BERLIN: Artificial intelligence might one day be the doom of humanity, but for now it's a killer tool in the office.
Routine tasks can be made much simpler for desktop workers, as well as people in skilled trades and creative jobs, says AI consultant Sophie Hundertmark.
Sharing her favourite commands for assistants such as ChatGPT, Gemini or Perplexity, Hundertmark said it's important to "check all answers critically and refrain from entering personal data about employees, colleagues or yourself."
You do not need to thank the machine, either. "No 'please' and no 'thank you' because additional data uses more electricity and is therefore wasted energy," the expert says.
1. "Create a pros and cons list on topic XYZ"
Are you struggling to make a decision or want a balanced list of all the advantages and disadvantages of different options? A prompt like this can help: "Create a pros and cons list on ..."
2. "Help me make my working day more efficient"
AI assistants can structure the working day, prioritise tasks, draft emails, write minutes and provide inspiration. You don't need all of that but you also don't know where to begin?
Then let the AI work out where exactly it can help best. "Just ask, 'Where exactly could you help me?' or 'Ask me questions about my working day to find out how I can make it more efficient'," Hundertmark recommends.
3. "Inspire me on topic XYZ"
For specific help or specific answers, precise prompts are recommended. But sometimes it is also helpful to keep it open. "What works well, for example, is 'Inspire me on topic ...' or 'What trends and innovations should I expect in 2026?'," Hundertmark says.
If you want something more imaginative, you could also use the prompt: "How would the five greatest thinkers in history answer the following question?"
4. "Turn the following learning content into a comic"
AI can also act as a learning aid for dry material. Chatbots are great at creatively reworking content so that you can remember it better. "A funny and helpful way of doing this is to get it to create a comic for you," the expert says.
5. "How will this email come across to my boss?"
A change of perspective never hurts. AI can help with that. If you are unsure how an email will be received, ask your AI assistant. Of course it can't read minds but an initial assessment of tone can be useful.
Finally, the expert offered universal advice: "Do not be afraid of using AI, just try it out." If you stick to the rules (don't give it personal or sensitive information), little can go wrong. – dpa
