Are all the 'best of AI uses and prompts' lists just garbage?

Wait... I mean opinions, clearly they're not garbage...spam maybe, but not likely garbage.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a hot topic for a few years and has grown exponentially over the last few months. #obvs

With that, many lists have been shared online (the Twitter threads are prolific if you search) that highlight the "best" uses and prompts for AI.

While some valuable and interesting AI use cases and prompts are being shared, it's important to approach these lists critically and evaluate the sources and evidence behind the claims being made before you dive fully in.

I’ve been keeping my eye on some of these lists as they are uncovering some incredible tools and prompts to use, but, unless there are some great examples behind the list of logos, not just one-hit wonders, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of evidence behind the claims being made.

For example, some of these “best uses” or prompts are merely opinions without any real proof that they work better than other methods or approaches. Some of the lists don’t give an adequate explanation of how to use the tools or prompts, making it difficult for those without a lot of AI experience to get any real value from them or follow up prompts to really support what you're starting with.

One of the first things to consider when viewing such lists is, who is creating the list and why.

Some lists may be created by reputable organizations or experts in the field, while others may be created by individuals or companies with a vested interest in promoting certain AI technologies or applications. Others could be being created by individuals that have been using the technology for a time period and are very kindly sharing their opinions of what they've done and how it's worked. Either way, it's important to consider the credibility of the source and whether their motives align with your own interests.

Another thing to keep in mind is that AI is a rapidly evolving field, and what may be considered the "best" use cases and prompts today may not necessarily be the same in the future... tomorrow. Many of these incredible developments are changing overnight, so to remain relevant, it's important to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in AI and be willing to adapt your thinking as new information becomes available.

Clearly, there are experts in their field sharing best practices of what they have done well, but just like the "fake news" spread throughout various presidential and election campaigns, you should do your own research and find the relevance to "you".

I'm not going to be completely negative about the sharing of such lists btw... I've found some absolute gems that have helped me and clients in certain areas, but it's essential to do your due diligence before adopting any of these “best uses” or prompts.

So in short, not all "best of AI uses and prompts" lists are garbage, wait sorry, I mean opinions... however, it is important to approach them critically and evaluate the sources and evidence before fully committing.

Take time to research the tools out there, and if you decide to use some of the tools or prompts that show up on these lists then do so with caution - do you know the bias behind the technology or source for example?

While not all of these lists may be accurate or unbiased, there are certainly valuable insights to be gained from the collective wisdom of the AI community. By approaching these lists with a critical eye and a willingness to learn, we can gain a deeper understanding of the potential and limitations of AI and its many, many applications.

Don’t just take the list you find as is; instead, use it to further investigate options that might be right for you. By doing so, you can ensure that any implementation of AI tools or prompts you use, will be based on relevance to you, your job, and your audience.

In the end, what works best for your organization might be something entirely different from what is promoted on such a list. By researching a bit deeper and understanding the technology you are implementing, you can make sure that your organization is making informed decisions about its use of AI tools and prompts. With this critical approach, you can be confident that any implementation of AI will be fully in line with your organizational goals and objectives.