AI Recipes

Discover practical ways to use AI in your everyday work.

What are AI Recipes?

AI Recipes are practical, step-by-step guides for completing real work tasks with AI. Think of them as "how-to" guides that walk you through the entire process, from preparing your inputs to reviewing the final result.

Each recipe includes the goal you are trying to accomplish, the required information you will need to provide, suggested prompts to use, sample example of what AI can generate, and guidance for reviewing and refining results. 

AI Recipes help you understand not only what to ask AI, but also how to apply your own judgment to achieve the best result. AI is a powerful assistant, but human expertise remains essential. 

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Ingredients
(What You Provide)		The document under review; The criteria for categorizing your issues; How deep the review needs to go
Instructions
(The Prompt You Provide to AI)		Attached is a document I have to review for the key issues. List the gaps, contradictions, and unsupported claims, grouped by section, with the quoted line for each. Do not rewrite the document and do not infer intent. Where you cannot tell whether something is an error, mark it "unclear" and move on.
Initial Output
(What AI Produces)		Issues grouped by section; The quoted line behind each issue; Internal contradictions and repeated claims; Gaps against your categorization
Finishing Touches
(Where You Apply Judgment)		Check each identified issues; Decide if the categories make sense; Decide which issues go in writing
TipRead the document yourself first, then use the pass to catch what you missed
Not a Fit ForMaking decisions without checking the original document 
ServesAnyone who reviews documents
YieldOne structured list of categorized issues
Time SavedApproximately 20-30 minutes.

 

Ingredients
(What You Provide)		The full presentation; The executive audience; Maximum slide count; The decision or update required; Slides or wording that must remain
Instructions
(The Prompt You Provide to AI)		Condense this presentation to [number] slides for [audience]. Lead with the decision, recommendation, and key evidence. Remove repetition, move useful detail to an appendix, preserve required slides and all material figures, and list any important content omitted.
Initial Output
(What AI Produces)		A condensed deck; Decision and recommendation moved forward; Repeated content removed; Supporting detail shifted to an appendix; Important omissions flagged
Finishing Touches
(Where You Apply Judgment)		Confirm removed details are truly nonessential; Recheck figures and qualifications; Restore context leaders need; Decide what belongs in the appendix
TipSet a firm slide limit and identify the decision the audience must make
Not a Fit ForTechnical, legal, or regulatory presentations where omitted context could mislead
ServesAnyone preparing a concise leadership presentation
YieldOne shortened executive deck
Time SavedApproximately 45-60 minutes.

 

Ingredients
(What You Provide)		The approved brief or source document; The audience; Presentation length; The decision or takeaway; Brand template and required slides
Instructions
(The Prompt You Provide to AI)		Create a [number]-slide presentation from the attached brief for [audience]. Build a clear narrative leading to [decision], use the provided template, keep each slide focused on one message, and suggest visuals only where the source supports them. Mark missing facts as "unclear."
Initial Output
(What AI Produces)		A slide-by-slide story; Draft titles and concise body text; Suggested visuals grounded in the source; An opening, recommendation, and next step; Unsupported claims flagged
Finishing Touches
(Where You Apply Judgment)		Verify every figure and claim; Replace generic visuals with approved assets; Adjust emphasis for the room; Confirm brand, accessibility, and confidentiality requirements
TipDefine the single decision or takeaway before generating slides
Not a Fit ForFinal external presentations without fact checking, design review, and owner approval
ServesAnyone turning an approved document into a presentation
YieldOne presentation draft
Time SavedApproximately 30-60 minutes.

 

Ingredients
(What You Provide)		The finished presentation; Supporting notes or source documents; Presenter and audience; Time available; Messages that must be emphasized
Instructions
(The Prompt You Provide to AI)		Create speaker notes for each slide in this presentation for a [duration] delivery to [audience]. Add context from the supplied sources, include a transition to the next slide, and avoid reading slide text verbatim. Do not invent examples, figures, or answers; flag gaps as "unclear."
Initial Output
(What AI Produces)		Speaker notes for each slide; Suggested transitions; Timing guidance; Definitions and evidence from the source; Questions or unsupported claims flagged
Finishing Touches
(Where You Apply Judgment)		Practice against the allotted time; Rewrite notes in the presenter’s voice; Verify every example and figure; Prepare answers for likely questions
TipProvide the total speaking time so note length can be balanced across slides
Not a Fit ForScripts that must be delivered verbatim or statements requiring legal approval
ServesAnyone presenting an existing slide deck
YieldOne presentation with speaker notes
Time SavedApproximately 30-60 minutes.

 

Ingredients
(What You Provide)		Each document version; The authoritative version or section owners; Required language; The date or author of each version; Rules for resolving conflicts
Instructions
(The Prompt You Provide to AI)		Compare the attached versions of [document]. Use [version] as the baseline, identify substantive differences, and create a proposed consolidated draft. Preserve required language, do not silently resolve conflicting facts, and flag each unresolved choice with its source version.
Initial Output
(What AI Produces)		A consolidated draft; Additions and deletions summarized; Conflicting passages shown side by side; Duplicate content removed; Unresolved choices flagged
Finishing Touches
(Where You Apply Judgment)		Confirm which version is authoritative; Review every resolved conflict; Check tracked commitments, dates, and names; Obtain owner approval before replacing the source
TipName the baseline version and define which kinds of edits may be merged automatically
Not a Fit ForContracts, policies, or controlled documents without formal version management
ServesTeams combining edits from several reviewers
YieldOne consolidated draft with a difference summary
Time SavedApproximately 45-90 minutes.

 

Ingredients
(What You Provide)		The source table; The question the summary must answer; The measures to total, count, or average; The categories and dates to group by; Any filters needed
Instructions
(The Prompt You Provide to AI)		Using the table on worksheet [name], build a summary that answers [question]. Group rows by [category] and columns by [period], calculate [sum, count, or average] of [measure], and include filters for [fields]. Keep the source data unchanged and state the aggregation used for every measure.
Initial Output
(What AI Produces)		A summarized table by the requested categories; Totals, counts, or averages using the correct aggregation; Date groupings and filters; Grand totals; A short list of the largest movements or contributors
Finishing Touches
(Where You Apply Judgment)		Confirm each aggregation is appropriate; Check totals against the source; Review date groupings and excluded blanks; Decide which filters and comparisons belong in the final view
TipDefine the business question first, then choose rows, columns, and measures.
Not a Fit ForSource tables with unclear field meanings or mixed units in the same measure column
ServesAnyone creating recurring summaries from detailed records
YieldOne reusable summary table
Time SavedApproximately 30-45 minutes.

 

Ingredients
(What You Provide)		The two worksheets or tables to compare; The unique matching key; The fields that should agree; Any acceptable date or amount tolerance; Which list is authoritative
Instructions
(The Prompt You Provide to AI)		Compare [first table] with [second table] using [key column(s)]. Create a reconciliation table showing matched records, records found only in either list, and differences in [fields]. Apply a tolerance of [amount or days] where specified. Do not assume similar names are the same record; flag uncertain matches for review.
Initial Output
(What AI Produces)		A reconciliation table with matched records; Items found only in the first list; Items found only in the second list; Field-level differences; Duplicate or missing keys flagged; Summary counts by result
Finishing Touches
(Where You Apply Judgment)		Validate the matching key; Review duplicate and uncertain matches; Confirm acceptable tolerances; Investigate high-value or high-risk differences before resolving them
TipNormalize identifiers and remove extra spaces before comparing the lists
Not a Fit ForRecords without a reliable matching key or comparisons requiring subjective identity matching
ServesAnyone comparing rosters, invoices, inventories, or system exports
YieldOne reconciliation table with exception counts
Time SavedApproximately 45-90 minutes.

 

Ingredients
(What You Provide)		The worksheet and formula range; The result each formula should calculate; A few examples of expected results; Known exceptions or blank-handling rules
Instructions
(The Prompt You Provide to AI)		Review formulas in [range] on worksheet [name]. Identify errors, inconsistent references, and formulas that do not match the surrounding pattern. Correct them so they calculate [desired result], preserve intentional exceptions, and explain each type of change. Test the corrected formulas against the expected examples I provide.
Initial Output
(What AI Produces)		The source of each formula error; Corrected formulas filled through the intended range; Inconsistent references flagged; A short explanation of the correction; Sample results for review
Finishing Touches
(Where You Apply Judgment)		Confirm the business logic before accepting a correction; Check absolute and relative references; Test edge cases such as blanks, zeros, and missing lookup values; Review a few results manually
TipProvide the expected result for at least two rows so the formula logic can be tested
Not a Fit ForCalculations whose business rules have not been defined
ServesAnyone maintaining a workbook with repeated formulas
YieldOne corrected formula range with an issue summary
Time SavedApproximately 15-30 minutes.

 

Ingredients
(What You Provide)		The raw worksheet or export; The columns to clean; Required date, number, and text formats; Valid category values; The field or fields that identify duplicates
Instructions
(The Prompt You Provide to AI)		On worksheet [name], review range [range] and create a cleaned copy. Standardize capitalization, spacing, dates, numbers, and the category values I provide. Flag blanks, duplicates based on [key column(s)], and values that do not match the allowed list. Do not delete or overwrite the original data, and summarize the changes made.
Initial Output
(What AI Produces)		A cleaned copy of the data; Consistent capitalization, spacing, dates, and numbers; Duplicate and blank records flagged; Invalid category values identified; A summary of every change made
Finishing Touches
(Where You Apply Judgment)		Review every flagged duplicate and blank; Confirm legitimate exceptions; Spot-check dates, numbers, and category mappings against the source; Decide which proposed corrections to accept
TipKeep the original export on a separate worksheet before cleaning
Not a Fit ForAutomated changes to regulated or source-of-record data without an owner review
ServesAnyone preparing spreadsheet data for analysis
YieldOne cleaned, analysis-ready table
Time SavedApproximately 30-60 minutes.

 

Ingredients
(What You Provide)		The Excel workbook; The cells or columns to update; The approved dropdown options; The fill and font formatting for each option; Whether blanks should be allowed
Instructions
(The Prompt You Provide to AI)		Apply the following formatting when each option is selected: [option and formatting rules]. Preserve existing values and formatting outside the specified range. Flag any existing entries that are not included in the approved options rather than replacing them.
Initial Output
(What AI Produces)		Dropdown lists in the specified cells; Data entry restricted to approved options; Color and font formatting applied based on each selection; Existing invalid entries flagged
Finishing Touches
(Where You Apply Judgment)		Test every dropdown option; Confirm blanks and invalid entries are handled correctly; Check that existing data was preserved; Verify that the colors and text remain readable and accessible
TipProvide a sample cell formatted for each option so the intended colors and font styles are unambiguous.
Not a Fit ForFree-form responses, long text entries, or fields that require options to change automatically from another data source
ServesAnyone standardizing data entry in an Excel workbook
YieldOne range with validated, color-coded dropdown lists
Time SavedApproximately 15-30 minutes.

 

Ingredients
(What You Provide)		Competitor pages and datasheets; Which competitors to include in the analysis; What categories to analyze
Instructions
(The Prompt You Provide to AI)		Using the competitor pages and datasheets attached, build a comparison table across the categories listed. For every cell, quote the source line it came from. Do not use outside knowledge and do not infer missing information; where a page does not state something, write "unclear."
Initial Output
(What AI Produces)		A table with a quoted source per cell; Where the offerings genuinely differ; Claims that are not substantiated; The date each page was captured
Finishing Touches
(Where You Apply Judgment)		Verify each quoted cell against its page; Correct claims marketing pages overstate; Decide what should not leave the team
TipBe specific about what categories you want analyzed across the board
Not a Fit ForPublished work, or conclusions drawn without the primary source
ServesAnyone sizing up competitors
YieldOne comparison table with sourced cells
Time SavedApproximately 2-4 hours

 

Ingredients
(What You Provide)		The finished document you already have; The decision the new audience has to make; What that audience already knows and cares about; Length, format, and tone they expect
Instructions
(The Prompt You Provide to AI)		Attached is a document written for my [project] team. Rewrite it for [senior leadership] in about [400] words, leading with the decision and the cost. Keep every fact unchanged and do not add context I have not given you. If a term needs background I did not supply, mark it "unclear" instead of explaining it yourself.
Initial Output
(What AI Produces)		A version tailored to the new audience; Sections reordered by what they care about; Plain-language swaps for internal jargon; A shorter opening that states the ask; Terms it could not translate, marked unclear
Finishing Touches
(Where You Apply Judgment)		Check that key facts have not been changed; Fix any wrong assumptions; Decide what should be included for this audience
TipSay what the audience will do with it, not just their job title
Not a Fit ForChanging substantive meaning for new audience
ServesAnyone who needs to inform multiple audiences on the same concept
YieldOne audience-specific version
Time SavedApproximately 30-60 minutes.

 

Ingredients
(What You Provide)		Your existing draft, in full; What the reader should focus on; Wording that is fixed for internal reasons; Target word count and level of detail
Instructions
(The Prompt You Provide to AI)		Attached is my draft and the word count [number] I need. Cut it to length without losing facts, and return the edited text plus a short list of what was removed. Add nothing new. Keep ambiguous sentences and mark them "unclear."
Initial Output
(What AI Produces)		A shorter version of your draft; A list of what was cut; Flagged repetition and filler; Simpler wording for dense passages; Sentences it could not interpret, marked unclear
Finishing Touches
(Where You Apply Judgment)		Read the edited output against your draft so no meaning is lost; Restore any wording or phrasing that has to stay exact; Decide which claims should stay firm
TipAttach the whole draft for editing and review
Not a Fit ForAny situation that does not allow AI usage
ServesAnyone who wants to edit and streamline a draft
YieldOne tightened draft
Time SavedApproximately 20-40 minutes.

 

Ingredients
(What You Provide)		Your outline, with headings and key points; The decision this document should produce; Names, dates, and history only you know; Target length, format, and who reads it
Instructions
(The Prompt You Provide to AI)		Attached is my outline and my background notes. Write a first draft that follows the outline headings in order, about 800 words, in plain prose with no bullets. Use only what I have given you: do not infer missing facts, figures, or names. Where the outline is thin, mark the gap as "unclear." instead of filling it in.
Initial Output
(What AI Produces)		A draft that follows your outline order; Section headings and transitions; A consistent tone across sections; A short list of open questions; Any point it could not source, marked unclear
Finishing Touches
(Where You Apply Judgment)		Check that every claim is from the outline with nothing invented; Fix the details in the draft; Decide what should not be shared as written; Edit in your own words
TipMake sure your outline is detailed and has the key points you want to make
Not a Fit ForAny situation that does not allow AI usage for drafts
ServesAnyone who wants to start with a first draft
YieldOne complete first draft
Time SavedApproximately 45-90 minutes.

 

Ingredients
(What You Provide)		The spreadsheet with summarized numbers you want to show; The single point the chart must make; Who reads it and what they already know
Instructions
(The Prompt You Provide to AI)		Below are summarized figures and the point I need to make from this data. Recommend one chart type, state which fields go on which axis, and draft a one-line caption stating the takeaway. Do not add figures that are not in the data or claim a cause
Initial Output
(What AI Produces)		One recommended chart type, with the reason; Which data maps to which axis; A one-line caption stating the takeaway; A simpler alternative if the data is thin; Any claim the data does not support
Finishing Touches
(Where You Apply Judgment)		Check the caption figures against the chart; Reword the takeaway in your own terms; Decide what should not be shared as written
TipWrite the point you want to make before asking for a chart
Not a Fit ForTables with text only
ServesAnyone presenting data visually
YieldOne chart plus caption
Time SavedApproximately 20-40 minutes.

 

Ingredients
(What You Provide)		The spreadsheet or pasted table; The question you need the data to answer; What the columns mean in your team's terms
Instructions
(The Prompt You Provide to AI)		Attached is the spreadsheet with column headers and sample rows. Describe what each column holds, the row count, the date range, and any blank, duplicate, or inconsistent fields. Return a short structured summary of what this shows, not a narrative. Do not infer missing values or invent column meanings
Initial Output
(What AI Produces)		A plain-language description of each column; Row count, date range, and units; Blank, duplicate, or inconsistent fields; Questions the data can and cannot answer; Any column whose meaning is ambiguous
Finishing Touches
(Where You Apply Judgment)		Check the summary to the spreadsheet; Correct the column meanings only you know; Decide what should not be shared as written
TipIf there are too many rows, copy the headers plus 20 sample rows, not the whole file for the initial assessment.
Not a Fit ForFinal data analysis
ServesAnyone handed an unfamiliar export
YieldOne one-page data summary
Time SavedApproximately 30-45 minutes.

 

Ingredients
(What You Provide)		The idea list from the brainstorming board; The choice the themes will help you make; Which ideas came from whom, and any history
Instructions
(The Prompt You Provide to AI)		Here is a raw list of ideas from the brainstorming meeting. Group them into five to seven themes, give each a plain-language name and one line describing it, and list the ideas under each. Keep every idea; put true one-offs under Outliers. Do not merge ideas that only look similar.
Initial Output
(What AI Produces)		Five to seven named themes; One line describing each theme; The original ideas listed under each; An outliers group for true one-offs; Ideas that could sit in two themes
Finishing Touches
(Where You Apply Judgment)		Check that no idea was dropped or reworded; Rename themes to match how the team talks; Decide which ideas to attribute by name
TipChallenge back if themes do not accurately reflect the ideas
Not a Fit ForFinal presentations
ServesAnyone who runs a brainstorming meeting session
YieldOne themed summary of the session
Time SavedApproximately 1-2 hours.

 

Ingredients
(What You Provide)		The draft plan or proposal you intend to present; The approval or decision you are heading into; Who will push back, and what they care about
Instructions
(The Prompt You Provide to AI)		Here is our draft plan. Argue against it: list the eight strongest objections, each with the assumption it attacks, one or two lines each. Then give two alternatives we have not considered. Do not invent facts about our situation; label anything you cannot check as "unclear."
Initial Output
(What AI Produces)		Eight objections, strongest first; The assumption each objection attacks; Two alternatives you had not considered; The one objection hardest to answer; Objections that hinge on internal facts
Finishing Touches
(Where You Apply Judgment)		Check each objection against the actual plan; Drop the ones that are irrelevant; Decide which critiques to raise in the room
TipAsk for objections from different point of views including from different function areas
Not a Fit ForMaking final decisions
ServesAnyone presenting a plan
YieldOne objection list with responses
Time SavedApproximately 45-60 minutes.

 

Ingredients
(What You Provide)		The problem statement in one sentence; The decision the ideas will feed into; What has already been tried and why it stalled
Instructions
(The Prompt You Provide to AI)		Based on this attached problem statement and list of approaches we have already tried, generate 20 distinct options for solving it, one line each, no explanation, ordered from conventional to unconventional. Do not repeat anything on the tried list. Do not infer constraints I have not given you.
Initial Output
(What AI Produces)		20 one-line options, conventional to unconventional; Three or four options marked as lowest effort; A short note on what the list does not cover; Options that depend on facts it does not have
Finishing Touches
(Where You Apply Judgment)		Check each option against the real constraints; Cut the ones your team already rejected; Decide which options are safe to circulate
TipKnow the problem statement before using AI.
Not a Fit ForProblems that need critical thinking
ServesAnyone who is stuck at the start of a problem
Yield
One shortlist of options to discuss
Time SavedApproximately 30-45 minutes.

 

Ingredients
(What You Provide)		The thread that went quiet; The answer or action you still need; History with the person: how much push is fine
Instructions
(The Prompt You Provide to AI)		I still need the answer to this thread that went quiet. Draft a three to four line follow-up that restates the ask, notes the date it was first sent, and proposes a next step with a deadline. Keep it neutral, no guilt.
Initial Output
(What AI Produces)		A short follow-up note; The original ask, in one line; The date it was first sent; A next step with a deadline; Whether the ask was already answered
Finishing Touches
(Where You Apply Judgment)		Check the draft against the thread; Fix the tone as appropriate; Decide who should not be copied on it
TipKeep track of this thread for the reply email, or follow up again
Not a Fit ForEscalations, or anything that needs a real conversation
ServesAnyone needing to follow up on open asks
Yield
One follow-up email
Time SavedApproximately 5-10 minutes.

 

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