Verbosity is the new brevity.
Google felt like a miracle. We could type just a word or two (“blog“) and it would magically guess what we wanted and take us there.
This shortcut spread from Google to the search built into online shopping as well. How convenient. A few words and done.
AI isn’t like that. In fact, our concision is getting in the way of the insight we’re looking for.
Go to Etsy and search for “white pants” and you’ll get more than 10,000 matches, most of them useless. Instead, type “white pants to wear to a wedding in July in lower michigan for a 30 year old woman” and you’ll get this.
AI systems like Claude and ChatGPT let you attach a PDF or text file to your query. Here’s the useful hack:
Create a document that has pages of background.
Your medical history for example. Include your age and every interaction you’ve had with the medical system, including illnesses and drugs and outcomes. Now, every time you ask a health question, attach the document.
Or, a copy of your resume, work history, letters of recommendation and career goals, all in a PDF. Upload it every time you’re asking for career advice.
It works for business plans, for customer lists and even legal documents. Upload an entire email correspondence, or a fifty page wine list.
AI isn’t impatient, easily bored or distracted.
It’s insatiable.
PS chat GPT knows a shocking amount about you, while Claude starts over every time. Neither promises airtight security, but then again, neither does American Express, Visa or Google…