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Hey there,
Welcome back to AI, Eh? and a warm welcome to anyone joining us for the first time. Really glad you are here.
If you have been following along, here is a quick recap of where we have been:
In Issue 2, we talked about how to write a prompt that actually gets you what you want. That was the foundation. This week we are going one level deeper.
Because here is the thing: a lot of people try AI once or twice, get a mediocre answer, and assume that is just how it works. It is not. The difference between a frustrating AI experience and a genuinely useful one usually comes down to a few small habits. And once you know them, you cannot unsee them.
Five tricks that immediately improve your results
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1. Tell it who you are
AI does not know anything about you unless you tell it. It does not know you run a landscaping company in Red Deer, or that you are a grade six teacher in Halifax, or that you manage a small team at a non-profit in Winnipeg. When you give it that context upfront, the quality of the answer jumps immediately.
Think of it like calling a contractor. "Can you fix a leak?" gets you a different conversation than "I have a 1960s bungalow in Saskatoon with old copper pipes and there is a slow drip under the kitchen sink." Same question. Very different answer.
Fill in the blank prompt:
| "I am [YOUR ROLE] at a [TYPE OF BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION] in [YOUR CITY], [YOUR PROVINCE], Canada. I need help with [YOUR TASK]." |
Ready to use example:
| "I am the owner of a small bookkeeping firm in Kelowna, BC. I need help writing a short email to remind a client their invoice is overdue, but I want to keep it warm and not make them feel bad about it." |
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2. Tell it who it is
This one sounds a bit strange at first, but it works really well. You can ask AI to respond as if it were a specific kind of expert. Not a fake expert, just a useful frame that shapes how it approaches your question.
Ask it to respond like an experienced accountant, a patient teacher, a plain English explainer, or a no-nonsense editor. The framing changes the tone and depth of the answer you get back.
Fill in the blank prompt:
| "Act as a [TYPE OF EXPERT]. I need help with [YOUR TASK]. Keep the response [SIMPLE / PRACTICAL / PLAIN ENGLISH / UNDER 200 WORDS]." |
Ready to use example:
| "Act as a plain English business writer. I need to write a short bio for my electrician business in Thunder Bay, Ontario for use on our website. Keep it under 150 words, friendly, and not too formal." |
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3. Tell it what format you want
By default, AI tends to write long paragraphs. That is fine for some things, but if you want a bullet point list, a short email, a table, or a step-by-step checklist, you have to ask for it. AI follows directions well. You just have to give them.
This is especially useful when you know exactly what you need. If you want three options to choose from, ask for three. If you need something you can copy and paste right into an Instagram caption, say that. Specificity is your friend.
Fill in the blank prompt:
| "Write me [A BULLET LIST / A SHORT EMAIL / A STEP BY STEP GUIDE / THREE OPTIONS] for [YOUR TASK]. Keep it [UNDER X WORDS / SHORT ENOUGH TO TEXT / READY TO POST AS IS]." |
Ready to use example:
| "Write me a step by step guide for planning a four day road trip from Calgary to Vancouver with two kids under ten. Keep it simple and practical, no more than one page." |
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4. Push back if the first answer is not quite right
This is the one most people skip, and it is a big missed opportunity. If the first answer is not quite what you wanted, say so. You do not have to start over. Just tell AI what you liked, what you did not, and what you want it to try differently.
AI is not precious about its first draft. It will not be offended. Treat it like a back and forth conversation, not a one shot submission. Most of the time, the second or third version is significantly better than the first.
Fill in the blank prompt:
| "That is close but [TOO FORMAL / TOO LONG / NOT QUITE THE RIGHT TONE]. Can you try again and make it [MORE CASUAL / SHORTER / MORE DIRECT / SOUND MORE LIKE HOW I ACTUALLY TALK]?" |
Ready to use example:
| "That is close but a bit too formal for us. We are a small auto shop in Lethbridge and we talk to our customers like neighbours, not clients. Can you rewrite it so it sounds warmer and a little more down to earth?" |
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5. Ask it to explain its reasoning
This one is especially useful when you are using AI to help you make a decision or understand something new. If AI gives you an answer and you are not sure why, just ask. Asking "why did you suggest that?" or "can you walk me through your thinking?" often gives you more useful information than the original answer.
It also helps you spot when AI has made an assumption you do not agree with. Which brings us back to the AI assisted, Human led idea: you are always the one making the final call. Understanding the reasoning behind a suggestion helps you make a better decision.
Fill in the blank prompt:
| "Can you explain why you suggested [THAT APPROACH / THOSE OPTIONS / THAT WORDING]? Walk me through your reasoning in plain English." |
Ready to use example:
| "You suggested I put the extra $300 a month toward my TFSA instead of paying down my car loan faster. Can you walk me through why that is the better move? I want to understand it before I decide." |
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Put it all together
You do not need to use all five of these in every prompt. Even adding one or two to what you are already doing will make a noticeable difference. Start with telling AI who you are. That one alone will improve your results right away.
The more you treat AI like a conversation rather than a search engine, the more useful it becomes. It is not about memorizing some magic formula. It is just about communicating clearly, the same way you would with any smart person you are asking for help.
Your challenge this week
Take any prompt you have tried before that gave you a so-so answer and try it again using at least two of the tricks from this issue. Tell AI who you are, ask for a specific format, or push back on the first answer. See what happens. I think you will be genuinely surprised at the difference.
Coming up next week
Issue 5 is all about social media content. Specifically, how to write a full week of posts in about 30 minutes using AI. If keeping up with social media feels like a chore right now, this one is for you.
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AI assisted, Human led.
Whatever AI produces for you, always read it, verify it, and make it sound like you. AI is an incredible first draft machine. Your judgment, your voice, and your values are always the final layer.
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As always, I read every reply personally. Which of these five tricks are you going to try first? Hit reply and let me know. I love hearing what is working for people.
If you found this useful, feel free to forward it to a friend, family member, or colleague who could use a hand with AI. The more Canadians who feel confident with this stuff, the better.
Talk soon,
Chris
Founder, AI, Eh?
theaieh.ca 🍁
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