How do you know when AI is wasting your time?
I’m always tinkering with AI tools, looking for ways to make my work faster or better. It’s both helpful and satisfying to hit on a strategy that works. But a…
Using AI to support accurate risk communication
When I was studying genetic counseling (many years ago now), I learned early on how important it is to convey risk clearly to patients and how difficult it can be.…
How to train your ear for AI-generated writing
If you’re new to using AI to help with writing, you might not yet recognize how AI-generated text “sounds.” Something you wrote with ChatGPT might seem pretty good to you,…
Lazy prompting: Small habits that lead to bad AI results
Lately I’ve caught myself getting a little bit lazy when I’m prompting AI chatbots like ChatGPT. Which is funny, because I know better. The more I use chatbots in my…
Stop hunting for the perfect prompt
Learning to interact with AI without the cut-and-paste Pre-prepared AI prompts are available everywhere. You’ll find them in places like LinkedIn posts, online AI courses, and curated prompt libraries. “Just…
Meeting that should have been an email? AI can help with that.
Part 1: Deciding whether your meeting could be an email instead Meetings suck. Unnecessary meetings waste time, get in the way of other work, and generally tick people off. They…
When you get real with ChatGPT, you get advice you can actually use
I’ve gotten advice (from people who know what they’re talking about) that I knew right away I was never going to follow. I said something like, “that makes sense,” or…
Stop using filler words (and fix the real issue instead)
ChatGPT LOVES to use filler words—phrases that add bulk without substance. But they’re not just annoying, they signal poor writing.
AI slop explained: What it is, why it’s terrible, and how to fix it
Sure, you can open ChatGPT and ask it to write a report for you. But what you’ll get is bland, generic, and uninformative—what’s become known as “AI slop.” Learn how to spot and avoid writing that fills space without delivering value.
The em dash is not the problem
AI-generated writing overuses the em dash, which is where this poor punctuation mark got its bad reputation. But it’s not just an issue of overuse—the em dash is part of larger sentence patterns that make writing sound generic and robotic.
You can fix your email subject lines in 30 seconds
If you’re like me, the subject line of an email is usually an afterthought. Like, whew, I’m almost done with this message…I’ll just type some words in there real quick…SEND!…
ChatGPT loves me (and you, and everyone)
ChatGPT is my biggest fan! 🏆I bet it’s your biggest fan, too! 🏆 It’s constantly telling me how brilliant and insightful I am. It’s the digital equivalent of one of…