, a good friend or a partner — the follow-up questions improve exponentially, and the quality of the next outputs is on a completely different level.

Tip n. 2 — Improve your prompts before execution

If I’m not mistaken, tools like Copilot already offer an agent that does this by default. But you can easily create your own prompt that says:

“Please, correct and improve this prompt: [prompt here]”

And before you say anything about the word please: I say “good morning” to my AI tools every day. You never freaking know! But I’ve watched too many sci-fi movies…

Tip n. 3 — Use screenshots to learn tools faster with AI

Let’s say you have a blog like mine and you want to use Google Analytics (GA) to improve your keywords, understand your audience, and so on.
(Things that — as I’ve said many times across my posts — I don’t do for my personal blog. This is a hobby, not a validation machine, and I refuse to enter the paranoia-wheel of likes, comments, subscribers, and views.)

But let’s pretend you do want to do that — and you’ve never used GA before.

If you go through the official GA guidelines, there’s so much content out there that before you even start using the tool, your head is already spinning.

So what do you do?

You create an account (easy enough), and then for any doubt you have — no matter how silly — you just take a screenshot and ask ChatGPT, Copilot, Perplexity, or whatever you use:

“I don’t understand what to do next. Please explain concisely, step by step, in simple terms.”

You’re welcome. You’ll can come back to thank me later.

Tip n. 4 — Use AI to summarize and explore the web efficiently

Give AI the websites you want to summarize or explore faster.

For example:

“Crawl website www.xyzittttyb.co.uk and give me the most relevant links related to xyz.”

It’s a dumb example, obviously — but you can crawl websites for much more exciting things than that.

Extra tip — Clean, refine, and share for feedback

I’ve heard people say they want to keep their prompts and results secret so others don’t copy their ideas 🤦🏽‍♂️… Some people operate on levels of confidence and delusion that are simply beyond my reach. They think they’re freaking Einstein or Tesla, I don’t know.

Guys, the era where isolated geniuses existed is over. Accept it.

Knowledge is now accessible to anyone with an internet connection, curiosity, and enough time to play with AI tools and develop skills. The more you share, the more you learn: people give feedback, you discover your flaws, and you improve.

Observe what others do. Be humble.
Follow the Socratic idea: “To know is to know that you know nothing.”Doors will keep opening new paths constantly.

Think you know everything, and your horizon will be as wide as the space between your ears.

Extra tip n. 2 — Summarize YouTube videos

Just copy-paste the transcript and ask AI to summarize it. Hours of few in a few minutes read.

That’s it. No magic. Just leverage what’s already there.

Bottom line

Practical AI use isn’t about better tools — it’s about better questions, better iteration, and treating AI as part of your daily workflow instead of a shortcut machine.
It doesn’t require genius-level prompts, secret tricks, or futuristic visions. It rewards curiosity, patience, iteration, and humility. Treat it like a conversation, let it help you think more clearly, and don’t be afraid to share what you learn. The real advantage isn’t knowing more — it’s learning faster, together.

#42 Your posts are automatically copyright-protected, however…

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Listen to this post

…there are some things to keep in mind.

Works from others that we may utilize—like photos, quotes, videos, and so on—don’t become our own just because we repost them. Sounds obvious, but in today’s world… I don’t know, man, I think it’s always worth stating the obvious, even at the cost of sounding redundant.

So yes, this general copyright rule applies here as well: one should always quote someone else’s work—always!

Then there’s the AI topic, which complicates things a little. Without diving into specifics about jurisdictions and what different countries allow, I’ve gathered from some sources I’ve consulted that AI use is permitted as long as it’s not used for major modifications or to generate content from scratch. Which absolutely makes sense to me.

As long as we use tools like ChatGPT, Grammarly, and DeepL to correct grammar and improve clarity, it’s fine. It’s like having a personal proofreader at your disposal, which speeds up the process. And that’s the coolest part of these tools. Even though, to me, they’re the most diabolic invention ever; but I don’t want to unpack this topic. It’s just depressing, especially for us creatives… But hey, the proofreader part is pretty cool. I know this sounds inconsistent and opportunistic, but one has to adapt somehow.

So, to conclude: the original content we publish on our blogs—articles, essays, poetry, short stories, novels, photos, illustrations, videos, audio; in general, any creative piece of work originating exclusively from our own brain that doesn’t plagiarize existing material or wasn’t generated from scratch by a freaking AI tool—is ours. A bit like it would be if it were published by a traditional editor (for writers)—with the pro that there’s no transfer of rights, and the con that we make zero money from it. If you do (make money), please share some tips—hehe. The right to reproduce the work, distribute it, display it in public, create derivative works, and so on, belongs to us—the creators who published it on their own page.

Another thing to keep in mind is to display a copyright notice on your website, like I did on my homepage (BLOG). It’s an extra layer—a bit like a bulletproof vest working as a disclaimer—which could offer additional protection in case of a dispute.

There are endless sources on this topic out there, and it’s a complex one since international law is involved. If you’re an expert on this topic, please feel free to call out any bullshit I may have said—or share any useful tips or insights that could be helpful for the community.

Here are some quick sources I used:

https://europa.eu/youreurope/business/running-business/intellectual-property/copyright/index_en.htm

https://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/artificial-intelligence-and-ip

https://www.iubenda.com/en/help/43711-how-to-copyright-a-blog

#17 Using AI prompts to edit my blog posts

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The guilt that arises from using AI to cut corners when writing

Before I share the tricks that help me polish my posts without distorting what I originally wrote, let me confess that I’ve cut a few corners in the past using AI prompts.

The most questionable trick I’ve used was asking ChatGPT to draft a conclusion by feeding it only two-thirds of a written post. There’s no excuse—I feel bad even admitting it—but at the time, I was overwhelmed with life and couldn’t come up with conclusions. Later, I realized that not every post needs one. Sometimes, the post is complete when you’ve run out of meaningful things to say, and it reads perfectly fine without moral lessons, unsolicited advice, or redundant perspectives.

The reason I felt guilty—if it’s not obvious—is the deep respect I have for the craft of writing and for writers of all kinds, those who carefully consider every word they use. It felt like a betrayal of my principles and my own creative process, and it’s not something I ever want to repeat.

A more ethical and helpful way to use AI in writing

That said, I won’t entirely dismiss the power of AI-driven tools to help proofread and refine my writing or to catch inconsistencies and inaccuracies that my own eyes might miss—especially given how little time I can dedicate to this time-consuming activity.

Here are a few helpful, ethically sound (by my standards) and simple prompts I’ve developed over time:

Proofreading

Writers know that no piece of writing—regardless of its audience or purpose—should go public without at least a second pair of eyes reviewing it. Proofreading styles vary greatly: some people practically rewrite your work, while others stick to spotting typos and fixing orthographic issues.

But here’s the thing—those “second eyes” require time, experience, and they’re rarely free (unless you know a benevolent soul whose sole priority is helping you improve). This is where ChatGPT can be incredibly handy. My prompt for this is:

  • Correct any grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors.
  • Ensure clarity and consistency without altering the intended tone or writing style.
  • Preserve the structure and flow of the text unless minor adjustments are necessary for readability or coherence.
  • Highlight unclear sections or sentences that could benefit from rephrasing, while suggesting minimal, non-intrusive edits.

Fact-Checking

So far, I’ve written only a few posts that required this prompt. It’s for posts where I reference studies or attempt a journalistic analysis of societal issues. I aim to research thoroughly, check sources, and quote or paraphrase without inaccuracies.

This is something I’d like to focus on more, but it’s not a top priority right now. Here’s the prompt I use for fact-checking:

  • Offer concise feedback for maintaining journalistic integrity and readability.
  • Identify any claims, data points, or studies that require verification.
  • Suggest credible sources to verify the information or correct inaccuracies, if any.
  • Highlight sections where citations or additional clarity could improve reliability.
  • Ensure quotes are accurately represented and properly attributed.

SEO

I wish I could say I’m passionate about SEO, but that’s not the case—yet. Despite reading books, taking courses, and watching videos on the subject, it hasn’t fully clicked for me. Maybe one day!

For now, I use this prompt to tackle SEO-related tasks:

  • Propose broad categories that accurately reflect the main themes and context of the post, ensuring they fit a typical WordPress blog taxonomy.
  • Suggest relevant tags to help readers and search engines quickly identify key topics or concepts discussed in the post.
  • Write a max 100 characters, human-readable excerpt summarizing the core idea of the blog post in an engaging and SEO-friendly way. Aim to capture the reader’s interest while reflecting the content accurately.

There you have it—my secrets. I hope you find them helpful! Please feel free to leave a comment if you have any tricks to share, resources you recommend, or books and authors that have inspired you.

#1 My favorite AI prompt for writing a job-winning cover letter

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How I started using AI to write better cover letters

After being laid off, I found myself rewriting cover letters repeatedly — with little response. Like many job seekers, I started wondering: can AI actually help write a strong, tailored cover letter? This post explains the exact AI prompt I now use to draft customized cover letters that generate more callbacks.

I’ve been unemployed for almost a year following layoffs at my previous company. I missed working with a team, building products, and solving meaningful problems.

During that time, I finished my novel, improved my German, and completed online courses in AI prompting and digital marketing. Still, the job search process was mentally exhausting.

The most frustrating part? Writing cover letters.

Getting used to being unemployed

Like many others, being unemployed took a toll on my mental health. Yes, I finished my novel and reached out to an editor, who encouraged me to write another one. Yes, I improved my German from barely pronouncing complex words to having in-depth conversations with my German therapist, even though he doesn’t always understand what I’m saying. Yes, I completed a few online courses on AI prompting, digital marketing, despite the decreasing confidence I started to feel in my professional field. I’ve also considered pursuing another master’s degree, although I already have six years of academic education under my belt.

But what I really miss is working with a team of professionals to brainstorm and solve problems while creating amazing products. That was the stage of my life I was at, and I wanted to move forward, not backward. I kept reminding myself of what my friends, family, and therapist advised: focus on what you can control, get back on your feet, and use your skills to find a new job. They shared many other helpful tips, but this one was particularly effective in keeping me sane.

Why writing cover letters is so frustrating

Most applicants spend hours drafting personalized letters, often unsure whether recruiters even read them. Yet many companies still require them.

Common problems:
– Rewriting the same achievements repeatedly
– Trying to sound enthusiastic but not generic
– Aligning with ATS keywords
– Balancing personality and professionalism

That’s where AI can help — if used correctly.

How I use AI to draft tailored cover letters

At first, the AI outputs were generic and unusable. The problem wasn’t the tool — it was the prompt. Once I started providing structured inputs — the full job description, selected highlights from my CV, and a short note on why I liked the company — the quality improved significantly. More importantly, I began receiving more interview callbacks.

So, all this to say that I want to share the prompt I use for writing my cover letters. I tweak it slightly depending on the tone I assume the company uses in its communications. If this prompt doesn’t work for you and you have a great one that does, please share it in the comments. You’ll be saving not only my brainpower but potentially that of many others who might read this post.

The AI Prompt I Use to Write a Tailored Cover Letter

Below is the exact prompt I use. I adjust tone slightly depending on the company.

“Using the information provided below, draft a concise, engaging, and jargon-free cover letter tailored specifically to the job description.

The letter should:

  • Directly address the key requirements and responsibilities listed in the job description
  • Seamlessly integrate relevant achievements and experiences from my CV
  • Clearly articulate why I’m a strong fit for the role
  • Highlight what genuinely attracts me to the company (culture, mission, product, or positioning)
  • Maintain a confident, professional tone without sounding generic or overproduced
  • End with a closing that encourages the reader to learn more about my profile

Please bold the most important keywords and phrases, especially those aligned with the job description and ATS-relevant terms.

Avoid clichés, filler phrases, and excessive self-promotion. Prioritize clarity, relevance, and impact.”

Inputs:

  • Job Description: [paste job description]
  • My CV Highlights: [paste CV or selected highlights]
  • What I Like About the Company: [1–2 authentic sentences]

This whole post goes without saying that once the machine has churned out our nice text, we should also re-read it, add our personal touch, and then use Grammarly, or some other tool, to quickly proofread it—even though I have to admit I don’t always do this…

FAQ: Using AI to write cover letters

Is it okay to use AI for cover letters?

Yes — as long as you personalize and edit the output. Recruiters care about clarity and relevance.

Will recruiters detect AI-written cover letters?

They might if the text sounds generic. Strong prompts and manual editing are essential.

Does AI improve callback rates?

In my experience, structured AI-assisted drafting helped align my application more closely with job descriptions and increased responses.