It’s November, and I’m ready to declare 2023 the biggest leap forward in my 30-year career. That’s because working with generative AI has profoundly changed the way I work, what I work on and, increasingly, how I think. Here is what I have learned in my 11 months of experimentation and exploration of tools like ChatGPT, Scite and Claude—and the lessons that may help other people make the most of these new technologies, too.

1. Ask for a quick prototype

Before dressmakers sew a silk dress, they make a “muslin”: a version of the dress made from inexpensive fabric, so they can troubleshoot before using the good stuff. That’s how I write with AI: Before I invest in drafting an article or report that may or may not work, I get ChatGPT to do a quick version. It helps me see whether the idea or structure I have in mind is going to work, and then I can adjust and do my own (better) version.

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I’ve Worked With Generative AI for Nearly a Year. Here’s What I’ve Learned.