Which kind of help should I ask AI for? Pick the job that matches your next decision. Ask AI to explain when an instruction confuses you, compare when choosing between options, draft when you need a starting version, organize when notes are scattered, and review when you have work to check. Naming the job prevents vague, motivational answers.
When you describe a situation without naming a job, AI picks one for you. You wanted a decision and got a pep talk. You wanted one term explained and got a ten-part strategy. Naming the job up front is one of the fastest ways to get an answer you can use. This builds on our plain-language AI guide for marketers.
What are the five main jobs?
| Job | Use it when | Example request |
|---|---|---|
| Explain | A term, instruction, or concept confuses you | "Explain what 'flattening a PDF' means for someone printing my planner." |
| Compare | You're choosing between two or more options | "Compare these two ways to organize my product files for a solo seller." |
| Draft | You need a first version to react to | "Draft a short product description from these notes." |
| Organize | Your notes or tasks are scattered | "Sort these notes into decisions, open questions, and waiting tasks." |
| Review | You have finished work to check | "Review this paragraph for claims I'd need to verify." |
How do I tell explain from compare?
Ask yourself whether you're stuck on understanding or on choosing. If you don't know what a word means, you need an explanation. If you understand both options but can't decide, you need a comparison, and it should be judged against your situation, not in general.
What should a good comparison include?
Tell AI what matters to you. For a birdwatching journal, that might be whether buyers print the pages or use them on a tablet. Without that, AI may compare options against the wrong use. Ask it to name the tradeoff that matters most, such as which option creates more upkeep later.
When is "draft" the wrong job?
When the real problem is a decision you haven't made. If you're unsure who a product is for, a polished draft will just hide the uncertainty. Explain or organize first, then draft.
Can I combine jobs in one request?
Yes, in sequence. "First explain the two options, then compare them for my situation" works. Asking for everything at once, such as "explain, compare, draft, and review," usually produces a long answer that does each job poorly.
Try this prompt: "I need you to [explain / compare / draft / organize / review] [specific item]. Context: I sell [products] to [audience]. The result I need is [output]. Don't [unwanted extras]."
After AI does the job, you'll often want to adjust the result. See how to fix an answer without losing the good parts.
Key takeaways
- Name the job, or AI will choose one.
- Explain for confusion, compare for choices, draft for starting points, organize for clutter, review for checking.
- Judge comparisons against your situation.
- Do jobs in sequence, not all at once.