Embedded Files
Find a problem worth solving.
The best AI projects don't start with a tool. They start with a frustration. This page will help you spot opportunities in your own work, and then use AI itself to help you think them through. You don't need to know everything AI can do. You need a problem, some curiosity, and a willingness to ask questions.
Step 1: Look for the friction
Step 1: Look for the friction
Read through these and notice which ones make you think, "Yes, that one."
Where Am I Losing Time?
Where Am I Losing Time?
What do I do repeatedly every day, week, or month?
What am I constantly copying, pasting, reformatting, or re-entering?
What report takes much longer to prepare than it should?
What information do I regularly have to hunt down?
What task makes me think, “There has to be an easier way to do this”?
Where Are We Relying on People to Remember?
Where Are We Relying on People to Remember?
What happens only because someone remembers to do it?
What information lives primarily in one employee's head?
What questions are employees repeatedly asking the same person?
What would become difficult if a key employee were suddenly out for two weeks?
Where Do We Have Data — But Not Information?
Where Do We Have Data — But Not Information?
Most manufacturers already have a tremendous amount of data. The challenge is turning it into information people can use.
What questions should our ERP or other systems already be able to answer?
What decisions require us to manually compare multiple reports?
What exceptions would I rather be alerted to instead of reviewing every transaction?
What do I wish my dashboard told me?
Where Are We Spending Time Creating Instead of Thinking?
Where Are We Spending Time Creating Instead of Thinking?
Think about what your team produces regularly: emails, work instructions, training materials, SOPs, meeting summaries, reports, presentations, forms, checklists, and translations.
Could AI help create the first draft, organize the information, identify missing pieces, or make the finished product easier to understand?
Step 2: Not sure AI Can Help? Ask It.
Step 2: Not sure AI Can Help? Ask It.
Describe your problem to the AI tool you already use. You don't need to know the answer before you start the conversation.
Copy-and-paste prompt: Brainstorm With Me
Copy-and-paste prompt: Brainstorm With Me
I work for a [TYPE OF COMPANY] and I'm responsible for [YOUR ROLE].
I'm trying to improve this process: [DESCRIBE THE PROCESS]
Today, we: [DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENS NOW]
The biggest frustrations are: [TIME, ERRORS, REPETITIVE WORK, DELAYS, MISSING INFORMATION, ETC.]
Before suggesting a solution, ask me questions one at a time so you understand the process, the people involved, the systems we use, and the outcome I want.
Then suggest ways AI, automation, or technology we may already own could help, from simple, low-effort improvements to more advanced options.
Don't assume AI is the best answer. If there's a simpler way to solve this, tell me.
Short on time? Let AI interview you.
Short on time? Let AI interview you.
Skip the long prompt. Tell the AI what you're trying to improve and add this one line. It's one of my favorites:
"I don't know enough about this technology to know what to ask. Interview me about the problem one question at a time, and help me figure out my options."
The best prompt often isn't a perfect paragraph. It's the start of a good conversation.
Good follow-up questions
Good follow-up questions
Once the conversation is going, try:
“What parts of this process appear repetitive or rules-based?”
“Which parts of this process require human judgment and probably should not be automated?”
“What could I accomplish using technology we may already own?”
“What's the simplest version of this solution I could test first?”
“What could go wrong with the solution you're recommending?”
“What data-security, confidentiality, or privacy risks should I consider?”
“How could I test whether this actually saves time or improves the process?”
Show it what you're working with
Show it what you're working with
Sometimes it's easier to show a problem than explain it. Depending on your company's policies and the tool you're using, you might share a screenshot, spreadsheet, report, procedure, form, error message, SQL query, or meeting notes. Then try:
“This is what I'm currently working with. My goal is [DESCRIBE YOUR GOAL]. Before recommending any changes, tell me what you understand about the current process and ask me anything else you need to know.”
⚠️ Protect your information
⚠️ Protect your information
Before sharing company information with any AI tool, check:
Your organization's AI and information-security policies
Whether the tool is approved for business use, and what it does with what you submit
Whether the content includes customer, supplier, employee, or personal information
Whether it includes proprietary or confidential information
When in doubt, remove or anonymize sensitive details first.
💡 Pro tip: Save what works
💡 Pro tip: Save what works
When a conversation goes well, ask:
"Summarize the context, assumptions, and instructions from this conversation as a reusable prompt I can start with next time."
Save it somewhere approved so you're not starting from scratch. If your tool offers projects, custom instructions, or memory, check your company's policies before storing company information there.
Your turn
Your turn
Think of one repetitive task, frustrating process, painful report, or unanswered data question. Write it down. Then ask:
Could AI help us do this differently?
Could AI help us do this differently?
Start with one problem. Get curious. Experiment responsibly
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse