How do you use AI?
Discussion
Just interested really. So far for me, I've used it to draft things like privacy/cookie policies for a website (which I've gone through and made certain changes), I use Plaud Pro for note taking in some meetings and at an AGM which has been useful. I've used it once or twice to summarise longer documents but I don't trust it 100%.
Other than that, I used it for some images for the same website.
MS Office comes with Co-Pilot but it's been very unobtrusive and I really don't get how it could be used to benefit me, but openminded as to how it might.
What's your experience with AI and how are you using it to boost productivity?
Other than that, I used it for some images for the same website.
MS Office comes with Co-Pilot but it's been very unobtrusive and I really don't get how it could be used to benefit me, but openminded as to how it might.
What's your experience with AI and how are you using it to boost productivity?
At work I use it to polish powerpoint presentations and summarise long emails.
At home, I use it to research. For example I am having solar fitted so wanted it to tell me what tariff would be ideal. The issue of course is to ensure you check as the tariff it suggested had a flaw in it.
At home, I use it to research. For example I am having solar fitted so wanted it to tell me what tariff would be ideal. The issue of course is to ensure you check as the tariff it suggested had a flaw in it.
I discuss all sorts with it, take everything with a pinch of salt but its like talking to a very friendly, often witty person with the most knowledge and insight I have ever encountered.
I get it to write SQL scripts, certainly as a starting point.
I bung error messages in as a first step.
I use it to ask about car stuff.
Was ill this weekend and asked it loads of questions, no substitute for a doctor but it does give some fairly decent advice.
I looked someone up and it grabbed all the stuff from companies house about them and summarised it.
Do the odd image
Not even scratched the surface. Did use ChatGPT but it was the free version, have a Google account and Gemini on that is included and seems a bit better and doesnt say I have run out of questions and take ages for an image.
I get it to write SQL scripts, certainly as a starting point.
I bung error messages in as a first step.
I use it to ask about car stuff.
Was ill this weekend and asked it loads of questions, no substitute for a doctor but it does give some fairly decent advice.
I looked someone up and it grabbed all the stuff from companies house about them and summarised it.
Do the odd image
Not even scratched the surface. Did use ChatGPT but it was the free version, have a Google account and Gemini on that is included and seems a bit better and doesnt say I have run out of questions and take ages for an image.
The only really useful thing I've found for it is creating invites for parties and icons for group chats arranging said parties. Usually need a few prompts to get what I was after, but it's not bad. The weirdness you get actually works in this kind of situation.
I don't use it professionally. The NHS has somewhat pushed using Copilot. Use it to write an email, use it to summarise an email. Seems pointless to me and prone to errors especially handling patient info.
I don't use it professionally. The NHS has somewhat pushed using Copilot. Use it to write an email, use it to summarise an email. Seems pointless to me and prone to errors especially handling patient info.
It’s quite helpful when searching google for something like a torque setting as you usually don’t need to wade through lots of websites etc.
I do hate AI generated descriptions on eBay items, and usually skip the item if the seller can’t be bothered to write a description that makes some sort of sense.
I do hate AI generated descriptions on eBay items, and usually skip the item if the seller can’t be bothered to write a description that makes some sort of sense.
I use ChatGPT for personal research and fact finding, prior to making purchases. It’s sometimes helpful with health and financial advice too.
My son uses Claude to ‘vibe code’ his current web app which is now turning over $16k a month. He uses his voice to guide Claude to deliver what he wants. He’s an experienced developer using Claude to code faster.
My son uses Claude to ‘vibe code’ his current web app which is now turning over $16k a month. He uses his voice to guide Claude to deliver what he wants. He’s an experienced developer using Claude to code faster.
All the time, it's not doing stuff I can't do myself but acceleration of coding, wording, images, and also research where normally I'd have to go through a bunch of info to bring it all together.
Hedobot said:
Code prototypes in rust,c, python etc
Creating artwork, made a rather nice image for a splashback
Bring dead relatives back to life
Interesting could you elaborate on the last point?Creating artwork, made a rather nice image for a splashback
Bring dead relatives back to life
nvubu said:
My son uses ChatGPT for help with coding, and he has learnt that he needs to understand and double check the answer he is given as it is not always correct.
I'm in a team of programmers at work and for us it has replaced Google - before we might have to search for the syntax to do something specific then read that page, paste the code into our program, then adapt it for what we need but now we ask AI and it gives us that template code to copy. We all see it as template code that needs adapting and is mostly 5-6 lines at a time.At home I've just used to create some workouts and recommend some books.
Also while I think about it I give it some code or wording and ask if where I could improve, all AI suggestions still need to go through my experience filter first sometimes it can come up with right nonsense that just reads ok, and sometimes when it's clearly wrong it doesn't accept and continues to talk with a bogus authority. Learning from experience it ain't!
fooman said:
All the time, it's not doing stuff I can't do myself but acceleration of coding, wording, images, and also research where normally I'd have to go through a bunch of info to bring it all together.
Its quite engaging to see how it takes an old photo and brings them to life in whatever context you wantHedobot said:
Code prototypes in rust,c, python etc
Creating artwork, made a rather nice image for a splashback
Bring dead relatives back to life
Interesting could you elaborate on the last point?Creating artwork, made a rather nice image for a splashback
Bring dead relatives back to life
You didnt think in a re-animator kind of way did you?
I'm part of a campaign group and by necessity I have to check the law, guidance documents etc
I use AI to search in/search for documents. It's usually pretty good, but I have seen complete misrepresentations of the law and the quoting of incorrect documents e.g. workplace regs when talking about public services.
It's a good tool, but can't be trusted. You need to understand the arena you're operating in and what should be relevant to allow you to vet its replies and everything it says needs to be verified.
It's very useful for finding info in a document. "Tell me the section in this (200 page) document that talks about X" is much faster than reading the whole thing!
I use AI to search in/search for documents. It's usually pretty good, but I have seen complete misrepresentations of the law and the quoting of incorrect documents e.g. workplace regs when talking about public services.
It's a good tool, but can't be trusted. You need to understand the arena you're operating in and what should be relevant to allow you to vet its replies and everything it says needs to be verified.
It's very useful for finding info in a document. "Tell me the section in this (200 page) document that talks about X" is much faster than reading the whole thing!
I use it to create illustrations of unlikely scenarios to go with articles i write
Sometimes it is helpful to create headlines, or intro summaries of articles. Even if I don't use them they give me some ideas when my brain is frazzled.
I've tried using it for other stuff, but have found it too unreliable for stuff that I know about and can check, so I assume it is just as inaccurate for stuff I don't know too.
Asking for stuff like torque settings on car repairs is a waste of time, as i have to go and check it for accuracy so might as well just use a definitive source for the info.
Sometimes it is helpful to create headlines, or intro summaries of articles. Even if I don't use them they give me some ideas when my brain is frazzled.
I've tried using it for other stuff, but have found it too unreliable for stuff that I know about and can check, so I assume it is just as inaccurate for stuff I don't know too.
Asking for stuff like torque settings on car repairs is a waste of time, as i have to go and check it for accuracy so might as well just use a definitive source for the info.
It looks like the UK Government are about to ban all image-editing software 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgvx88md4do
Now I appreciate Photoshop doesn't only allow you to swap heads around and make people naked, but it's pretty trivial as Photoshop tasks go. Just look at the Lewis Hamilton thread on PH for example!
It's just as reasonable to say that AI is making up a naked body or a bikini body, to go with a ladies head, as it is that someone can just pick a similar looking body and Photoshop it in there.
1 minute effort vs 10 minute effort. Oh my.
So where is the line drawn with this stupidly intended law?
Why are government always in knee-jerk mode?
Why was this all ok back in 1993 when Wesley Snipes and Sean Connery had their heads swapped in Rising Sun?
Every single image editing tool on a computer for the last 40 years can do this. How on earth do you police it?
Isn't it simply better to just go after the people who do it and then stick it online and abuse others with it... ie, under the existing online comms act laws?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgvx88md4do
Now I appreciate Photoshop doesn't only allow you to swap heads around and make people naked, but it's pretty trivial as Photoshop tasks go. Just look at the Lewis Hamilton thread on PH for example!
It's just as reasonable to say that AI is making up a naked body or a bikini body, to go with a ladies head, as it is that someone can just pick a similar looking body and Photoshop it in there.
1 minute effort vs 10 minute effort. Oh my.
So where is the line drawn with this stupidly intended law?
Why are government always in knee-jerk mode?
Why was this all ok back in 1993 when Wesley Snipes and Sean Connery had their heads swapped in Rising Sun?
Every single image editing tool on a computer for the last 40 years can do this. How on earth do you police it?
Isn't it simply better to just go after the people who do it and then stick it online and abuse others with it... ie, under the existing online comms act laws?
Megaflow said:
I don 't.
Same. In fact I find all the "use AI" prompts super annoying.TX.
Edit - actually I do use the AI summaries when you search the internet for something. My understanding though is that it is killing the actual website(s) that exist below as people no longer scroll to the direct website.
I use it quite extensively in the form of Copilot in VS Code. For example we still use jQuery but I've forgotten more than I know in jQuery so Copilot fills in the gaps in my knowledge when I know what I want to do but can't remember the exact syntax or function name. I have entire classes in PHP that were 80% written by Copilot under my direction.
Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff