Working alongside AI feels like having a good intern or assistant who never sleeps, constantly learns, and can accomplish certain large tasks with amazing speed (with some caveats).
In our series so far, we’ve explored AI’s history, key terminology, common fears, and ethical concerns. Today, let’s discover how to effectively use AI in your daily work.
AI in Day-To-Day Life
According to Professor Ethan Mollick’s concept of co-intelligence, AI can amplify human thinking when used strategically. Rather than fearing or ignoring it, he suggests treating AI as a collaborative partner by following four key principles:
Principle #1 – Always invite AI to the table
Make AI your assistant in appropriate tasks, excluding those with legal or ethical constraints. Regular interaction helps you understand both its capabilities and limitations. As a General Purpose Technology, AI requires flexible usage patterns rather than rigid guidelines. Remember: AI should enhance, not replace, human judgment.
Principle #2 – Be the human in the loop
Complex systems, including AI, require human oversight and expertise. This becomes even more crucial as technology advances. Remember that AI doesn’t possess actual knowledge—it predicts patterns in language and aims to please rather than prioritize accuracy. AI systems can “hallucinate” and occasionally generate incorrect information.
Principle #3 – Treat AI like a person (but tell it what kind of person to be)
Think of AI as an alien intelligence rather than a simple machine. It learns instantly and eagerly assists, but may occasionally bend the truth. AI performs best when given a clear persona to match your needs. For example:
- Act as a teacher of MBA students
- Act as a marketing expert
- Act as an executive coach
- Act as a pastoral advisor
Principle #4 – Assume this is the worst AI you will ever use
Current AI capabilities represent just the beginning. Mollick compares today’s AI to “playing Pac-Man in a world that will soon have PlayStation 6s.” The emerging consensus points toward AI agents as the next breakthrough. These agents can interact with computers, interpret screenshots, control virtual interfaces, and input text. You can read about Mollick’s experiment with an experimental AI agent here.
Your AI Partnership Starts Now
Hopefully, you are beginning to see the possibilities and are willing to experiment with AI so you can help shape the conversation.
Which of your regular tasks or workflows could benefit most from AI assistance?
Choose one specific task you’ll experiment with using AI in the next 24-48 hours.
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Sources
Mollick, Ethan, Co-Intelligence, p. 46-62
*Photo by Solen Feyissa on Unsplash
