Every search engine, software, and coffee maker seems to be AI-powered now. . .

If you haven't jumped on the AI train I have good news for you:

1. You're not too late
2. Responsible AI means not using it ALL THE TIME or EVERYWHERE

AI tools can be amazing and can level the playing field.

But it feels like companies are blasting their great tools with AI features just so they're not left behind.

It's annoying.

It's part of the tech-space fear of "LEARN IT OR DIE".

I'm not a fan of that thinking.

I'm a fan of "Learn it because it's cool, it can help, and (in the right use cases) can be a godsend".

I'm a big fan of AI, so at the end of last year, I was tasked with putting together an AI policy for KVA, a communications agency I work with.

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As I was researching the most up-to-date tools and features, I noticed something.

Regular software companies have littered their amazing tools with useless AI features and are now charging more for it or automatically opting users into it. This creates a fear and aversion toward AI.

On the other hand, I went down many rabbit holes about the use cases and how different tools can be used for good.

AI is great if you're a small team and need a second set of eyes.

It's great if you need to write an email more concisely.

It's a SAINT for troubleshooting errors in website code if you're a non-developer.

Here are some examples of using AI for good.

• Record meetings with a call recorder (like Otter, Fireflies, or Fathom), then get them to transcribe the meeting notes and pull out action items.
• Edit videos with Descript (my favorite AI tool) simply by using the transcript of the video. (I use this for easy audiograms I can make in under 5 mins).
• Create SOPs and onboarding documentation without transcribing the process with Scribe.

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The KVA team had a lot of questions about how to use AI properly.

We discussed things like:

• How we can optimize some systems with AI tools
• What ethical & transparent AI usage looks like
• Dos and don’ts for using AI tools

Here are the best practices for general AI use we decided on for the KVA team:

• Don’t put client data into AI chatbots.
• Get two-party consent when using call recorders.
• Don’t use it to get around legal or brand guidelines (follow the rules)!

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If you're interested in AI, remember it's never too late to start.

I recommend getting Pro ChatGPT for $20/month (it has more data security). I don't recommend using any free AI tools as they're less secure than the paid versions.

You can upload documents and create images. The paid version also has a memory so you can ask it to recall your preferences and it will apply them to future tasks.

Ex. I used mine to help me:

• Write my holiday card using the brand voice guideline I uploaded.
• Create a meal plan with all the ingredients in my pantry.
• Create an image for my D&D character.

There's so much we can do with AI.

If it starts to scare you or bother you, know that we're in the awkward teenage years.

We're growing fast, but we don't know how to use what we have yet.

Ciao for now!

P.S. Tools recommendations are all over the internet, but usually, they're less than helpful. I've compiled a list of tools I have used or recommend. If you see a tool on this list you want to know more about, hit reply and I'll happily share more info. (Note: Some tools have affiliate links.)