AI Tools for Smart and Productivity
When AI became my assistant
I used to have a very strict morning routine. Coffee. Inbox. Panic. Repeat.
A couple of years ago, I was juggling DevsCall lesson writing, research notes, and mentorship emails, and I realized I was spending more time managing the work than actually doing it. So, one day, on a whim, I typed the following into ChatGPT:
Prompt:
“Write a kind but firm reply to a student who keeps submitting late assignments, acknowledging their effort but reinforcing deadlines.”
The response? It was thoughtful, professional, and surprisingly human-sounding. I didn’t send it as-is, but I edited it down and sent a version of it that saved me 15 minutes and spared me the mental gymnastics of sounding both empathetic and assertive.
That’s when it hit me: AI wasn’t just a flashy tool. It was a productivity partner.
Not one I needed to hire, train, or micromanage, just one I had to learn how to talk to.
And that’s what this lesson is about: learning to work with AI, starting from where you are, whether you're managing projects, teaching students, designing content, or just trying to get out of your inbox a little faster.
AI isn’t cheating, it’s collaborating
One of the first things I tell learners is this: using AI doesn’t make you lazy. It makes you strategic.
When calculators became mainstream, no one accused accountants of cheating. When Grammarly gained traction, we didn’t fire the editors.
What AI does is handle the heavy lifting of the first draft. It gets you from blank screen to “Hey, I can work with this” in seconds.
But, here’s the kicker, it only works if you learn to ask it the right questions.
Let me show you what I mean.
AI Prompt it like you mean it
Let me walk you through some prompts I’ve used in real-world situations—and what happened.
Scenario 1: Planning a workshop
I was building a workshop on AI ethics for non-engineers. My outline looked like a napkin sketch.
So I asked:
Prompt:
“Help me outline a 1-hour workshop for non-technical professionals on responsible AI use in the workplace.”
Response:
It generated a 4-part outline: introduction, real-world examples, discussion prompts, and key takeaways. Did I use it word for word? No. But it helped me realize I needed more interactive elements and less jargon.
What I learned:
“The tool doesn’t replace creative thinking—it speeds up the research phase so I can spend more time crafting something that works.”
Scenario 2: Writing an awkward email
As an educator, sometimes you have to deliver feedback that’s... delicate.
Prompt:
“Draft a polite email to a colleague whose documentation is unclear, requesting clarification without sounding critical.”
Response:
It gave me a well-balanced tone—professional, warm, and specific. I edited it slightly to reflect my voice, but it gave me language I wouldn’t have come up with under stress.
What I learned:
“AI is great at emotional neutrality. It helps you write things that are kind without being vague, or direct without being harsh.”
Scenario 3: Avoiding content burnout
I was stuck writing descriptions for five new AI tutorials. By the third one, my creative engine was running on fumes.
Prompt:
“Write a short, engaging course description for a beginner-level tutorial on how to use ChatGPT in everyday workflows.”
Response:
It gave me a punchy 3-sentence paragraph with a hook, value prop, and learning goal. I massaged it into my own voice, but I saved about 30 minutes and kept my momentum.
What I learned:
“Writer’s block isn’t about being lazy—it’s about being overwhelmed. AI can clear the fog.”
The feedback loop
One of the biggest mistakes I see? People take the first answer and stop there.
Let me show you a better approach—what I call the prompt-refine loop:
- Start with a specific goal.
Example: “Summarize this article into 5 key bullet points for my manager.” - Review the output critically.
Is it too vague? Too long? Too robotic? - Follow up.
“Make it more concise.”
“Add examples.”
“Rephrase in a casual tone.”
- Personalize.
Tweak it to match your voice, priorities, or brand.
I once asked Claude to explain generative AI to a ten-year-old. The first version was too technical. I replied:
“Make it sound like something you’d hear on Sesame Street.”
And it nailed it on the second try.
AI works best when it’s conversational. Think of it as an intern you train while you work.
Common tasks AI tools can help you with
Here’s a short list of things I personally delegate to AI every week:
- Drafting internal memos
- Generating workshop titles
- Summarizing research papers
- Writing LinkedIn post drafts
- Cleaning up lesson transcripts
- Drafting follow-up emails
- Creating lesson quiz ideas
And I know designers who use it to generate placeholder copy, marketers who use it to brainstorm taglines, and educators who use it to create lesson summaries.
You don’t need to automate everything. Just pick one recurring task that drains your energy—and test how AI handles it.
The AI tool belt
You don’t need a million apps. In fact, I recommend picking just one or two to start.
Here are my go-tos:
Remember: You don’t need to use them all. Just use what helps you get unstuck.
When not to use AI
I’d be remiss if I didn’t share some limits.
Here’s when I don’t use AI:
- Drafting anything confidential or legally binding
- Writing highly emotional messages (apologies, conflict resolution)
- Doing final edits without fact-checking
- Replacing deep thinking or original analysis
I had a student last year who asked ChatGPT to summarize their literature review. It did... but it added references that didn’t exist. Always verify.
AI is your assistant—not your decision-maker.
Conclusion
You don’t need to “master AI.” You just need to try it with intent.
Ask one prompt today. Something annoying, repetitive, or boring. Let AI take the first pass. Then shape it with your judgment and experience.
I’ve worked with hundreds of learners—marketers, teachers, managers, freelancers—and the biggest shift happens when they realize:
“I don’t have to do this alone anymore.”
AI gives you speed, clarity, and optionality. You give it context, meaning, and voice.
And when those two come together? That’s modern productivity.
In the next lesson, we’ll unpack the secret sauce—writing great prompts that get you the results you actually want.