SPECIAL SECTION: FOR YOUR HOME
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The power [ of AI ] is in the way you craft your prompts – it’ s got to be,‘ Be this and help me do that.’ a list of native plants that could tolerate being planted as a hedge beneath a towering Norfolk pine that had sapped the nutrients and water from two prior hedge attempts, it produced a comprehensive list that got me thinking. I’ ve since planted westringia fruticosa – coastal rosemary – to see if AI has a solution that trumps the advice I received from a number of garden professionals.
Break down chores
It sounds good in theory to delegate chores to children or household members, but if they don’ t complete all steps of the task, it often feels like we just should have done it ourselves. These days, professional organiser and declutterer Amy Revell, host of The Art of Decluttering podcast, suggests asking AI to help simplify your instructions.“ My kids are keen to do a lot of our housework because they want pocket money, but if I say to them,‘ Clean the bathroom,’ they will wipe the bench and that’ s it,” she says.“ But if I can ask an AI system to,‘ Please tell me all of the steps to clean the bathroom,’ then paste that into our family WhatsApp chat, there’ s a better chance that it will be done [ to the right standard ].”
Tackle other time consumers
Whether you’ re writing a cover letter or drafting a complaint, the agony of not knowing where to start can really eat into your day. So next time you’ re staring at a blank screen, ask AI to get you started.“ One of the great examples I heard was someone who said [ to ChatGPT ],‘ My neighbours are lovely, but their dog barks all day when I work from home. Can you help me craft a friendly note that points it out but maintains our relationship?’” McGeorge says.“ I think it’ s actually the promise we’ ve been waiting for since the industrial revolution – we’ ve now got technology that quite literally could give us more leisure time.”
Exercise caution when giving out personal information on AI software. Visit Oaic. gov. au / privacy for more information.
24 | SEP / OCT 2023 COSTCO CONNECTION