AI's Role Beyond Automation: Enhancing Strategic Thinking

Welcome to The Daily Spark! Your non-technical shortcut to tapping into AI’s value, a simple guide to enhancing your skills and saving you time.

Note from Nick-

As many of our kids are going back to school, Greg Shove got me thinking: AI isn’t just hype. While skeptics dismiss it, AI is becoming an essential thought partner. It’s not just about automating tasks—it’s about enhancing our thinking. Soon, the smartest people will be the ones embracing AI. About our kids? I’ll be including a section on AI for our kids soon as I explore this ‘partnership’ between AI and our thinking… one good test of it’s value will be if it helps or harms our kids. Let’s not repeat what we did to them with Social Media.

Jump to Section:

• AI NEWS THE EXPERTS ARE READING

• TODAYS TERM

• PROMPTS

• AI AGENTS

• AI TOOLS

• AI AUTOMATION

• TECH STACK TROUBLESHOOT

CURATED AI NEWS

AI NEWS THE EXPERTS ARE READING
I Read All the Newsletters So You Only Have to Read One

Popular Headlines

Elon Musk and xAI Announce 'Colossus’ Elon Musk’s xAI just launched “Colossus,” a massive AI training cluster with 100,000 Nvidia H100 GPUs, which was built in a mere 122 days. This new cluster aims to put pressure on other AI giants like OpenAI and Google.

OpenAI to Develop AI Chips with TSMC, Apple OpenAI is planning to develop its own in-house AI chips using TSMC’s advanced 1.6mm A16 process node. They could potentially partner with Broadcom, Marvell, or Apple for the chip design.

UK's First AI Classroom A London private school is opening the UK's first classroom featuring AI computers for personalized and precise learning, removing the need for human teachers.

Nerdy News

Generative AI Meets CRISPR Gene Editing Researchers at Profluent Bio used AI to create OpenCRISPR-1, a novel gene-editing tool surpassing the performance and safety of current CRISPR systems. It leverages Large Language Models to design new protein structures for gene editing.

TECH TRANSLATED

TODAYS TERM
AI Alignment

Technical Definition:

AI Alignment refers to the process and methods used to ensure that an artificial intelligence system's objectives and behaviors are aligned with human values, ethical standards, and intended goals. This involves designing AI algorithms that make decisions in a way that is predictable, controllable, and beneficial to humans.

For a business, AI Alignment ensures that AI systems make decisions that align with the company's objectives and values, reducing the risk of unintended outcomes. This is crucial in areas such as customer service, risk management, and strategic planning where automated decisions can have significant impacts.

Executives can leverage AI Alignment to build trust with stakeholders by demonstrating a commitment to ethical AI practices. This can lead to stronger brand loyalty and a competitive edge. For example, an aligned AI in customer service can enhance user satisfaction by ensuring responses are not only accurate but also respectful and empathetic, thus fostering a positive brand image.

AI APPLIED

PROMPTS
TASK: Use Porter’s Five Forces for Ideas

Directions: Copy and paste into ChatGPT, Meta AI, Claude, etc. Edit text to fit your specific case or to experiment for different results.
Tips: To maximize this prompt, provide detailed business context and specific challenges, consider long-term industry changes, refine the analysis, and use the output as a strategic foundation.

AI AGENTS
TASK: Solve Organizational Skill Gaps

AI Agents Ideas

OrgChart Optimizer:
Functionality: This agent analyzes the current organizational chart to identify missing roles, redundant positions, and overlapping responsibilities.
Key Features: Visualize gaps, suggest restructuring options, and provide role clarity.

Skillset Synergy Analyzer:
Functionality: An agent that examines the skills and competencies required for different roles within the organization to identify skill gaps or areas for upskilling.
Key Features: Skills mapping, competency gap analysis, and training recommendations.

Role Effectiveness Evaluator:
Functionality: This agent evaluates the effectiveness and efficiency of each role based on performance metrics, team feedback, and industry benchmarks.
Key Features: Performance analysis, effectiveness ratings, and improvement recommendations.

AI TOOLS
TASK: Close Skill Gaps

AI Tool for the Task
💥Cornerstone AI generates job content metadata to automatically curate learning collections to close skill gaps.

AI AUTOMATION
Automate Follow Up

To automate direct report follow-up emails, you can use AI tools combined with automation platforms such as Zapier, Make.com, or custom scripts in conjunction with an AI email generator. Here's an example using Zapier and OpenAI's GPT for the email generation part:

Define the Automation Flow

Trigger Event: When a task is delegated and added to a project management tool (like Asana, Trello, or Monday.com).

Action 1: Wait until the due date approaches (set a specific lead time, e.g., 2 days before the due date).

Action 2: Check if the task is marked as completed.

Action 3: If not completed, generate a follow-up email using OpenAI's GPT.

Action 4: Send the follow-up email via Gmail or another email service.

Prompt: "Generate a professional follow-up email reminding an employee named [Employee_Name] to complete the task: [Task_Title]. The email should politely remind the employee of the pending task and offer assistance if needed."

TECH STACK TROUBLESHOOT
Microsoft Copilot Best Practices

Customize and Provide Feedback

Tailor to Your Style: Adjust Copilot's settings to align with your specific writing style and preferences. This customization helps Copilot better understand your needs and provide more relevant suggestions.

Regular Feedback: Continuously provide feedback on Copilot's outputs. This feedback loop allows the AI to refine its algorithms and improve its performance over time, making it more attuned to your specific requirements.

Explore and Experiment

Discover Features: Encourage users to explore the full range of Copilot's capabilities. Experimenting with different features can lead to innovative applications and optimized workflows.

Test New Applications: Try using Copilot in various scenarios to uncover new ways it can assist in daily tasks, such as drafting documents, analyzing data, or managing emails.

Understand Limitations

Acknowledge Strengths and Weaknesses: Recognize that while Copilot excels in automating routine tasks and providing suggestions, it may require human oversight for tasks that demand critical thinking or specialized knowledge.

Human Oversight: Always review AI-generated content to ensure accuracy and relevance. This is crucial for maintaining quality and reliability, especially in contexts that require precise information.

Complex Tasks: For complex data analysis or nuanced content creation, manual intervention might be necessary to achieve the desired outcomes.