davidhunter.ai

Stage 0: Ask, part 1 of 2

Get a useful answer

Stage 0 has 6 short lessons in 2 parts. This part shows you how to ask. Start with lesson 1. It takes about 5 minutes.

Lesson 1: Give a brief, not a search

A prompt is the message you type to the AI. Most people type a few words, like a search. AI does better with a short brief: what you need, who it’s for, and the facts it can’t guess.

Try it: write your first brief

Change the sample answers. Your brief updates as you type.

Your brief

Here's what I need: compare two phone plans. Here's what you should know: It's just for me. I travel abroad twice a year and use 8 GB a month. Plan A is $25 for 10 GB. Plan B is $35 with free roaming. Please give me a short table, then one recommendation. If anything is unclear, ask me up to three questions first.

Tap Copy brief. Open your AI app, start a new chat, then paste and send. Come back here to check the answer.

What you should see: an answer that uses your facts and picks an option, not a general list.

If it doesn’t look right

  • If the answer is general, add the fact it was missing and ask again.
  • If it asks you a question, answer it. That’s a good sign.

Lesson 2: Ask for a shape

Say what the answer should look like: a list, a table or a short email. Say how long, and what tone. Otherwise you get whatever shape the AI picks.

Try this

Plan five weeknight dinners that take under 30 minutes.
Show them as a table with three columns: day, dish and time.
Then give me one shopping list, grouped by aisle.

What you should see: a table first, then one shopping list.

If it doesn’t look right

  • If the shape is wrong, reply: “Same content, as bullet points.”
  • If it’s too long, reply: “Cut that to 100 words.”

Lesson 3: Let it ask you first

For bigger tasks, let the AI ask what it needs before it starts. You answer a few short questions, and the result fits you better.

Try this

Help me plan a three-day weekend trip for two adults.
Before you plan anything, ask me up to three questions.

What you should see: three short questions, and no plan yet.

If it doesn’t look right

  • If it asks too many, reply: “Three at most. Assume the rest.”
  • If it skips the questions, reply: “What would you need to know to do this well?”

Next: part 2, Stay in control