AI FAQ

Common questions about working with AI. Short answers you can use this week.

Does it help to be polite?

Yes, but not because the AI cares. It has no feelings. Writing the way you would to a thoughtful colleague makes you add context, a clear goal, and what a good result looks like. That clarity is what improves the output. One habit for this is hi, thanks, great: open with context, acknowledge the draft before you ask for a change, and name what worked before you build on it.

Should I talk to it like a person?

Yes, if you know why it works. Talking to it like a smart new colleague gets you to include the goal, the background, and what you will do with the result. You are not claiming the AI is a person. Do not let that framing make you trust a confident answer. Verify before you act.

What context changes the answer the most?

The specific facts. Your role, the real challenge, the timeframe, who will read it, and the constraints of the work. A people leader at a 500-person manufacturer is a different prompt from a manager at a large company. Vague context produces a generic draft.

How do I know if an answer is accurate?

Treat every output as a strong first draft. AI can be confidently wrong, and it will not reliably flag its own mistakes. Asking what is wrong with the response often surfaces what it skipped. Before anyone else relies on it, check statistics, legal or regulatory claims, benchmarks, and whether the advice fits your actual policies.

What should I never paste into a chat tool?

Unless your organization has an approved, secured AI tool, skip employee names, pay, performance or medical details, compensation structures, layoff plans, and live investigations. Use aggregates and anonymous examples instead. If you would not post it publicly, leave it out.

What work is AI actually good at?

Drafting, research, summaries, and process design: communications, interview questions, survey themes, onboarding flows. It is a poor stand-in for empathy, legal authority, or a high-stakes call such as a termination, a promotion, or an investigation. AI can help you prepare. The decision and the relationship stay with you.