# Your first useful conversation with AI

Original 5HO practice material. Fictional example. Reviewed 5 October 2026.

## Useful result

You'll finish with a reviewed draft that separates facts, questions and next steps.

A blank chat box is not much of a brief. Give it one small job and enough facts to do it. Today, that job is a useful update, not a sweeping plan to transform your entire working life.

## Set up

Allow 15 minutes. Open a fresh chat in an approved AI app. A basic text chat is enough; no file upload, paid connector or automation is required.

## Practice input

Supplier call: sample approved. Delivery suggested for Friday, not confirmed. Two labels still need review. Mia will ask the supplier for a firm date. No deadline agreed for the labels.

## Do the task

1. Paste the practice notes into a new chat. Keep the original beside the answer.
2. Ask for a short update using the prompt below. Read it before requesting changes.
3. Use the refinement to make the uncertainty clearer, then compare the revised update with the notes.

## Prompt

Write a manager update from these notes. Use three headings: Confirmed, Next actions, Questions. Keep it under 120 words. Do not turn suggested dates into commitments or assign missing owners.

## Refine

Highlight every date and promise in your draft. Replace anything stronger than the notes with wording the notes actually support.

## Expected checks

Delivery should remain unconfirmed. Mia can ask for a date; she has not promised delivery. Label-review ownership and timing must stay unresolved.

## Save

Save the checked update and prompt as first-update.txt. Reuse the structure after your next supplier call.

## Sources

- Writing clear prompts: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/10032626-prompt-engineering-best-practices-for-chatgpt