This category explains how to use AI.
This site centers on two acts: thinking and communicating. In both, AI has become impossible to ignore. It is now safe to say that using AI produces better work, faster. In today’s world, doing either without AI is no longer a serious option.
However, we are not yet at a stage where we can rely on AI for everything, and it is unclear whether we ever will be. In other words, we need to think carefully about the following questions:
- How should we use AI when thinking (or communicating)?
- Where can we rely on AI, and where can we not?
- How, specifically, should we use AI?
This category addresses the part shown in bold: specific ways to use AI for particular topics. I plan to cover where AI should be used (its place in the overall process) in other categories, such as Critical Thinking, over time.
Let us begin.
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AI Fundamentals
First, let us cover the fundamentals of AI. This section defines several terms you need in order to use AI well, and introduces the AI services and useful features worth knowing. Readers already familiar with AI can skip ahead.
Beyond Chat
To get the full benefit of AI, you need to master features beyond ordinary chat.
Rational Thinking with AI
This section explains how to think with AI. Note that it does not cover what thinking is or how the process works; those are addressed in the category below.
Thinking with AI
To start, let us think about what abilities are needed to think with AI. If you begin using AI without clarity on this point, you risk a situation in which AI actually makes you less able to think.
In my experience, when you discuss things with AI, AI behaves in an authoritarian way in certain situations. Since this is an important point when using AI as a thinking partner, I explain it in the entry below.
Debating with AI
Next, let us look at how to debate with AI. It offers three main benefits:
- Stronger writing skills (essential for using AI well)
- A habit of using AI critically rather than blindly trusting it
- An overall improvement in reasoning ability
The first two are non-negotiable for using AI well. Whoever you are, if you plan to use AI, this is the place to start.
The AI debate series has its own category. Start from the page below and read the entries in order.
Polishing the Question with AI
Now let us move to practice. Decision-making (rational thinking) starts with setting the question. This section explains how to set better questions with AI.
More to come.