Give Me 9 Minutes, I'll Make You AI-Native

Levels of AI Engagement [00:00]

• AI interaction is categorized into three levels: AI curious (free tier users, infrequent use), AI literate (paying users, prompt database management, model selection), and AI native (workflows redesigned around AI collaboration).
• Most professionals are currently at level two, AI literate, and the video aims to provide strategies to advance to level three. "> Most professionals are stuck at level two."

Habit 1: Leave AI Breadcrumbs [00:38]

• This simple habit involves creating hyperlinks to AI conversations and pasting them directly into the documents where the AI-generated output is being used.
• The principle behind this is organizing information by where it will be used, not where it was found, ensuring easy access to AI assistance.
• Example: A Google Doc for a presentation includes hyperlinks in a "helpful hints" tab to specific AI conversations used for content generation and refinement.
• When creating a hyperlink, optimize the prompt for the AI model, get the unique link, and then hyperlink it in your document with context.
• Pro tip: Add context next to each hyperlink to remember the purpose of the AI conversation. "> Leaving AI breadcrumbs means organizing your AI chats by work context and not by date or chronology."

Habit 2: Build an AI Swipe File System [03:14]

• This habit involves creating a curated library of effective content examples (a swipe file) to guide AI.
• Instead of basic prompts, provide AI with specific examples and ask it to analyze their effectiveness and apply those patterns to new content.
• Example: When writing a business proposal, attach previous successful proposals and ask the AI to identify key patterns in structure and tone, then apply them to the new proposal idea.
• This technique gives AI a clear benchmark of quality, leading to superior output compared to generic drafts.
• Pro tip: Start with a narrow focus (e.g., presentations, emails, reports) and expand gradually, organizing folders by use case. "> I guarantee you that initial output will be stronger than any initial draft you could have come up with yourself, not to mention the massive time savings."

Habit 3: AI-First Task Planning [05:21]

• This is the most challenging habit, requiring planning AI usage before starting a significant piece of work.
• Break down complex projects into small tasks and identify which ones AI can and should assist with, specifying the best tool for each.
• Example: For a weekly newsletter, microtasks include brain dumping information (manual), fact-checking notes (AI, e.g., NotebookLM for low hallucination), and turning notes into a structured brief (AI, e.g., Gemini for creative writing).
• Benefits include reduced decision fatigue and context switching, and increased quality and speed by matching the right AI tool to the task.
• Rule of thumb: For projects over an hour, spend 5-10 minutes mapping steps and tagging AI/manual tasks. "> For any project that will take more than an hour, spend 5 to 10 minutes mapping the steps and tagging which ones are AI or manual."

Bonus Habit: Maintain a Prompts Database [08:02]

• Whenever a prompt yields excellent results, save it to a central, organized library (by use case) for future reuse.
• This prevents the frustration of losing effective prompts and having to re-create them with subpar results.
• The belief is that a few battle-tested prompts are more valuable than numerous random ones. "> The worst feeling is writing a perfect prompt 3 weeks ago that generated a perfect output. But today you can't find it."