Easy Ways to Use AI Writing Tools In Your Daily Work
According to Forbes Advisor, 97% of business owners believe writing tools like ChatGPT will help their business. How can you incorporate AI into your daily work and stand out in an increasingly AI-centric world?
The first step is to not be afraid. In an interview with Michael Stelzner for the Social Media Marketing podcast, expert marketer Andy Crestodina set the record straight:
“It’s easy to compete against AI. Just do what AI doesn’t do, which is: have an opinion.”
A 2024 report by Prodactive found that companies mostly use AI writing tools to generate ideas (71%), create content (68%), and draft articles (47%). Think of the role of a secretary, personal assistant, or intern — individuals who do the time-intensive, detail-oriented tasks that those strategizing can’t focus on. AI is slowly rising to fill that executive gap for those of us who don’t have a big team behind us.
So what does this mean for you — at your desk job, your home office, or that coffee shop with wifi? How can you turn AI into the in-house secretary, research team, editor and proofreader of your dreams?
Every industry is adopting AI. Don’t get left behind! Bring your innovation, strategy, and personal opinions with you — and let AI do the busy work so you can package your vision more effectively.
Use AI to Eliminate Distractions
The hardest part about writing is finding the time to focus. Use ChatGPT to plan around your distractions. Feed it your to-do list and it can map out a strategy to tackle the day. If you manage a team, this can be particularly helpful as ChatGPT can check all the variables.
Organize your to-do list by any criteria you prefer: by task length (get the heaviest work done while you have the most energy!), team vs. individual work (important if you flex your schedule and might work outside of typical office hours), or whatever you feel like prioritizing that day.
You can also use Copilot (integrated with Microsoft) or Gemini (integrated with Google) to draft quick emails for you, so you can save your writing brain for heavier work. Just remember: always double-check the information and tone! Human interaction always brings its own complexities.
AI Can Sift Through Data and Links For You
The first step of research is the most time-consuming: diving into an ocean of information to get your bearings so that you can refine your approach. Whether you’re tackling a report, a research paper, or a list of raw data, a tool like Aria (integrated with Opera) can crunch it for you and return the main leads. Keep in mind that different tools might have different character limits.
Many of us had the experience of seeing this on Google Search when it first integrated Gemini in early 2024, spitting out a list of pre-digested sources (although you had to take them with a grain of salt). While you now need to seek out Gemini directly, a carefully-crafted prompt can generate a list of links that you can draw from, as well as a bird’s-eye view of the information you’re working with.
Remember: AI isn’t always good at keeping dates accurate and clarifying nuances — it ultimately favors what it identifies as straightforward fact, which could be the result of individual biases on the internet. That’s where you come in to comb through the findings. Stay informed about strategies to avoid spreading misinformation and determine how to curate your sources when working with AI.
Let AI Write WITH You, Not FOR You
Gone are the days of Microsoft Word’s Clippy, popping up with unhelpful ideas! Google Docs’ Gemini is probably the most comfortable of these tools, if you’re using it already — but Copilot is now integrated into many workplace accounts. Prodactive found that 86% of businesses use AI for keyword research, article outlining, and article writing; 48% for sales copywriting purposes; and 35% for creating social media texts and or images.
No matter what you’re working on, AI can help brainstorm and outline your ideas. This is especially helpful for a presentation, slideshow, or report — or even an email where you need to get your vision across clearly
AI formatting is predictable. It favors bullet points, straightforward language, and linear ways of thinking. This can be an asset or a deterrent, depending on the outcome you’re looking for! Learn to identify AI formatting and “buzzwords” that might make your draft read AI-generated. Then, identify places where your personal voice, opinion, or story can uplift the material.
Use AI to gain a third-person perspective when you feel too close to the work. AI tools can proofread — whether it’s Grammarly or ChatGPT (both can offer pretty in-depth feedback). If you need to describe your project, write an abstract, or optimize for SEO: AI writing tools can help create summaries and taglines. Word Conscious favors Gemini in Google Docs or ChatGPT, just for their ease of use!
Don’t Forget About Security
AI is safe to use — except when it isn’t. You might need to ensure that information you give AI writing tools remains confidential, especially when working for an employer.
AI tools may not store what you write in full conversational format (beyond developing predictive text curated to your account), but most utilize your interactions to improve their model. Depending on your field, this may raise some red flags.
To address this, models such as Copilot have a safety feature integrated with its business account, which you should know how to identify if you work with private information.
Finally, not all AI writing tools were created equal. Some are good for some things but terrible at others. Word Conscious can give you the tools to identify what’s right for each application.
Master Quick and Easy AI Writing Strategies
At Word Conscious, we believe every person has a unique voice that deserves to be heard— and you deserve access to the tools that can amplify it. Check our Workshops page to sign up for one of our virtual workshops, where we dive into practical considerations for quick, effective, and safe application of AI tools.