Unlocking AI's Potential: The Critical Role of Investigation and Discovery

One of the most important aspects of working with AI isn't about programming at all.

It's about investigation. Before using AI, you must clearly understand the context in which you want it to operate. This requires asking many questions—sometimes directed at stakeholders and operators, and other times at yourself for deeper insights.

To maximize AI's potential, you need to think as if you were the AI. What do you want it to do? Your instructions can't be too broad. Like any other computer program, AI requires well-defined instructions to operate consistently. How do you provide clear instructions? You set precise boundaries, considering every possible scenario. And how do you determine these boundaries? By thoroughly mapping out the environment in which you want the AI to function.

Here's an example: Suppose you're developing an AI to assist with customer support. The initial task might seem broad: "Help customers with their inquiries." This broad interpretation is difficult for any AI to handle effectively. However, if you break down the task into specific actions—such as answering frequently asked questions, guiding users through a troubleshooting process, and escalating complex issues to a human agent—each part becomes manageable. By clearly defining the limits and structure of each task, the AI can perform more effectively, and the process becomes easier to refine, measure, and test.

In summary, the first and one of the most crucial steps in AI development is exploration and discovery. Don’t skip this step; pursue it thoroughly, and you'll see significant improvements in your AI solutions.