How to Talk to AI and Get Exactly What You Want

You know when you have to start a task, or write an email, or plan a party, or summarize a meeting and you have NO idea where to start? With AI and LLMs, these tasks can be a little easier to start on! ☺️

The introduction of AI has fundamentally changed how we approach tasks that require organization, creativity, and communication. It's no longer about staring at a blank page, but about knowing how to talk to a powerful tool to help you fill it.

The key to using AI effectively isn't about being a programmer or a data scientist, but about learning how to "prompt" it. A prompt is simply the instruction you give the AI. The more specific and detailed you are, the better the result you will get. It's like having a brilliant, but very literal, assistant.

If you ask for a "sandwich," you might get something unappetizing. If you ask for a "roast beef sandwich on rye with Swiss cheese, Dijon mustard, and a side of pickles," you'll get exactly what you want. The same principle applies to AI. Here are some examples of prompts a normal person could use in their everyday life, broken down by category.

Fitness and Health Prompts

Instead of trying to create a workout plan from scratch or spending hours searching for recipes, you can use a few simple prompts to get a customized plan.

• Workout Plan Generation:
  • Prompt: "Act as a personal trainer. Create a five-day workout plan for a beginner. The goal is to build muscle and increase endurance. I have access to a full gym. Each workout should be no more than 45 minutes and include warm-up and cool-down exercises."
• Calorie and Macro Tracking:
  • Prompt: "Act as a nutritionist. I am a 30-year-old male, 6 feet tall, and weigh 195 pounds. I want to lose 10 pounds in the next two months. Please calculate my daily calorie and macronutrient targets (protein, carbs, fats) and provide a sample one-day meal plan based on those numbers. I am a vegetarian and dislike mushrooms."

The power of these prompts is in their specificity. I am giving the AI a persona ("personal trainer," "nutritionist"), a goal, specific constraints (time limit, dietary restrictions), and personal details.

Communication and Productivity Prompts

We all spend a significant portion of our day communicating, whether it's through emails, texts, or reports. Try these prompts:

• Email and Text Drafting:
  • Prompt: "Write a polite and professional email to my landlord. I want to let them know that my air conditioning unit is not working and I would like them to send a repair person as soon as possible. My apartment number is 2B."
• Document Summarization:
  • Prompt: "Act as a professional summarizer. I am a busy professional and need a concise summary of the following 10-page report. Please provide the key findings, conclusions, and a list of actionable recommendations in bullet points. Here is the report text: [paste the full text of the report here]."
• Idea Generation:
  • Prompt: "I am trying to plan a birthday party for my 7-year-old son. He loves dinosaurs and space. Generate a list of five creative and easy-to-do party themes that combine these two interests."

Using AI for communication is more than just correcting grammar. It's using it to shape the tone, condense information, and brainstorm solutions, saving you time and 💰money💸!.

Learning and Creative Prompts

AI can be a powerful partner in learning new things or sparking your creativity. It can act as a tutor, a study guide, or a creative partner.

• Learning a New Skill:
  • Prompt: "Act as a tutor. I want to learn the basics of digital photography. Create a 30-day learning plan for a beginner. Each day should include a short lesson on a core concept (e.g., aperture, shutter speed, ISO) and a small, practical exercise to reinforce the lesson. The plan should build on itself."
• Travel Planning:
  • Prompt: "Act as a travel agent. I am planning a five-day trip to Paris for a family of four (two adults, two teenagers). We are on a moderate budget. Please create a day-by-day itinerary that includes a mix of famous landmarks, cultural experiences, and delicious but affordable food options."
• Creative Writing:
  • Prompt: "Write a short story outline for a mystery novel. The main character is a retired librarian who is a fantastic baker. The murder takes place at a local book club meeting, and the victim is a well-known, difficult author. The story should have three red herring suspects and a surprising twist at the end."

The ability to prompt AI effectively will become an important skill sooner rather than later. It moves us from a world of information consumption to one of active co-creation. The more specific and thoughtful we are in our prompts, the more tailored and useful the responses will be. We are moving beyond the simple search engine and into a new era of personalized problem-solving.

I am curious about how you have used AI in your own daily life. Have you found a clever way to use it to save time or learn something new? Share your favorite prompts and experiences in the comments below!

Read More!

1. Grammarly. "How to Create Effective AI Prompts (With Examples)."
2. MIT Sloan Teaching & Learning Technologies. "Effective Prompts for AI: The Essentials."
3. Zapier. "The best AI productivity tools in 2025."
4. The Economic Times. "Weight Loss made easy with ChatGPT: 5 prompts for personalised fitness advice."
5. TIME Magazine. "8 ChatGPT Prompts to Help You Plan Your Perfect Vacation."