Podcast Summary: AI Explored – “Building Foundational AI Skills for Business”
Podcast Information:
- Title: AI Explored
- Host: Michael Stelzner, Social Media Examiner
- Description: This podcast is tailored for marketers, creators, and business owners eager to harness the power of AI. Hosted by Michael Stelzner, founder of Social Media Examiner, each episode delves into practical and actionable AI strategies to boost your business.
- Episode: Building Foundational AI Skills for Business
- Release Date: November 26, 2024
1. Introduction
In this episode of AI Explored, host Michael Stelzner welcomes Nicole Leffer, an AI advisor specializing in training B2B marketing teams. The focus of their discussion centers on building essential AI skills within businesses to maximize efficiency and innovation.
Quote:
“If you are someone who's been utilizing AI for quite a while, even though the title of it is Fundamentals, and it's about fundamentals, there are some really cool stuff that we're going to talk about today that I think you definitely do not want to miss."
— Michael Stelzner [00:39]
2. Guest Background and Journey into AI
Nicole Leffer shares her journey into the AI world, highlighting how her initial foray began unintentionally while serving as a CMO for a B2B SaaS company. In 2021, she discovered an AI writing tool called Any Word, which ignited her passion for AI. This early adoption led her team to integrate AI tools extensively, even before the widespread popularity of platforms like ChatGPT.
Quote:
“We went, I don't care what it's made for, we are figuring out how to kind of hack around what it's made for and use this for all the things."
— Michael Stelzner [02:57]
Nicole's proactive approach and expertise garnered attention within her CMO community, leading her to conduct webinars that eventually transformed her career from a CMO to a full-time AI advisor in early 2023. Since then, she has collaborated with a diverse range of companies, from startups to Fortune 50 giants, helping them adopt and leverage AI effectively.
3. Building Fundamental AI Skills: Framework and Key Components
Nicole elaborates on her structured approach to enhancing AI skills within businesses. The framework comprises several critical components:
a. Effective Communication with AI
Understanding how to communicate with AI tools is paramount. Nicole emphasizes the importance of crafting precise prompts to elicit desired responses from AI systems.
Quote:
“The first thing you need to learn about using generative AI is how to talk to the AI in a way that works for you."
— Michael Stelzner [12:08]
Michael adds that developing a unique communication style with AI is essential for tailoring outputs to specific needs.
b. Mastering Prompt Engineering
While Michael prefers the term "prompting" over "prompt engineering," the essence lies in providing clear and contextual instructions to the AI. He suggests initiating prompts with a persona declaration to set the framework for the AI's responses.
Quote:
“You are the best social media marketer with specialized expertise in LinkedIn B2B copywriting in the world... whatever it is, get really specific."
— Michael Stelzner [15:08]
c. Understanding AI Tool Capabilities
Different AI tools offer varying features. Nicole advises users to comprehend the inputs (like PDFs, images) and outputs (such as tables, code, images) that their chosen AI tools can handle. This knowledge ensures optimal utilization of AI functionalities.
4. Communication with AI: Prompting Techniques
Michael delves deeper into effective prompting strategies, highlighting nuanced differences in language that significantly impact AI responses.
Key Points:
-
Using “You Are” vs. “Act As”: Michael's A/B testing revealed that starting prompts with “You are” yields more accurate and engaged responses compared to “Act as.”
Quote:
"If you tell it you are something, you actually personify it.... You are versus act as is a very big difference."
— Michael Stelzner [15:15] -
Politeness Enhances Output Quality: Contrary to some viral advice, being polite by using phrases like "please" and "thank you" improves AI response quality.
Quote:
“The more human the psychology you use with it, the better it's going to be."
— Michael Stelzner [16:33] -
Chain of Thought: Incorporating a step-by-step reasoning process within prompts aids the AI in tackling complex tasks methodically.
Quote:
“This is very advanced, but I'm... using what are called delimiters, which are a way to give the prompt structure so that it understands different chunks of thought."
— Michael Stelzner [21:53]
5. Understanding AI Tools: Features and Capabilities
Michael and Nicole discuss the diverse functionalities of AI tools, emphasizing the importance of knowing what each tool can and cannot do. They touch upon:
- Input Types: Text, PDFs, images, and voice memos.
- Output Formats: Tables, code snippets, images, audio files, and formatted documents.
- Internet Connectivity: Understanding whether AI tools can search the internet in real-time or rely on pre-trained data sets with specific cutoff dates.
Quote:
“Sometimes it [AI] understands its capabilities, sometimes it does not. But that training cutoff can be challenging."
— Michael Stelzner [29:07]
Nicole highlights that while tools like Claude may not search the internet, others like ChatGPT have more advanced input modes, including voice.
6. Outputs from AI: Beyond Text
The conversation shifts to the expanded output capabilities of AI tools. Beyond generating plain text, AI can produce:
- Structured Data: Tables, CSV files, and Excel documents.
- Visual Content: Infographics, graphs, and artistic images via generators like DALL-E.
- Audio Content: AI-generated voiceovers and audio files.
- Formatted Documents: Markdown, HTML, and other formatted text structures.
Quote:
“You can do beyond the text, you can do tables... you might be able to create images, you might be able to create infographics."
— Michael Stelzner [36:36]
7. AI Automation Examples
Michael shares a personal example of leveraging AI automation to enhance his travel journaling. Using tools like Zapier, he set up an automation that transcribed voice memos, organized trip notes, and generated reviews effortlessly.
Key Features:
- Voice Input: Recording daily experiences via voice memos.
- Email Triggers: Sending transcriptions and notes through automated email handling.
- Document Creation: Generating organized journal entries and reviews in Google Docs.
Quote:
“I have it in different formats and a separate email with all of the reviews in case I wanted to post them. And so I have a fully documented two and a half week trip to Europe."
— Michael Stelzner [46:20]
8. The Evolving AI Landscape and Future Directions
The duo reflects on the rapid evolution of AI technologies. They discuss the continuous improvements in AI models, the integration of new features, and the expanding capabilities that keep enhancing user experiences.
Quote:
“It's like, oh my gosh, I literally have an expert to work on anything with me at any given time and give me skills I've never learned how to do."
— Michael Stelzner [41:38]
Nicole cites statistical insights from their 2024 Generative AI Marketing Industry Report, revealing that 37% of marketers use AI daily, and 64% engage with it weekly, underscoring AI's integral role in modern workflows.
9. Conclusion
In wrapping up, Michael and Nicole emphasize the importance of ongoing learning and adaptation in the AI landscape. They encourage listeners to develop their unique AI communication styles, explore diverse AI functionalities, and integrate automation to unlock unprecedented productivity and creativity.
Final Thoughts:
“Everybody needs to understand it is evolving so fast. Would you agree?"
— Nicole Leffer [41:38]
“This was a really fun conversation."
— Michael Stelzner [47:37]
Listeners are encouraged to connect with Nicole through LinkedIn and her website for further training and resources. Additionally, promoting the Social Media Marketing World 2025 conference, Nicole highlights opportunities for live AI training from industry experts.
Resources:
- Show Notes: Socialmediaexaminer.com/podcast/
- Nicole Leffer’s Website: NicoleLeffer.com
- AI Ticket for Social Media Marketing World 2025: socialmediaexaminer.com/AIcon
This episode serves as an invaluable guide for businesses and marketers aiming to build and refine their foundational AI skills, ensuring they remain competitive and innovative in an increasingly AI-driven marketplace.