Getting Started with AI Tools
An introductory session on getting started with AI tools, assessing participants' current workflows, and setting the foundation for the coaching curriculum.
Key Takeaways
- Speed and accessibility are key — set up keyboard shortcuts for instant AI access
- Context must be well-structured for AI to understand it (JSON is better than PDF)
- Design artifacts like brand manuals and CVs should now be optimized for AI consumption first, humans second
- Start slow with small tasks — you're building a work habit, not learning a tool
- Never mix personal accounts with company data; always check your company's AI policies
What We Covered
Teaching Philosophy & Curriculum
Otakar outlined the 2-month coaching arc and hands-on approach:
- Learn by doing – Focus on solving actual problems participants face, not abstract exercises
- Prompting fundamentals – How to interact with AI effectively
- Context preparation – Building structured context libraries AI can understand
- AI Fluency Framework – Anthropic's ethical approach to AI use
- Workflows & agents – Advanced automation (later stage)
Tool Comparison
A high-level overview of the three leading AI tools:
- Claude – Most advanced for work and programming tasks, lacks image generation
- ChatGPT – Industry standard, excellent for images and search, balanced all-rounder
- Gemini – Google's offering, good for workspace integration, slower to innovate
Data Security & Company Policies
Critical guidance on handling company data with AI tools:
- Never mix accounts – Personal accounts should never be used for company data
- Check with IT – Always ask which tools are approved for work use
- Push for change – If no AI policy exists, advocate for one
The core problem: even storing company data in personal Gmail already violates most policies. Small breaches cascade into bigger risks.
Brand Manuals for AI
A paradigm shift in how we create design documentation:
- Traditional – 120-page PDFs designed for humans to read
- Modern – JSON files and structured text designed for AI to parse
- Why it matters – CVs, design playbooks, and brand manuals are now read by AI systems first
Vibe Coding
An introduction to telling AI to write code for you — no programming knowledge required:
- Great for – Rapid prototyping, basic websites, first concepts
- Limitations – Deployment can be tricky, code may not match backend frameworks
- Key insight – You don't even need to see the code
AI Fluency Framework
A brief introduction to Anthropic's 4D Framework — four interconnected competencies for effective, efficient, ethical and safe AI use:
- Delegation – Setting goals and deciding whether, when and how to engage with AI
- Description – Effectively describing goals to prompt useful AI behaviors and outputs
- Discernment – Accurately assessing the usefulness of AI outputs and behaviors
- Diligence – Taking responsibility for what we do with AI and how we do it
"Speed is really important... that's what it's all about, right? That it starts saving you time."
Use Cases
Topics and challenges participants brought to the session.
Questions Asked
Q Which AI tools should I use for the topics and areas I need help with?
It depends on your needs. ChatGPT is the best all-rounder — excellent for images, search, and general tasks. Claude excels at work and programming tasks. Gemini integrates well with Google Workspace. Start with one and expand as you learn your workflow.
Q Is there a language that is ideal for AI?
No significant performance difference between languages. AI models are trained on massive multilingual datasets including Wikipedia and the broader internet. You can work in German, English, or any language comfortably.
Q Would you recommend starting with ChatGPT?
Yes — start with paid ChatGPT. It's the industry standard and most versatile option. Try the free week first to see if it fits your needs, then subscribe if it does.
Q What's the difference between Claude and ChatGPT?
Claude is more advanced for work tasks and programming. ChatGPT is better for image generation and general use. Both are excellent — the choice depends on what you need most.
Q Is it worth it to pay for just one subscription?
Start with one paid subscription — ChatGPT is recommended for beginners. Add Claude later if you need it for specific work tasks. No need to pay for everything at once.
Q Is the data secure or would you not save any sensitive data there?
Enterprise accounts are secure, but always check your company's AI policy first. The critical rule: never use personal accounts for work data. Even if the servers are secure, you've already broken company policy by putting data where it shouldn't be.
Q Could vibe coding help me with my website?
Yes — vibe coding means telling AI to write code for you without needing to understand the code yourself. It's great for prototyping and creating basic websites in minutes, but has limitations for serious production sites.
Homework
- Pick one item from your to-do list and explore how AI can help — not just to do it, but ask AI how it would approach the task