Do's and Don'ts: Your AI Compass
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What you’re taking away from L1
Section titled “What you’re taking away from L1”You’ve learned what Generative AI AI systems that can create new content — text, images, code, music — rather than just searching or classifying existing information. is, which tools exist, how to have your first conversations, and where the limits are. This lesson brings it all together — as a reference for your daily work.
The golden rules
Section titled “The golden rules”1. Provide context
Section titled “1. Provide context” Do
- Explain who you are and what you need the output for
- Name the desired format: email, list, table, prose
- Provide relevant constraints: length, tone, audience
Don't
- Ask one-word questions and hope the AI reads your mind
- Give vague instructions: 'Write something about marketing'
- Assume the AI knows your professional context
2. Verify results
Section titled “2. Verify results” Do
- Independently verify facts, numbers, and sources
- Ask the AI for its sources — and check them
- Apply the 'too perfect' test: distrust gap-free answers
Don't
- Copy AI answers unverified into reports, emails, or presentations
- Use AI for legal, medical, or financial decisions without a professional
- Trust that source citations from the AI actually exist
3. Iterate instead of asking once
Section titled “3. Iterate instead of asking once” Do
- Treat the first answer as a draft
- Follow up: 'Make it shorter', 'Focus on X', 'Change the tone'
- Work toward the result in multiple steps
Don't
- Give up after a bad answer
- Expect the first output to be publication-ready
- Pack everything into a single, overloaded prompt
4. Respect data privacy
Section titled “4. Respect data privacy” Do
- Check and configure privacy settings on first login
- Use paid/business plans for sensitive work
- Delete conversations you don't want stored
Don't
- Enter passwords, health data, or financial details
- Process confidential company data on free plans
- Assume AI chats are private — all providers store data
5. Keep AI in perspective
Section titled “5. Keep AI in perspective” Do
- See AI as a tool — powerful, but not infallible
- Try multiple tools and compare
- Keep going: AI proficiency is a skill that grows with practice
Don't
- Treat AI as all-knowing — it knows patterns, not truth
- Avoid AI entirely out of fear of mistakes
- Assume one tool is the best for everything
Your L1 checklist
Section titled “Your L1 checklist”Before moving on to L2, you should be able to answer “yes” to these:
- I know what Generative AI is and how it fundamentally works
- I’ve tried at least one AI tool
- I know what hallucinations are and how to spot them
- I’ve checked my privacy settings
- I understand that the first AI answer is a draft, not a final product
What’s next?
Section titled “What’s next?”In L2 — Intentional Prompting, you’ll learn how to move from vague questions to precise instructions. You’ll discover how a good Prompt The input you send to an AI model — your question, instruction, or task. is structured and which techniques professional users employ.
The paradigm shift of L2: From questions to instructions.