Practical ways people use AI every day
For Work
Writing Emails
The situation: You need to respond to a difficult client email.
Prompt: I received this email from an upset client:
"We've been waiting 3 weeks for our order and no one
is responding to our calls. This is unacceptable."
Help me write a professional, empathetic response that:
- Apologizes sincerely
- Doesn't make excuses
- Offers a concrete solution
- Keeps them as a customerResult: A polished email you can customize and send in minutes instead of agonizing for an hour.
Summarizing Long Documents
The situation: Your boss sent a 40-page report and wants your thoughts by EOD.
Prompt: Summarize this report in 5 bullet points, focusing on:
- Key findings
- Recommended actions
- Potential risks
- Budget implications
[paste report]Result: A quick grasp of the main points so you can respond intelligently.
Preparing for Meetings
The situation: You have a meeting with a new client in an industry you don't know well.
Prompt: I'm meeting with a client who runs a commercial
bakery tomorrow. I know nothing about this industry.
Give me:
1. The top 5 challenges commercial bakeries face in 2024
2. Key industry terms I should know
3. 3 smart questions I could ask to sound informedResult: Walk into the meeting with confidence.
For Learning
Understanding Complex Topics
The situation: You keep hearing about "blockchain" but have no idea what it actually is.
Prompt: Explain blockchain to me in 3 levels:
1. Like I'm 10 years old
2. Like I'm a college student
3. Like I'm a tech professional
Start with level 1.Result: Understanding that meets you where you are.
Learning a New Skill
The situation: You want to learn photography but don't know where to start.
Prompt: I just bought my first DSLR camera. I'm a complete
beginner. Create a 4-week learning plan that:
- Starts with the absolute basics
- Has practical exercises I can do each day
- Builds progressively
- Doesn't overwhelm me with theory
I can practice about 30 minutes per day.Result: A personalized curriculum just for you.
Homework Help (For Parents)
The situation: Your kid is stuck on math homework and you forgot everything.
Prompt: My 7th grader is stuck on this problem:
"If a train leaves Chicago at 2pm going 60mph, and another
leaves Detroit at 3pm going 75mph, when do they meet?"
Don't just give the answer. Explain it step-by-step in a
way a 12-year-old would understand. I need to help them
learn, not just copy.Result: You become the hero parent who "gets" math again.
For Home & Life
Meal Planning
The situation: It's Sunday and you need to plan dinners for the week.
Prompt: Create a 5-day dinner plan for a family of 4 where:
- 2 kids are picky eaters (no spicy food, limited vegetables)
- One adult is vegetarian
- Budget is about $15 per meal
- Max 30 minutes cooking time on weekdays
- We have a slow cooker and instant pot
Include a shopping list at the end.Result: A practical meal plan with a shopping list, customized for YOUR family.
Planning a Trip
The situation: You want to plan a vacation but don't know where to start.
Prompt: Help me plan a 7-day trip to Portugal for 2 adults.
Constraints:
- Budget: $3,000 total (not including flights)
- We like history, food, and avoiding tourist traps
- One of us has mild mobility issues (can walk but needs breaks)
- Traveling in October
Give me a day-by-day itinerary with:
- Where to stay (specific neighborhoods)
- What to do each day
- Restaurant recommendations
- Realistic time estimates
- Backup rainy day optionsResult: A trip plan that would cost $500 from a travel agent.
Understanding Bills & Paperwork
The situation: You got a confusing medical bill with codes and charges.
Prompt: Help me understand this medical bill. Here are the charges:
[paste bill details]
1. What does each charge mean in plain English?
2. Which charges seem standard and which should I question?
3. What should I say when I call to dispute anything?Result: Confidence to deal with confusing paperwork.
For Health & Wellness
Understanding Medical Information
The situation: Your doctor mentioned a condition and you want to understand it better.
Prompt: My doctor said I have "mild gastroesophageal reflux."
Explain in plain English:
1. What this actually means
2. What's happening in my body
3. Common treatments
4. Lifestyle changes that help
5. When I should be concerned
Note: I know you're not a doctor. I'll discuss treatment
with my healthcare provider.Result: Understanding that helps you have better conversations with your doctor.
Fitness & Habits
The situation: You want to start exercising but have constraints.
Prompt: Create a beginner workout routine for someone who:
- Is 45 years old
- Has a bad knee (can't do high-impact jumping)
- Has 20 minutes in the morning
- Has no equipment
- Hasn't exercised regularly in 10 years
Start easy. I need to build the habit first.Result: A realistic plan that accounts for YOUR situation.
For Creativity
Writing Help
The situation: You're writing wedding vows and staring at a blank page.
Prompt: Help me write wedding vows. Here's some context:
- We've been together 6 years
- We met at a bookstore (both reaching for the same book)
- Our relationship is playful but deeply committed
- My partner helped me through my career change
- I want it to be heartfelt but not too long (under 2 minutes)
- I want one moment of humor
Give me a draft I can personalize.Result: A starting point that's better than staring at a blank page.
DIY Projects
The situation: You want to build a bookshelf but don't know how.
Prompt: I want to build a simple floating bookshelf.
I have basic tools (drill, saw, hammer) but I'm not
handy at all.
Give me:
1. Materials list with approximate costs
2. Step-by-step instructions with pictures described
3. Common mistakes to avoid
4. How long this should take a beginnerResult: A project you can actually complete.
For Difficult Conversations
Resolving Conflicts
The situation: You need to have an awkward conversation with a roommate.
Prompt: I need to talk to my roommate about cleaning.
They leave dishes in the sink for days and it's driving
me crazy. But I don't want to damage the friendship.
Help me:
1. Plan what to say
2. Phrase things in a non-accusatory way
3. Anticipate their responses
4. Find a fair compromiseResult: A script that helps you navigate a tricky conversation.
Negotiating
The situation: You got a job offer and want to negotiate salary.
Prompt: I received a job offer for $75,000. Based on my
research, the role typically pays $80-90k in my city.
I have 5 years of experience and they seemed eager to
hire me.
Help me:
1. Craft an email asking for $85,000
2. Give me talking points for a phone call
3. What to say if they push back
4. What other benefits to negotiate if salary is firmResult: Confidence to advocate for yourself.
Quick Reference: Prompt Patterns That Work
The Context + Task + Format Pattern
Context: I'm a [who you are] trying to [what you're doing]
Task: Help me [specific request]
Format: Give me [how you want the answer]The Persona Pattern
Act as a [expert type] and help me with [problem].
Ask me questions first to understand my situation.The Improvement Pattern
Here's my draft: [paste text]
Make it more [professional/concise/engaging/friendly].
Keep my main points but improve the [specific aspect].The Comparison Pattern
I'm trying to decide between [option A] and [option B].
Create a comparison table with:
- Pros and cons of each
- Cost comparison
- Best for what type of person
- Your recommendation and whyKey Takeaways
- Be specific - The more context you give, the better the help
- Iterate - First answer not great? Ask for adjustments
- You're in control - Always review and customize the output
- It's a tool, not a replacement - LLMs assist YOUR thinking
Try It Now
Pick one example from this page and try it yourself. Modify it for your actual situation. See what happens.
The best way to learn is to experiment.
Original content to help beginners see practical possibilities.