In Episode 1 of How to Use AI (and Automation), Tony Winyard breaks down one of the most common beginner pitfalls: treating AI like a search engine. If your only move is asking a single prompt and hoping for gold, you're barely scratching the surface.
This episode introduces a powerful mindset shift – from passive input to active collaboration – and gives you a simple framework for working with AI instead of through it.
You’ll hear:
A relatable story from Tony’s real-world AI use
A practical walkthrough of the "Five Whys" to uncover better questions
How to treat ChatGPT as a thinking partner, not a vending machine
One experiment to try today to immediately improve your results
Whether you're a freelancer, coach, or small business owner, this episode will help you stop wasting time and start unlocking smarter, deeper output from your AI tools.
Transcripts
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Welcome to How to Use AI and Automation, the podcast for beginners
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who want to stop drowning in admin and start working smarter.
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If you are already deep into coding and prompt engineering,
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this show probably isn't for you.
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But if you want simple, clear ways to actually use AI in your day-to-day work
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or projects, you're in the right place.
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Today's episode is about one of the most common mistakes people make with ai.
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They treat it like Google.
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One question, one answer, done.
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But AI is not a search engine.
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It's a thinking partner.
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And today I'll show you how to use that shift to get dramatically better results.
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Big idea.
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Most people are using AI like a vending machine type of short,
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prompt, get a long answer, move on.
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But the real power of ai, especially tools like ChatGPT only shows up when you
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treat it like a brainstorming partner.
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That means back and forth dialogue, refining your ideas,
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challenging assumptions.
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Think of it like this.
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Google gives you facts.
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AI helps you think through problems.
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What makes someone effective with AI is not the prompts they copy and paste.
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It's how well they frame the problem.
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Ask better follow-ups and dig deeper.
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Let me give you a real example.
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A friend of mine was preparing a workshop on productivity.
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She asked ChatGPT, what are the best time management tips?
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It gave her a bland list, time blocking prioritisation, Pomodoro technique, and
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she was just about to close the tab.
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She then, she tried something different.
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She said, okay, pretend I'm a creative freelancer with ADHD.
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I've tried all those techniques and they don't stick.
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What else could I try?
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Now the answers were more specific, more human, and more useful ideas
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like body doubling, using novelty to spark focus and custom workflows in
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notion, same ai, better conversation.
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So how do you actually do this?
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Here's a simple three step flow to move from Google mode to thinking partner mode.
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Step one, expand.
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After your first prompt, don't stop.
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Ask, can you expand on that?
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What would this look like for me in my situation?
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What's a better way to approach this?
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Step two, refine the five whys.
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The five whys method originated with the Toyota Motor Corporation and
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is closely associated with Sakichi Toyoda, the founder of Toyota.
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I think he developed this in the 1930s.
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So let's walk through the five whys properly with an
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actual concrete AI use case.
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So imagine this scenario, a health coach asks ChatGPT, how can I get more clients?
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AI gives the usual stuff, improve your website, post on social media, et cetera.
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But now let's apply the five why's to refine the problem.
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Why do I need more clients?
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Because I'm not hitting my monthly income goal.
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Why am I not hitting my income goal?
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Because I'm only converting one in 10 discovery course.
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Why am I only converting one in 10?
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Because most of them say they can't afford it or need to think about it.
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Why are they saying that?
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Because they don't understand the value of the service.
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They think it's just basic advice.
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Why don't they understand the value?
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Because I haven't clearly shown how coaching actually
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changes outcomes in their lives.
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So the real problem uncovered.
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The issue isn't how to get more clients.
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It's how to communicate the value of coaching more effectively, likely
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through stories, case studies, and better onboarding content.
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This is where ChatGPT becomes truly helpful.
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Now you can ask.
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Help me craft a story that shows the real transformation a coaching
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client had in a way that builds trust with someone on the fence.
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That's how you go from generic noise to actionable signal.
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Step three, explore alternatives.
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Ask it to think in different directions.
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For example, what are three completely different ways to solve this?
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How would an expert challenge your answer?
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What's a contrarian take on this idea?
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Try speaking to it, using dictation, eg. The chat GPT mobile app.
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It helps you treat it like a real conversation and unlocks better responses.
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Before your next chat with ai, try this, ask your usual question,
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then immediately ask what questions should I have asked you instead?
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Or what's the real problem here?
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You'll be shocked how much further that takes you.
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If anything today wasn't clear or if you want to practice asking
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better prompts, come join my free "How to use AI" Facebook group.
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It's a safe jargon-free place to learn, ask questions, and get support
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link to in the show notes, and I look forward to seeing you next week.
