By now, if you haven't used generative AI in some form, you're in the minority. And, if you haven't found ways to use it to improve your productivity at work, you're simply missing a trick.

In this blog, I’ll be explaining how you can get the most out of tools like ChatGPT and outlining the skills to develop, allowing you to stay ahead of the curve.

Five tips for increasing productivity with generative AI

1) Think about what you need it for

Which tasks within your role could be automated? Before GPT-4’s release, much of the focus on generative AI’s capability in the workplace had been on copywriting. However, the potential for these tools is fast expanding. For example, they can help you plan presentations, or create and populate spreadsheets quickly with original formulae.

What about as a research tool? The primary function for chatbots was to generate the information you need, and in a format that suits you. There are potentially errors in what it provides, but that is fast improving all the time. The gap between AI chatbots and traditional search engines in terms of reliability is closing.

2) Add the right plug-ins

One of the big advancements that came with the launch of GPT-4 was the release of plug-ins that open up a host of new opportunities. You can summarise conversations and draft responses on Slack, analyse real-time data on FiscalNote or generate meeting summaries from Zoom. Meanwhile, the Zapier plug-in allows you to integrate the tool into Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Hubspot and Facebook Ads, among others.

Of course, it’s important to think about the legality and security surrounding this, particularly if you’re accessing or sharing sensitive data from your organisation. However, these all have the potential to save you time and provide useful assets and insights.

3) Get your prompts right

The great thing about a large language model (LLM) is that making a request is intuitive, and we receive a response that’s easy to understand. You don’t need specialist technical skills or knowledge to get started.

To really reap the benefits of ChatGPT and other generative AI, though, you’ll need to perfect your prompts. In fact, there are already businesses hiring prompt engineers to coax the most useful content from these tools.

However, just because we’re seeing examples of this being a responsibility in itself, it doesn’t mean you can’t get involved in your current role. There’s a lot of advice out there on getting your prompts right, which I recommend you look into. Some examples of things you can do include:

• Be clear in what you want – the best prompts are the ones that clearly define what the output should include, the format it should take and how it will be used.
• Defining a specific audience for the output – this will tailor the response so it targets the right people.
• Try multiple prompts – refine the wording of your request will land more suitable output.
• Break down any requests for longform text into several requests – doing this will make it easier to rewrite or change any sections.
• Use reverse engineering – Working on a presentation or pitch? Why not ask ChatGPT to predict any questions from the audience? You could even ask it to suggest the answers. Alternatively, create an agenda for a meeting by thinking about the attendants’ needs.

4) Optimise the output

When using an LLM for fact-finding, double-check the results it provides. You could even do this by focusing on one piece of information that you’re unsure about, and asking the chatbot about that specifically. Again, breaking down your questions can help to provide a clearer picture.

As for copywriting or coding, even after multiple prompts and concise briefs, it’s unlikely that generative AI will give you content that’s good to go. Rewrite anything that doesn’t fit your tone of voice, or check the data on your spreadsheet for mistakes.

To be more productive in future, think about how you could improve your prompt for next time so that the output is closer to what you need.

5) Stay up to date on trends

The above tips will give you a head start in making generative AI work for you. However, these tools are evolving constantly, and they’ll soon be able to take on even greater responsibility. The truth is that, if you don’t keep up with their capabilities, you won’t be as productive as possible, and that could put your job in jeopardy. ChatGPT and similar models are here to stay, so you need to be able to use them properly.

Which skills will help you use ChatGPT and other generative AI?

As I mentioned above, you don’t need to rely on technical skills to use an LLM or many other generative AI models. That said, those who develop their “soft” skills will be the most productive. For example:

• Creativity: Given the capabilities of generative AI, we’re getting to the point where the only limit of what it can do is the user’s imagination. Thinking creatively about how to approach a task or challenge will mean better prompts, which means more helpful output.
• Communication: What makes an LLM unique is the way in which we communicate with it. Whether it’s to carry out research or to create copy, using chatbots in your work requires strong communication skills.
• Critical thinking: This is going to be useful for those times that chatbots get it wrong. As I said earlier, there will be errors in their research, so it’s up to us humans to decide what’s credible and what requires a little extra digging.
• Language: Understanding the nuances in the way that you phrase your prompts will allow you improve your wording. Once you can grasp this, it’ll be easier and faster to get the output you need.
• Learning Mindset: To stop yourself from making the same mistakes, you’ll need to remember what worked (and, just as importantly, what didn’t) when using AI tools so that you can save time in future.

Increasing productivity with generative AI: what to remember

Generative AI is already transforming the way we work. If you’re a white-collar worker, the chances are that it's going to have an impact on your industry or role in 2024.

Even if you won’t necessarily be replaced by AI, you might be replaced by somebody with superior AI skills. Getting to grips with AI tools now will help you to futureproof your career by making you more productive. If you haven’t already, try using ChatGPT and other models and see how they can help you in your role, following these tips.

In case you missed it, I've already discussed some of the jobs that these generative AI tools can help in here.

Author

Travis O'Rourke
President, Hays Canada

A Father first, Husband second, and Employee third, Travis O'Rourke has 17 years of Technology recruitment experience and is the President of Hays Canada.