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Still arguing with AI over a bad first draft? Try these 4 tips

October 25, 2026 · 13 min

Show notes

Do you still have a prompt formula saved somewhere, maybe an acronym from an Instagram reel that promised better answers from AI? You paste it in, swap a few words, hit send, and what comes back still misses the mark. 

Years of typing a few keywords into a search box have shaped how we talk to AI, and that habit might be costing you time and patience. 

In this How I AI episode, Neo and I look at why prompt formulas took off, what has changed since, and how to brief AI so you get better work back with far less back and forth. 

What you’ll learn: 

  • Why prompt formulas became so popular, and why they matter far less now 
  • What AI memory changes about the way you brief it 
  • The old search habit that quietly works against you 
  • A better way to give AI the background it needs 
  • How to get AI to question your idea, not just your draft 
  • Practical AI tools for productivity and focus 
  • Real-world AI workflows used by high performers 
  • How to use AI at work without burning out 
  • Smart shortcuts for managing time and mental load 

Connect with Neo Aplin on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/neoaplin/) and via inventium.ai (https://inventium.ai), where he leads Inventium's AI training and upskilling work with organisations and teams.  

Find out more about Inventium AI’s training programs at inventium.ai 

 

How I AI with Dr Amantha Imber and Neo Aplin explores how high performers are using AI at work to boost productivity, make better decisions and reduce overwhelm. 

Want more practical ways to put AI to work? You can now follow How I AI separately on Spotify or Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. 

  

My latest book The Energy Game is out now. You can order a copy here: https://amzn.to/48ID29M  

Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)  

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)  

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha.substack.com/  

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.  

Get in touch at [email protected]  

Credits:  

Host: Amantha Imber  

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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