Do I Really Need to Be Nice to My AI?

This Week

Want to know the 10 AI questions everyone asks me?

At every event I speak at, whether the room is full of AI beginners or daily power users, the same questions always come up.

Which LLM should I use?
Is the pro version worth it?
Do I really need to be polite?

The curiosity never stops, and I love it!

The more I hear these questions, the more I realize they’re the ones everyone’s thinking… but not always getting answers to.

So this week, I’m sharing the top 10 questions I get asked at every event (plus a bonus one) — and my honest answers to each.

The 10 AI Questions I’m Asked The Most

1. What LLM should I use?

• ChatGPT – My go-to all-rounder.

• Claude – Fantastic if you need a strong copywriter and want to build interactive apps.

• Gemini – Great if you’re deep in Google Workspace since it plugs right into Docs, Slides, etc. Plus the latest 2.5 Pro model is producing great outputs.

• Copilot – Best for Microsoft users. It doesn’t rank as high in my testing, but it has some handy features like Agents and creating full PowerPoint decks from a linked document.

2. Is the pro version worth it?

Yes. Across the board, here’s what you’re looking at:

• ChatGPT Plus – $20/month.

• Claude Pro – $20/month.

• Gemini Advanced – $20/month.

• Microsoft Copilot Pro – $30/month.

The upgrade gets you faster speeds, better models, more requests, and bonus features (like custom GPTs, Projects, and, with ChatGPT, screen sharing and Sora for text-to-video).

3. What happens to my prompts and files? Are they used for training?

By default, yes, unless you turn that option off.

Most LLMs let you control whether your conversations and uploads are used for training. If you want a quick how-to, check out this article from Section.

4. What’s the difference between a Project and a CustomGPT (in ChatGPT)?

Not much. The main difference is that you can share a CustomGPT with others, but Projects are private. I lean toward Projects for my own workflows.

5. Is it okay to publish AI-generated content?

AI-generated text, images, or videos exist in a legal gray zone.

Right now, output from a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT isn’t copyrightable and could overlap with existing copyrighted work. If you publish something AI-generated and it’s too close to someone else’s content, you could be liable.

Even light editing won’t fully protect you. The chances of being sued are low, but not zero. If you want reliable guidance, I recommend following Sam Vander Wielen, who breaks this down well.

6. What’s the right way to prompt?

I see too many people getting hung up on this.

There’s no “perfect” prompt, and if you’re stuck, just ask the AI how to improve what you wrote. 

GRACE is a simple starter formula I love that’s easy to remember:

G – Goal
Start by clearly stating the outcome you want.
Example: “My goal is to create a content calendar that boosts engagement on LinkedIn.”

R – Role
Define who the AI should “be.”
Example: “Act as a social media strategist with 10 years of B2B experience.”

A – Action
Specify the task.
Example: “Develop 10 post ideas with hooks and CTAs.”

C – Context
Give the background details and constraints.
Example: “Target audience: SaaS founders. Keep tone professional yet friendly.”

E – Example
Show an example or reference style.
Example: “Here’s a post I like for tone: [insert link].”

If this still feels like too much work you can grab my free prompt templates here.

7. What are your favorite AI tools?

There are too many to list, but these are my weekly staples:

• ChatGPT for strategy, content, research

• Claude for longer writing projects and ideation

• Google Meet + Gemini for call recording (also recommend Read.ai and Fathom)

• Gamma for presentations

• Descript for video editing

• Riverside for podcasting

• Canva for design

• SEOwind for search

• Clay for contact enrichment

• Lindy & Make for automations

Specialty tools I like:

• Sybill for sales deal insights and CRM updates

• Tofu for content repurposing

• Smartcat for translation

• Eleven Labs for voice agents

I’m still hunting for:

• A great productivity/calendar/task manager with strong AI (Notion is serviceable, but its AI is weak)

• A voice note taker that converts to text and integrates with Notion (or the productivity tool I replace it with!)

  Have suggestions? Hit reply: I’d love to hear them.

8. Am I harming the environment by using AI?

Short answer: yes, but not in a way that should scare you off.

Boycotting AI won’t save the planet. It will just leave you behind. Instead, focus on understanding the trade-offs and using tools with sustainability commitments (and maybe avoid Grok).

A few examples:

• Microsoft aims to be carbon negative by 2030 and has programs like AI for Earth that monitor deforestation and climate risks.

• Google uses AI for fuel-efficient routing in Maps and traffic light optimization, reducing emissions by up to 10%.

• OpenAI has pledged to cut emissions by ~42.7% by 2030 and is improving the energy efficiency of its models.

9. How do I show up in AI search?

AI search is different from traditional SEO — it’s less about keywords and more about trust signals, authority, and structured data. Think of it as teaching AI tools who you are and why you’re credible.

Here’s how to increase your chances:

1. Own your name and expertise online.
   Keep your website, LinkedIn, and other profiles up-to-date. AI tools pull a ton of data from these sources.
   

2. Publish high-quality, original content.
   Blog posts, LinkedIn articles, videos, and podcasts that answer real questions in your niche are more likely to surface in AI answers.
   

3. Get mentioned by trusted sites.
   AI models lean on reliable sources. Guest posts, interviews, or press features can give your brand more weight.
   

4. Use structured data (schema) on your website.
   This makes it easier for search engines and AI crawlers to understand what your content is about.
   

5. Show expertise, authority, and trust (E-E-A-T).
   Add author bios, credentials, and testimonials wherever you can.
   

6. Stay active where your audience is.
   AI tools often reference popular discussions and communities (like Reddit, LinkedIn, or Quora). Being part of these conversations helps.

10. How do I stay ahead when AI changes so fast?”

You don’t have to master every new tool or model that drops. Instead, build a learning habit:

• Follow a few trusted newsletters (like this one 😉) and thought leaders in your field.

• Experiment with one new AI tool or feature each month.

• Do a workflow audit. Find tasks that take 30+ minutes and test ways to automate them.

The goal is to build confidence and adaptability not overwhelm yourself.

Bonus Question: Do I need to be nice to my AI?

No, it’s not going to sulk if you’re blunt, but polite, conversational prompts often lead to better results. Why?

• Politeness usually means clarity. When we ask nicely, we naturally give more detail: “Could you write a 200-word blog intro about AI trends?” is better than just typing “AI intro.”
  

• It matches how the AI was trained. LLMs learn from billions of examples of human conversation, and polite phrasing often mirrors the patterns they’re best at responding to.
  

• It sets the tone. If you want a friendly, natural-sounding response, framing your request conversationally helps the AI match that tone.

So, while “please” isn’t mandatory, treating AI like a helpful teammate usually pays off.

Got a question I didn’t answer? Hit reply or send a note to me at [email protected].

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