Everyone's talking about AI like it's magic. Here's how I actually use it — every day — across work, writing, and building new things.
1. Idea Wrangling
When my brain's running 12 tabs at once, AI helps organize the chaos — turning random thoughts into frameworks, outlines, or captions that make sense.
What this looks like:
I'll dump a brain download into Claude — half-formed ideas, scattered notes, things I'm mulling over. Then I ask it to organize it into something structured.
Example prompt:
"Here are my random thoughts about [topic]. Turn this into a clear outline with main points and supporting details. Flag anything that feels off or contradicts."
Why it works:
My brain generates ideas faster than I can organize them. AI is the filing cabinet that turns chaos into something I can actually use.
2. Daily Intel
I use it to stay current — pulling quick news summaries, media trends, market signals, and ideas that help me see patterns faster.
What this looks like:
Instead of scrolling through 10 newsletters and 20 tabs, I ask Perplexity or ChatGPT to synthesize what's happening in my areas of interest.
Example prompt:
"What are the biggest AI product launches in the last week? Give me 3 key things and why they matter."
Or:
"Summarize the latest news on [company/industry]. What's the signal vs noise?"
Why it works:
I get 80% of what I need in 5 minutes instead of spending an hour scrolling. Then I can dig deeper on what actually matters.
3. Career Strategy
AI is basically my prep partner — I use it to refine resumes, practice interview answers, analyze job descriptions, and surface better ways to tell my story.
It's not just editing — it's coaching.
What this looks like:
I paste a job description and my resume, then ask AI to identify gaps and suggest how to position my experience better.
Example prompt:
"Here's a job description and my resume. What skills are they looking for that I have but haven't emphasized? Rewrite my bullet points to show this experience better."
Or for interview prep:
"I have an interview for [role]. Ask me 5 behavioral questions they're likely to ask, then give me feedback on my answers."
Why it works:
AI sees patterns I miss. It catches generic phrasing, spots where I'm underselling myself, and helps me frame experience in ways that land better.
4. Product Thinking
I use AI like a product partner — to map requirements, clarify what's MVP vs later phase, and spot dependencies early.
It helps me ship faster, think through structure, and turn ideas into something real instead of stuck in a doc.
What this looks like:
I describe a product idea and ask AI to break it down into phases, identify what needs to be built first, and flag potential issues.
Example prompt:
"I want to build [product idea]. What's the absolute minimum viable version? What are the dependencies? What could go wrong?"
Or:
"Here's my feature list for [product]. Which of these should be v1, which should be v2, and which should I cut entirely?"
Why it works:
AI forces me to think structurally. It asks the questions a PM would ask and helps me separate "must have" from "nice to have" before I waste time building the wrong thing.
5. Startup Building
I use AI to pressure-test new ideas — naming products, shaping concepts, mapping features, and spotting what might break before it does.
It's like having a sounding board that moves fast and helps me think bigger (and cleaner).
What this looks like:
I'll run an idea by AI and ask it to poke holes, suggest names, or help me refine the pitch.
Example prompt:
"Here's my startup idea: [description]. What are 3 reasons this could fail? What am I not thinking about?"
Or for naming:
"I'm building [product]. Suggest 20 names that are punchy, memorable, and not taken. Bonus if they work as domains."
Why it works:
Building alone is hard. AI gives me someone to bounce ideas off who won't get tired, won't judge, and will challenge me to think through things I'm avoiding.
6. Social Strategy
I use it to plan and refine social content — tightening copy, shaping narratives, and experimenting with formats.
Let's just say I've been quietly building something social… more on that soon. 👀
What this looks like:
I draft something, then ask AI to help me punch it up, cut the fluff, or adapt it for different platforms.
Example prompt:
"Here's my LinkedIn post. Make it punchier without losing my voice. Cut it to 150 words."
Why it works:
I can create faster and test more. Instead of laboring over one caption for 30 minutes, I draft it in 5 and let AI help me refine.
AI Doesn't Replace Creativity — It Amplifies It
Notice a pattern in all of this? AI isn't doing the thinking for me. It's helping me think better.
I still:
- Generate the ideas
- Make the decisions
- Decide what feels right
- Add the weird, emotional, human stuff
AI just speeds up the grunt work — organizing, drafting, researching, refining.
And the people who know how to combine instinct, curiosity, and good taste?
They're going to define what smart looks like next.
Want to use AI like this?
Check out my prompt library for copy-paste templates you can use for all of these scenarios.