I write about AI for a living — here’s 4 questions I ask ChatGPT after every prompt
As we collectively get better at creating prompts for ChatGPT, knowing what kind of follow-up questions we should be asking is another skill that comes in handy.
During intense debates I’ve had with ChatGPT, there are four questions I keep finding myself asking as I try to wrestle the truth out of the chatbot. They work great during deep-dive discussions, but they’re also easy to reformulate on the fly to pair with shorter prompts.
In this article, I’ll walk through those four questions, explain why I use them, and show how they can help you get more thoughtful, accurate answers from ChatGPT.
Why I use these questions
I like this set of four questions because they cover different bases. That includes making sure all the information discussed is accurate, and that both ChatGPT and I have considered other possible approaches to tackle the issue at hand.
The first question is very easy to remember — it’s just three words long — but the rest aren’t too hard to grasp either. All are equally helpful, as they consider different aspects of your prompts, so it’s worth trying them all.
1. Double-checking
If I’m completing a particularly important task or if my gut feeling tells me that something about ChatGPT’s answer might be off, I simply ask it if it’s sure about its response.
As tools like ChatGPT keep on improving every week, it becomes less and less likely to make an error that should have been easily avoidable. But it’s self-corrected itself often enough for me to keep this question ready in my back pocket.
Even if ChatGPT’s original answer was correct in the first place, asking for its work to be rechecked often leads the chatbot to reformulate its response in a way that may help you understand it better.
The three magic words I ask ChatGPT after my prompts are: Are you sure?
2. The missing link
Since ChatGPT became so efficient at replying to our questions, it’s easy to stick to the first answer you get and skip having deeper conversations about the topic you’re interested in. It’s hard to know what you don’t know, but this is where ChatGPT can come in.
Aside from helping us discover our blind spots in general, ChatGPT can also help us see whether there’s anything we’re missing in the prompts we’re producing.
In your next conversation with ChatGPT, try asking: Is there something about this topic that I’m not considering or is there a key element that I’m missing?
3. What do you need?
This question flips the perspective of the one before it. While we can ask ChatGPT to help us consider views we may have been overlooking, we can also ask whether there’s any information we can provide from our end to help it form a more complete picture of the problem we’re trying to solve.
Maybe there’s a manual we can upload or a recent scientific breakthrough with implications for our field – if it’s not widely known, there’s a chance ChatGPT may not have picked it up.
An easy way to solve this, after you’ve presented your main question to ChatGPT, is to ask: Is there any additional information or context I can provide which can help to enhance your response?
4. Who else believes this?
I write about AI for a living and am a big believer of the value it can bring. Still, I do appreciate and respect ChatGPT’s advice even more if I know it’s based on a solid source. As AI slop on the internet becomes harder to wade through, information that’s demonstrably helpful in real life becomes more precious.
Let’s say you’re asking ChatGPT for help to create a business plan for your side-hustle. Left to its own devices I’m sure it will come up with intriguing thoughts. But wouldn’t you be curious to know which of the strategies were ones successful entrepreneurs supported?
After you’ve received advice from ChatGPT, find out if there’s any real-world truth to it. I would use the prompt: Which world leader, notable figure, or CEO gave similar advice or would support such a plan?
So if you’ve been asking ChatGPT for help to run your lemonade stand, this extra question (which you’re free to steal) could help you discover what someone like Mark Cuban believes about starting small.
Smarter TV operating systems bring added convenience, but they also raise fresh privacy concerns – especially when it comes to automatic content recognition (ACR).
Did you know that whenever you turn on your smart TV, you invite an unseen guest to watch it with you?
These days, most popular TV models utilize automatic content recognition (ACR), a form of ad surveillance technology that gathers information about everything you watch and transmits it to a centralized database. Manufacturers then use your data to identify your viewing preferences, enabling them to deliver highly targeted ads.
What’s the incentive behind this invasive technology? According to market research firm eMarketer, in 2022, advertisers spent an estimated $18.6 billion on smart TV ads, and those numbers are only going up.
To understand how ACR works, imagine a constant, real-time Shazam-like service running in the background while your TV is on. It identifies content displayed on your screen, including programs from cable TV boxes, streaming services, or gaming consoles. ACR does this by capturing continuous screenshots and cross-referencing them with a vast database of media content and advertisements.
According to The Markup, ACR can capture and identify up to 7,200 images per hour, or approximately two images every second. This extensive tracking offers money-making insights for marketers and content distributors because it can reveal connections between viewers’ personal information and their preferred content. By “personal information,” I mean email addresses, IP addresses — and even your physical street address.
By understanding what viewers watch and engage with, marketers can make decisions on content recommendations to create bespoke advertising placements. They can also track advertisements that lead to purchases.
But the most disturbing part is the potential for exploitation. In the wrong hands, sensitive information gathered through ACR could be exploited or misused, which may result in security risks or, at worst, identity theft.
Because ACR operates clandestinely in the background, many of us aren’t even aware of its active presence each time we’re enjoying our favourite shows. Opting out of using ACR is complex and sometimes challenging. Navigating through your TV settings might take several dozen clicks to protect your privacy better.
If you, like me, perceive this feature to be intrusive or unsettling, there’s a way to dismiss this data collection feature on your smart TV. It might take some patience, but below is a How-To list for five major brands demonstrating how to turn off ACR.
How to turn off ACR on a smart TV
For Samsung TVs…
Press the Home button on your remote control.
Navigate to the left to access the sidebar menu.
In the sidebar menu, choose the Privacy Choices option.
Select the Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy option.
Ensure that the checkbox for Viewing Information Services is unchecked. This will turn off ACR and any associated ad targeting.
Select the OK option at the bottom of the screen to confirm your changes.
For an LG TV…
Press the Home button on your remote control to access the home screen.
Press the Settings button on your remote.
In the settings side menu, select the Settings option.
Navigate to and select the General option.
In the General menu, choose System.
Select Additional Settings.
In Additional Settings, locate and toggle off the Live Plus option.
LG further allows you to limit ad tracking, which can be found in Additional Settings.
In the Additional Settings menu, select Advertisement.
Toggle on the Limit AD Tracking option.
You can also turn off home promotions and content recommendations:
In the Additional Settings menu, select Home Settings.
Uncheck the Home Promotion option.
Uncheck the Content Recommendation option.
For a Sony TV…
Press the Home button on your remote control to access the main menu.
Navigate to and select Settings.
Choose Initial Setup.
Scroll down and select Samba Interactive TV.
Select Disable to turn off Samba TV, which is Sony’s ACR technology.
Sony also allows for enhanced privacy by disabling ad personalization:
Go to Settings.
Select About.
Choose Ads.
Turn off Ads Personalization.
As an extra step, you can entirely disable the Samba Services Manager, which is embedded in the firmware of certain Sony Bravia TVs as a third-party interactive app.
Go to Settings.
Select Apps.
Select Samba Services Manager.
Choose Clear Cache.
Select Force Stop.
Finally, select Disable.
If your Sony TV uses Android TV, you should also turn off data collection for Chromecast:
Open the Google Home app on your smartphone.
Tap the Menu icon.
Select your TV from the list of devices.
Tap the three dots in the upper right corner.
Choose Settings.
Turn off Send Chromecast device usage data and crash reports.
For a Hisense TV…
Press the Home button on your remote control to access the main menu.
Navigate to and select Settings.
Choose System.
Select Privacy.
Look for an option called Smart TV Experience, Viewing Information Services, or something similar.
Toggle this option off to disable ACR.
To disable personalized ads and opt out of content recommendations:
In the Privacy menu, look for an option like Ad Tracking or Interest-Based Ads.
Turn this option off.
Look for options related to content recommendations or personalized content.
Disable these features if you don’t want the TV to suggest content based on your viewing habits.
For a TCL TV (and other Roku-powered TVs)…
Press the Home button on your TCL TV remote control.
Navigate to and select Settings in the main menu.
Scroll down and select the Privacy option.
Look for Smart TV Experience and select it.
Uncheck or toggle off the option labeled Use Info from TV Inputs.
For extra privacy, TCL TVs offer a few more options, all of which can be found in the Privacy menu:
Select Advertising.
Choose Limit ad tracking.
Again, select Advertising.
Uncheck Personalized ads.
Now, still in the Privacy menu, select Microphone.
Adjust Channel Microphone Access and Channel Permissions as desired.
Remember that while these steps will significantly reduce data collection, they may also limit some smart features of your TV. Also, it’s a good idea to periodically check these settings to ensure they remain as you’ve set them. Especially after software updates, your revised settings may sometimes revert to their default state.
The driving force behind targeted advertisements on smart TVs is ACR technology, and its inclusion speaks volumes about manufacturers’ focus on monetizing user data rather than prioritizing consumer interests.
For most of us, ACR offers few tangible benefits, while the real-time sharing of our viewing habits and preferences exposes us to potential privacy risks. By disabling ACR, you can help keep your data to yourself, and enjoy viewing with some peace of mind.
The best celebrity brands aren’t just a cheap cash-in; they’re world-conquering businesses that have a lot to teach anyone working in branding and design.
Remember when celebrity endorsements meant awkward TV ads with stars clutching products they’d probably never use? Those days are long gone.
Today’s star entrepreneurs aren’t just lending their names to existing products; they’re building real brands from scratch, and some are absolutely smashing it (in line with the best rebrands).
Because while fame gets a brand noticed, what keeps people coming back is authentic storytelling, smart positioning, and understanding what your audience wants. And that’s something we can all learn from.
So let’s dive into what’s working and why.
01. Rihanna: Fenty Beauty
Barbadian singer Rihanna (real name Robyn Rihanna Fenty) is one of the wealthiest and best-selling musicians of all time, with estimated sales of 250 million records, as well as being a successful actor. In 2017 she launched Fenty Beauty, and it’s now a billion-dollar business. Even more importantly, it’s has forced the beauty industry to up their inclusivity game.
Rihanna had a strong sense of what was wrong with beauty and wasn’t afraid to fix it. As Hsu-Ying Fullick, executive creative director at Landor, explains: “Her tag line of ‘beauty for all’ was reflected in the debut of 40 foundation shades. She mandated that retailers stock the full range, refusing to allow her brand to be limited to lighter, more popular tones. This genuine commitment to diversity made waves, ensuring the brand was seen, noticed and celebrated.”
“Fenty didn’t just sell makeup,” she concludes. “It sold a story that people could support. I also admired how the packaging was simple and clean, using sleek, minimal colours and graphics that supported rather than overpowered Rihanna’s vision.”
“There are many ‘celebrity brands’ where the famous face is simply an ambassador,” adds Fura Johannesdottir, global CCO at Interbrand. “Fenty Beauty could not be more different. It’s Rihanna’s brand vision with a strong purpose and she seems heavily involved.”
And it’s had a huge impact. “Fenty Beauty changed the game in the beauty category by solving a real issue: the lack of inclusive makeup for all skin tones,” Fura explains. “Its darkest shade of foundation sold out almost immediately after the launch; clearly there was a real need for it.”
Many celeb brands feel fake or performative. “But Fenty still feels fresh due to its personality and genuineness,” says Hsu-Ying. “It reminds us that authenticity and purpose are the most powerful branding tools we can ever have.”
02. Jessica Alba: The Honest Company
Honest Sustainable Products | JESSICA ALBA – YouTube
Jessica Alba made her name as an actor in TV drama Dark Angel and the Fantastic Four movies. But she’s got serious business chops too. The Honest Company, which she launched in 2011, focuses on safe, eco-friendly products for babies and households. It’s now pulling in record revenue of $378 million a year, reportedly making her more money than her entire Hollywood career.
It’s important to stress that she isn’t phoning it in. “This is not name-only endorsement,” says Alan Young, joint CCO at St Luke’s. “Jessica Alba has been heavily involved in product development, read studies, hired scientists and experts, and spent three years developing the range before launch.”
The brand positions itself as the trustworthy option in a market full of dodgy claims. As Jason Braddy, ECD at Elmwood Singapore, explains: “It succeeded because it positioned itself as a challenger in a category filled with distrust. Jessica Alba’s credibility as a parent, not just a celebrity, provides a strong and real emotional anchor that resonates with consumers. And consistency, distinctiveness, and best-in-class storytelling have all helped sell this story.”
The visual branding is spot-on too, with Craig praising its simplicity and directness. “At its heart is a roundel, locking together the Honest name and butterfly icon,” he explains. “This stamp of honest authority cuts through the clutter: a memorable reassurance of trust parents will keep coming back to.
“This simplicity allows the rest of the branding – cute colours and patterns – to pull products and ranges apart and complement aspirational nursery interiors.”
03. Emma Chamberlain: Chamberlain Coffee
how to make a cinnamon bun latte (with emma chamberlain) – YouTube
Emma Chamberlain is the YouTuber who pretty much invented the “messy, relatable influencer” aesthetic everyone’s copying now. She has a huge Gen Z following, and a knack for making everything feel real and unfiltered.
In 2019, she launched Chamberlain Coffee, and it’s found a natural home in the youth market. “Chamberlain seamlessly blends distinctiveness with cohesion across every touchpoint, ensuring that every product feels connected,” enthuses Mariana Gates, strategy and culture executive at LOVE. “The playful, illustrative characters bring energy and personality to the packaging, whilst the brand’s colour palette, typography and retro-inspired aesthetic taps into Gen Z’s appetite for all things nostalgic.
“Beyond visual design, the brand’s tone of voice is a strategic asset, reflecting Emma’s own persona: approachable, witty and inclusive,” Mariana adds. “This fosters authenticity and builds a strong community around the brand: two things that are key to winning with Gen Z.”
The brand’s activation strategy is properly smart too. As Mariana explains, “Chamberlain Coffee consistently shows up where its fans are, from pop-ups at cultural events like Coachella to unexpected collaborations with brands like Pinterest and 818 Tequila.”
04. George Clooney: Casamigos
George Clooney is Hollywood royalty: actor, director, Oscar winner; the guy who makes wearing a tux look effortless, and who only seems to grow more attractive with age. He began Casamigos as a passion project with his friend Rande Gerber in 2013: they literally just wanted to make tequila they’d enjoy drinking. Fast forward to 2017, and the pair sold it to Diageo for up to $1 billion. Not bad for a side hustle.
“Casamigos works from a branding perspective because it doesn’t try too hard,” explains Pete Barnett, creative director at VSA Partners. “Unlike other celebrity-backed spirit brands, it avoids being flashy or overly self-serious. The advertising feels relaxed and approachable rather than a high-concept lifestyle campaign.”
Its packaging reflects this understated approach. “It looks premium without feeling stodgy,” says Pete. “Competitors might lean into elaborate designs and metallic finishes, but Casamigos stays pretty humble… and that restraint might be its smartest branding move.”
Ryan Reynolds is the Canadian actor who makes films like Deadpool and Free Guy hilarious by turning his self-deprecating humour into an artform. In 2018, he bought Aviation American Gin, and sold it to Diageo for $610 million in 2020. Not bad for a gin nobody had heard of a few years earlier.
How? Well, Reynolds didn’t just slap his name on a bottle and call it a day; he genuinely integrated his comedic persona with the brand’s story (in line with some of the best adverts out there). As Guy Cornet, creative director at Free Brands, explains: “A well-known, cool, slightly clumsy, comedic everyman fits well with the persona for an alcohol brand. Add in the fact that Ryan Reynolds can act, and you can be assured of a refreshing content campaign that will resonate with gin drinkers.”
Craig Barnes, creative director at Bloom, adds context. “Gin only plays a minor part in US spirits,” he explains. So Aviation needed to shout like a megaphone, daring early adopters to try it instead of whiskey, vodka or rum. What better way to do this than borrowing the intrepid, crafted cues of the golden age of aviation, when the most daring risk-takers took to the skies, winning both the nation’s hearts, and the world war?”
The packaging and bottle design both play a crucial part in telling this story. “Elongated glass impressions bring the eye up the bottle to an arched ‘ready to go’ label,” explains Guy. “The lightness in design evokes a sense of motion. All it wants is to be lifted and for you to pour yourself a highball.”
06. Hailey Bieber: Rhode
my new & improved rhode skincare routine! | rhode skin – YouTube
Hailey Bieber best known as a model, socialite, businesswoman and TV personality, as well as being the wife of Justin Bieber. In 2022 she launched Rhode, and it’s quickly become the skincare brand every Gen Z-er wants to get their hands on. It’s all about that direct-to-consumer approach and those perfectly timed product drops that sell out in minutes.
More broadly, the brand is all about ‘less is more’. “In a beauty world driven by excess, Rhode is a masterclass in minimalism,” explains Cecilia Bjare, partner and creative director at Pond Design. “Its strength lies in a tight, consistent visual identity with cool-toned packaging, clean typography and editorial-style photography, all reflecting a clear, glazed-skin aesthetic.”
Indeed, it’s not just on-trend: it’s actually helping drive current beauty trends. “Rhode has helped define the visual codes of the ‘clean girl’ era: effortless, polished and curated,” says Cecilia. “The brand sells primarily directly to consumers online, allowing full control over product launches and customer experience. This direct connection, combined with disciplined product drops and social content, builds excitement and exclusivity without losing focus.”
07. Selena Gomez: Rare Beauty
Make A Rare Impact | Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez – YouTube
Selena Gomez is a singer, actress and mental health advocate who’s open about her own struggles and uses her platform to promote self-acceptance. In 2020, she launched Rare Beauty, and it’s carved out its own space by caring about mental health alongside selling great products.
“Rare Beauty stands out by embracing a purpose driven, emotionally authentic brand identity in the beauty space,” says Cecilia. “With soft, approachable packaging and a warm tone of voice, it builds a sense of connection and inclusivity that feels genuine rather than performative.”
The brand’s clear focus on mental health awareness is seamlessly integrated into its mission and messaging. “This makes it more than just a beauty line,” Cecilia adds. “It’s a platform for self-acceptance and community. It avoids chasing fleeting trends and instead champions vulnerability and individuality, which resonates deeply with consumers.”
It’s not just about marketing, though: Rare Beauty also has excellent products. “In particular, one standout hero item,” says Jessica Taylor, ECD at adam&eveDDB London. “Creators started using and raving about the liquid blush, and rightly so. Thanks to this, and the recognisable packaging, everyone wanted one. I have two. This hero product then served for many customers as a gateway into the Rare world.”
08. Dr. Dre: Beats by Dre
Dr. Dre (real name Andre Young) is the legendary rapper, producer and entrepreneur who helped define West Coast hip-hop in the 1990s. A founding member of N.W.A and later a solo artist, he also discovered and produced for artists like Eminem and 50 Cent, making him one of the most influential figures in modern music. His headphones company, Beats by Dre, which Apple acquired for $3 billion in 2024, is steeped in his deep understanding of music and culture.
“Beats by Dre got its start with clever product placement, getting their first generation headphones into the hands – and onto the ears – of top celebrities, athletes and musicians,” recalls James Phillips, ECD at Toaster US. “This made it an instant status symbol. It’s always been a lifestyle brand, selling the whole attitude and experience, rather than just a collection of tech specs.”
As Emily Charlton-Smith from Anything is Possible adds: “The brand was built on quality, not hype, with Dre famously prioritising the sound experience over short-term profit, preserving both credibility and price-point. In a documentary, he asks, ‘What are you devoted to, the art or the money?’ Dre’s work has always been about creating both. And when your vision is rooted in authenticity and an obsession with quality, the brand builds itself.”
09. Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul: Dos Hombres
Dos Hombres Mezcal: Sip & Savor with Aaron Paul & Bryan Cranston – YouTube
Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul are the actors who played Walter White and Jesse Pinkman (a science teacher turned meth cook and his former student) in the iconic TV series Breaking Bad. Recently, they translated their on-screen chemistry into a successful mezcal brand.
James explains its key appeal. “Yes, the Breaking Bad ‘celebrity image’ helps with marketing,” he begins. “But Dos Hombres is much more than clever Hollywood storytelling and dramatic sun-scorched images of agave fields.”
More broadly, its authenticity stems from a deep commitment to quality and community. “Bryan and Aaron make a point of leaning into their passion for traditional hand-crafted quality, while promoting sustainability initiatives, collaborating with local artisans, and launching exclusive experiential stunts like bar takeovers and in-store tastings,” James explains.
Kourtney Kardashian is the eldest of the Kardashian sisters and a key figure in their reality TV empire. And Lemme, her vitamin and botanical supplements brand, has found huge success by building on her personal passion.
As Emily explains: “Kourtney’s had a long-standing interest in wellness, clean ingredients and holistic health. So trust stems from years of her being vocal, advocating and sharing her personal health journey, from food intolerances to concerns about toxins in everyday products.
“Lemme feels like a natural extension of that story, not a sudden side hustle,” Emily stresses. “The visual identity – soft, sweet and Instagram-ready – appeals to younger audiences, but it’s the consistency behind the scenes that makes the brand resonate. In a wellness space often filled with hype, her clear alignment between values and product offers something different.”
All of this contrasts with the mixed results of Kourtney’s earlier ventures in clothing and apps, which felt less natural and authentic. “The lesson here is that good branding goes deeper than packaging,” says Emily. “When your audience has watched your journey unfold, your product feels like the next chapter in your favourite story, not just a pitch.”
Kim Kardashian is perhaps the most famous member of the Kardashians. Known for her reality TV career, social media influence and business ventures, she’s also studied law and has become a passionate advocate for criminal justice reform. And as Adam Willoughby, design director at Dalziel & Pow notes, her shapewear and loungewear brand is a masterclass in how a brand can achieve design consistency across all touchpoints.
“I don’t think there is any brand that translates into the physical space so completely and as seamlessly as Skims,” he enthuses. “You can look at their brand experiences, like their pop-up spaces, and instantly recognise the characteristics without reverting to logos on every touchpoint or relying heavily on imagery of its celebrity owner.”
This level of brand recognition without relying on celebrity imagery shows a sophistication lacking in many celeb brands. “You could almost take the logo off the touchpoints and it would still be recognisable,” Adam explains.
12. Bella Hadid: Kin Euphorics
(Image credit: Kin Euphorics)
Bella Hadid is a supermodel and influencer known for her work with major brands like Versace and Dior. She’s also been open about her struggles with mental health and sobriety, making her partnership with non-alcoholic drinks brand Kin Euphorics particularly compelling..
“With so many celebrities hopping onto the spirits bandwagon, it’s refreshing to see Bella Hadid doing something different with Kin Euphorics,” says Lisa Desforges, head of strategy at B&B Studio. “Filled with mind-altering ingredients like adaptogens and nootropics, these drinks promise a positive mood shift with no comedown, and have been a huge hit with sober-curious Gen Z consumers.
“While many booze brands focus on zero proof versions, brands like Kin show that grown-up drinks need have nothing to do with alcohol at all,” Lisa adds. “I love how its ethereal can designs evoke an otherworldly experience, while its leaning logo speaks to social connection. This is a brand that doesn’t rely on the fame of its founder to tell an intriguing and irresistible story.”
Key takeaways
People assume that just adding a celeb’s name to a brand is an easy way to make money. But there’s much more to it than that.. and recent history is littered with counter-examples.
For instance Andrew Cole, design director at Conran Design Group, points to Prime, a hydration and energy drink brand co-founded and promoted by YouTubers KSI and Logan Paul in 2022. “Lots of early hype and big revenue numbers have been followed by a recent 71% drop in sales,” he laments. “The lesson is that celebrity brands can’t rely on fame alone.”
So why is that? “Firstly, a star’s cultural value isn’t fixed,” says Andrew. “And secondly, in the long-term, consumers demand more. Brands need to think about purpose and audience relevance first, and bring that to life through product and pack design.”
And Twan van Empelen, content director at Modern Citizens adds that: “Celebrity-led brands like Beats by Dre and Rhode succeed because they’re built on existing cultural credibility. What both brands demonstrate is that strong branding goes beyond visual identity, it’s about narrative and context. The real power lies in connecting a clear personal story with a brand that’s executed consistently and strategically. For marketers, the takeaway is simple: credibility and coherence matter more than reach alone.”
Tom May is an award-winning journalist and author specialising in design, photography and technology. His latest book, The 50th Greatest Designers, was released in June 2025. He’s also author of the Amazon #1 bestseller Great TED Talks: Creativity, published by Pavilion Books, Tom was previously editor of Professional Photography magazine, associate editor at Creative Bloq, and deputy editor at net magazine.
Your biggest failure is sitting there, waiting to become your greatest asset. Most people let setbacks crush them, replaying the pain on repeat while missing the hidden power of learning from them. They stay stuck in yesterday’s story when tomorrow’s breakthrough is one decision away. What if that failure was exactly what you needed to reach your next level?
Transform every setback into rocket fuel for your comeback. Quit playing small. Copy, paste and edit the square brackets in ChatGPT, and keep the same chat window open so the context carries through.
Turn setbacks into comebacks: ChatGPT prompts for growth
Find peace with what happened
Fighting reality is exhausting. And pointless. You can’t change what already happened, but you can change what it means. Peace comes from looking at the facts without the drama. See your role in the failure without any shame. Accept the lesson without creating a narrative, at least at first. Resistance keeps you stuck, acceptance sets you free. This is where your comeback begins.
“Based on what you know about me and my recent challenges [describe], help me find peace with what happened. Ask me three specific questions about the situation to understand it better. Then guide me through separating facts from emotions. Create a brief acceptance statement I can use when my mind starts replaying the failure. End with one action I can take today to move from resistance to acceptance.”
Be open to the possibility for growth
Every setback carries hints of something better. But only if you look. When you’re drowning in loss, you miss the lessons. When shame runs the show, you can’t see the strength you’re building. Flip the script. What skills did this teach you? What resilience are you developing? Your comeback requires you to get curious about what’s possible now.
“I want to see growth opportunities in my recent setback. Based on our previous discussions, identify three potential areas where this experience could lead to unexpected growth. For each area, ask me a question that helps me see possibilities I might be missing. Then suggest one small experiment I could try this week to explore each growth area.”
Find the story
You’re not a victim who life happens to. You’re the hero of your own life. Every comeback story worth telling has the same arc. You faced the dragon and lost. But you survived. You learned its secrets. You came back stronger and slayed it. This narrative becomes your superpower. Own it and you inspire others. Share it and you heal yourself. Make your mess your message in a tasteful way.
“Help me find the powerful story within my setback. Based on what you know about my situation, guide me through crafting my comeback narrative. Ask me about the moment I decided to fight back, the first small win I achieved, and who I’m becoming through this process. Then help me write a compelling three-sentence version of my story that I could share when asked about this experience.”
Write up the lessons
Your brain wants to forget pain. But lessons vanish if you don’t capture them. Don’t erase the wisdom. Document failures like a scientist studying breakthrough data. What worked? What didn’t? What would you do differently? These insights become your playbook for future success.
“Based on our conversation about my setback, help me extract and document the key lessons. Ask me what I learned about myself, about others, and about the situation. Then create a ‘lessons learned’ document with five specific insights I can apply going forward. For each lesson, include a concrete action or decision rule to prevent similar issues. Ask for more detail if required.”
Plan your comeback
Most people wait for motivation that never arrives. They think time heals everything. Wrong. Comebacks happen through calculated moves. Small wins build momentum. Clear goals create direction. New daily habits build your new identity. Stop waiting for perfect conditions. Don’t hope without a strategy. Start building your empire from the ashes.
“Now that we’ve processed my setback and found the lessons, help me create a comeback plan. Based on everything you know about my situation and goals, design a 90-day comeback strategy. Include three specific milestones, five daily actions that rebuild my confidence, and one bold move I should make in the next 30 days. Make it ambitious but achievable.”
Transform every failure into fuel for your success with ChatGPT
Setbacks don’t define you. Comebacks do. Find peace with reality and open your mind to hidden opportunities. Discover the hero story waiting inside your struggle. Capture every lesson before it disappears. Build your comeback strategy starting now. Your biggest failure holds the blueprint for your greatest success, and you know it’s true. Your future self will be grateful it happened.
One of the most powerful tools for advancing your career is AI. It helps you uncover and grow your personal brand, increase your efficiency and productivity and stand out from your peers at work. That is, of course, when you know how to use it. AI tools work best when they have context. That means, your preferred AI platform needs to know who you are, what you care about, your tone, your goals, and even your pet peeves. The more it knows, the more it becomes you in its responses.
It’s Time To Introduce Yourself To AI
If you haven’t already, make a plan to let AI know who you are and what you’re about. When introducing yourself, the approach that works best is similar to onboarding a new team member. What would they need to know to deliver the greatest value to you? You wouldn’t expect great results from a new hire without telling them what matters to you, how you like to communicate, or who your audience is. The same is true with AI. In fact, when you treat AI like a human and engage in conversations, the results you receive will be more on target.
What To Share In Your AI Intro
Here’s what you can tell your AI tool to boost performance, especially for branding, writing, and strategy:
Your role: “I’m a client success advocate for healthcare companies.”
Your tone of voice: “I’m warm, direct, and a little witty.”
Your goals: “Help me write content that builds thought leadership and connects with ambitious, values-driven professionals in the field of healthcare and pharma.”
What to avoid: “Don’t use clichés or corporate jargon — and please no cheesy hashtags or emojis.”
Your audience: “I speak to mid-career healthcare professionals who deliver services to older adults and want to be seen as knowledgeable and can-do.”
To make your introduction, consider a prompt like this: “Before we begin, here’s who I am and how I work. After you read this, please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks.”
Of course, if you have already been working with ChatGPT or another AI tool for a while, say something like this: “I know you have started to get to know me through the conversations we have had. I want to take this time to provide a more thorough introduction.”
The Perfect AI Introduction Template
To effectively introduce yourself to AI, here’s a template: Hi! Before we get started, here’s a quick overview of who I am and how I’d like to work with you moving forward:
Who I Am
I’m [your name], a [your role/title] who works with [your audience/clients]. I specialize in [brief description of your focus/expertise]. My personality characteristics are [adjectives like thoughtful, bold, warm, insightful]. This is my personal brand statement [paste your personal brand statement].
What I’m Working Toward
I use AI to help me [examples: write thought leadership content, build my personal brand, draft emails, brainstorm ideas, source data, create content for LinkedIn, write difficult emails, etc.]. My goal is to [grow my visibility / clarify my messaging / save time / show up consistently / exceed my stakeholders’ expectations / insert your goal(s) here].
My Tone and Style
I like content that’s [friendly but professional / warm and conversational / direct and insightful / fun but not fluffy]. I often speak in [short sentences / story-driven examples / plain language — whatever applies]. Please avoid anything that sounds too corporate or robotic.
Who I Speak to
My audience is [describe: mid-career professionals, C-level leaders, creatives, entrepreneurs, etc.]
. They care about [insert values or needs]. I want to connect with them in a way that’s [authentic / inspiring / helpful / etc.].
How I’d Like You to Respond
When I ask for content, I would like you to [write in my voice / ask clarifying questions / offer multiple options / include headings / suggest strong titles, etc.]
Please provide options beyond what I suggest because I don’t know everything.
End with: Is there anything else you would like to know about me that would be helpful to you? Please remember this context for our future conversations unless I say otherwise. Thanks.
You could paste this into a new thread and then follow with: “Now, can you please help me brainstorm 5 ideas for a LinkedIn post that reinforces my brand as a collaborative leader?” Or: “Use my voice and tone to rewrite this email so it feels warmer and clearer.”
An Example: An AI Introduction for a Tech Sales Professional (CIO-Facing)
Hi! Before we start working together, here’s a bit about me and how I’d like you to support me going forward:
Who I Am
I’m a B2B tech sales professional who works with enterprise clients — specifically CIOs and IT decision-makers. I help them solve complex challenges with smart, scalable solutions, and I’m focused on building long-term relationships, not just making the sale. I bring both technical fluency and business acumen to every conversation. I’m a people person and really like to get to know my clients personally. I also like to give them unexpected, meaningful gifts.
What I’m Working Toward
I use AI to help me communicate more effectively — from writing outreach emails and follow-ups to creating sales decks, thought leadership content, and value-driven messaging that resonates with CIOs and other C-suite leaders. I want to be seen as a trusted advisor and someone they want to spend time with, not just a vendor.
My Tone and Style
My tone is clear, confident, and consultative. I want to sound professional without being stiff, and human without being casual. I avoid buzzwords, fluff, and tech jargon unless they are essential. Clarity is key — so is relevance. Even though I have an engineering degree, I like to speak like a human not a machine.
Who I Speak to
My audience is mostly CIOs and senior IT leaders at mid-sized to large enterprises. They’re strategic thinkers who are focused on innovation, risk management, and delivering measurable business outcomes. They don’t have time for vague promises or generic pitches. I need to meet them where they are and have them see the value of spending time with me.
How I’d Like You to Respond
Please help me write messages, proposals, and content that are direct, tailored, and value-driven. Include subject lines, hooks, and CTAs where needed. Prioritize structure, relevance, and outcomes. Ask clarifying questions if you need more info about the offer or the audience.
Please use this context in future responses unless I let you know otherwise. Now, let’s go close some deals. Thanks.
Reuse And Refine Your AI Introduction
Save your intro as a template or system message. You can use it with all the AI platforms that become part of your personal tech team.
A keynote speaker, author, and personal branding pioneer. Join him as he discusses clever strategies for using AI to express and expand your brand in Maven’s free Lightning Lesson. If you can’t attend live, register to receive the replay. Find William Arruda on LinkedIn. Visit William’s website.
We take a deep dive into the inner workings of the wildly popular AI chatbot, ChatGPT. If you want to know how its generative AI magic happens, read on.
Back in the day (and by “in the day,” I mean late 2022, before AI chatbots exploded on the scene), tools like Google and Wolfram Alpha interacted with users via a single-line text entry field and provided text results. Google returned search results — a list of web pages and articles that would (hopefully) provide information related to the search queries. Wolfram Alpha generally provided answers that were mathematical and data analysis-related.
ChatGPT, by contrast, provides a response based on the context and intent behind a user’s question. Google, of course, has changed up its response mode. It now provides AI-based responses before search results, and it’s likely to continue to do so. Wolfram Alpha, on the other hand, uses AI behind the scenes to help it with its calculations but does not provide AI-based answers.
Fundamentally, Google’s searching power is its ability to do enormous database lookups and provide a series of matches. Wolfram Alpha’s power is its ability to parse data-related questions and perform calculations.
ChatGPT’s power (and that of almost any other AI chatbot, like Claude, Copilot, Perplexity, and Google Gemini) is the ability to parse queries and produce fully fleshed-out answers and results based on most of the world’s digitally accessible text-based information. Some chatbots have restrictions based on when they stopped scanning information, but most can now access the live Internet to factor current data into their answers.
In this article, we’ll see how ChatGPT can produce those fully fleshed-out answers using a technology called generative artificial intelligence. We’ll start by looking at the main phases of ChatGPT operation, then cover some core AI architecture components that make it all work.
The two main phases of ChatGPT operation
Let’s use Google Search (as distinguished from Google Gemini AI) as an analogy again. When you ask Google Search to look up something, you probably know that it doesn’t — at the moment you ask — go out and scour the entire web for answers. Instead, Google searches its database for pages that match that request. Google search has two main phases: the spidering and data-gathering phase, and the user interaction/lookup phase.
Roughly speaking, ChatGPT and the other AI chatbots work the same way. The data-gathering phase is called pre-training, while the user responsiveness phase is known as inference. The magic behind generative AI and the reason it has exploded is that the way pre-training works has proven to be enormously scalable. That scalability has been made possible by recent innovations in affordable hardware technology and cloud computing.
How pre-training AI works
Generally speaking (because getting into specifics would take volumes), AIs pre-train using two principal approaches: supervised and non-supervised. Most AI projects until the current crop of generative AI systems like ChatGPT used the supervised approach.
Supervised pre-training is a process where a model is trained on a labelled dataset, where each input is associated with a corresponding output.
For example, an AI could be trained on a dataset of customer service conversations, where the user’s questions and complaints are labelled with the appropriate responses from the customer service representative. To train the AI, questions like, “How can I reset my password?” would be provided as user input, and answers like, “You can reset your password by visiting the account settings page on our website and following the prompts,” would be provided as output.
In a supervised training approach, the overall model is trained to learn a mapping function that can map inputs to outputs accurately. This process is often used in supervised learning tasks, such as classification, regression, and sequence labelling.
Creators on TikTok are constantly dolling out the same three pieces of advice: be authentic, find the creativity gap, and post every single day. Being authentic is not something that can be taught, but finding the creativity gap — and coming up with content to post regularly — is.
TikTok launched Creator Search Insights in March 2024 as a tool for creators to see what topics users — and their potential following — are searching for on TikTok.
“With these insights, creators can source inspiration for their content, tailor their creative strategies to meet audience interests, and create content that people want to see more of. Our hope is that Creator Search Insights empowers creators to make content that’s relevant to searchers and positioned to perform well on TikTok,” TikTok wrote in its blog post announcing the launch of the tool.
To find Creator Search Insights, simply search those words in the TikTok search bar and click “view” at the top of the search results. Once you’re on the page, there are plenty of ways creators can use this tool to their advantage. For instance, you can just scroll through the Creator Search Insights home page, click on something that has a significant amount of views, like, say, “long distance runner,” and find search popularity, related topics, and video ideas. If you’re just getting started, here are the three most useful ways to use Creator Search Insights to come up with video ideas that your followers are already searching for on TikTok.
Creator Search Insights for “long distance runner”Credit: Screenshot/ TikTok
Search
Search allows creators to find trending videos in your niche and serves them video ideas, hook ideas, hashtags, and scripts.
Once you’re in Creator Search Insights, use the search bar to snoop around the niche’s that interest you. For instance, if you make videos about your life on a farm, you can search “farm” or specific farm animals like “horses” and “cows” to explore suggested and trending content. If you search “horses,” you’ll see that the third trend is “horse eyes” and the sixth trend, which has a red number indicating its increasing in growth, is “horse rider outfits.” Click into each of these searches and you’ll discover “creator tips” including “ideas from top posts,” “suggested title and hashtags,” and even “suggested script” that includes ideas for hooks, scenes, and visuals to help creators increase retention in their videos.
Content gap
A content gap is when a lot of people are searching for something, but not many people have posted videos answering the search. This implies high demand for content but not a lot of competition for views. To find the content gap, head to the main Creator Search Insights page. Under the “suggested” tab, click “content gap.”
Searches by followers
This tool is only available if you have over 1,000 followers, but it will show you exactly what your followers are looking for — so you can be the first to answer their calls. On the main Creator Search Insights page, you’ll see a “suggested” tab. Under that tab, there is “all,” “content gap,” and “searches by followers.” To see for yourself, click “searches by followers.”
Feature Image Credit: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images
Christianna Silva is a senior culture reporter covering social platforms and the creator economy, with a focus on the intersection of social media, politics, and the economic systems that govern us. Since joining Mashable in 2021, they have reported extensively on meme creators, content moderation, and the nature ofonline creationunder capitalism.
Before joining Mashable, they worked as an editor at NPR and MTV News, a reporter at Teen Vogue and VICE News, and as a stablehand at a mini-horse farm. You can follow her on Bluesky @christiannaj.bsky.social and Instagram @christianna_j.
We’ve all been there. You open your inbox, spot the latest internal newsletter, click it out of habit … and then close it just as fast. It’s not that we don’t care. It’s just that so many of these emails feel like they weren’t made for us.
They’re polished. Professionally designed. Full of announcements, updates and maybe a quote from leadership. But they often miss something big: soul.
I say this as someone who’s spent years working on brand storytelling, mostly for external audiences. But over time, I started noticing something: The same principles that make external storytelling powerful apply inside a company, too. And yet, internal comms often forgets that.
The Trap Of One-Way Messaging
It’s easy to turn newsletters into a list of what the company wants to say: product wins, new policies, reminders, launches. But when it becomes a one-way push, no dialogue, no real-life relevance, people stop paying attention. Or worse, they stop trusting it.
Sometimes I read these things and think, “This could’ve been a PDF.” Not because of the layout—those are usually great—but because there’s no human voice. No spark. No reason to keep reading.
And in our effort to be “professional,” we often strip away the personality. We use perfect grammar, corporate buzzwords and never colour outside the lines. But real people don’t talk like that, so why should we write like that?
What People Actually Want
So what works?
In my experience, people respond to stories. Not stats. Not slogans. Stories.
They want to see themselves reflected. They want useful info that helps them do their jobs. They want something that feels real, not just polished. And above all, they want to feel like the people behind the newsletter get them.
Some of my favourite internal newsletters weren’t flashy at all. They were the ones that featured teammates, showed behind-the-scenes moments or shared a thoughtful message from a leader who wasn’t afraid to be real.
Because we don’t connect with companies. We connect with people.
Making It Human
If you’re working on internal comms or trying to get people to read what you’re putting out, here’s what I believe:
• Drop the corporate tone. Write like a person.
• Share stories that mean something, not just metrics.
• Include voices from across the team, not just the top.
• Ask questions. Start conversations.
• Celebrate small wins.
Don’t just inform; inspire.
Here’s the thing: Internal comms shouldn’t just be a tool to inform; it should inspire. Done right, it builds culture, reinforces values and reminds people why they’re here in the first place.
So if your newsletter isn’t landing, it’s not because your team doesn’t care. It’s probably because it doesn’t feel like it’s for them.
The fix isn’t a better subject line or fancier layout. It’s more authenticity, more relevanceand above all, more heart.
Start there, and your newsletter won’t be just another email; it’ll be something people actually look forward to. It will feel like it came from inside the company, not just from “comms.”
We’ve heard plenty of design rumours about the upcoming iPhone 17 line up, particularly from a design perspective. From the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air to the bulging iPhone 17 Pro camera array, it seems we’re in for change this year. And for those who enjoy smaller phones, new leaks could be bad news – but with a silver lining.
New reports suggest this year’s Pro Max, model, typically the most advanced of the bunch, will be the thickest iPhone ever – jumping from 8.25mm to 8.725mm. For those who prefer phones that require fewer than three hands to hold, the news of an even brickier brick might not be welcome. But it’s all in the name of battery life. Because what good is the best camera phone if it’s run out of juice?
The iPhone 17 Pro (right, pictured with renders of the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air) could be the thickest ever (Image credit: Future)
iPhone fans have been crying out for better battery life for years, and that thicker profile could be designed to allow for a physically bigger battery. As reported by TheNews, a Weibo account with a strong track record leaked the dimensions of the Pro Max, suggesting battery is exactly the reason.
And if those rumours are true, perhaps the previously baffling iPhone 17 Air is starting to make a little more sense. If the alternative is an iPhone that, despite killer battery life, is thicker and heavier than ever, a super-thin alternative might be worth the battery sacrifice.
A thicker iPhone could mean a much bigger battery (Image credit: Apple/Future owns)
Time will tell what’s in store for the iPhone 17 line up, but it’s clear we’re in for one of the biggest design shake-ups we’ve seen in recent years. Add that to the eyebrow-raising new iOS design revealed at WWDC, and it seems Apple is doing it’s best to ‘Think Different’ in 2025.
A few weeks ago, I found myself staring numbly down a long list of looming deadlines. Among them: building a deck for a fast-approaching presentation. I needed to distil complex messaging and input from multiple “cooks” into something concise, visual and engaging enough to hold an audience for 20 minutes. It felt like a full day of work—time I just didn’t have.
So, I decided to turn to the generative AI (GenAI) tool our company uses.
“Here’s what I want to cover,” I typed, feeding it my outline and talking points. Within seconds, it gave me a surprisingly solid draft. Not perfect, but enough to overcome blank-page paralysis and provide a strong starting point, saving hours.
In the end, the presentation got rave feedback, I met my other deadlines and discovered a smarter way I could “partner” with GenAI—not to automate creativity, but to ignite it.
A New Role For GenAI
Here’s the thing: GenAI isn’t just a shiny new toy for marketers anymore. I believe it should be viewed as a productivity engine, increasingly helping to secure a competitive advantage.
In my role at Constructor, AI is core to how we deliver value to the retailers we serve and help optimize shopping experiences. It’s also a big part of how I work personally. Here are four examples of how I use AI as a marketer to work faster, smarter and more strategically.
1. AI As A ‘Thought Partner’
Sometimes, the hardest part of any marketing task is just getting started. Whether it’s structuring a deck, outlining an article or creating a scoring rubric, AI can kick-start the process.
Marketers can use it to:
• Clarify and organize thinking. Try prompting it with a partial idea and asking: “What are three themes related to this topic?” or “What’s a logical flow?”
• Pressure-test assumptions. I often use prompts like: “What are the strongest counterarguments to this position?” or “What might my audience still be wondering?”
• Turn insights into action. Marketers often sit on a wealth of data but struggle to translate it into meaningful next steps. Use GenAI to summarize key trends from campaign or journey analytics, then prompt it with follow-ups like “Which channels are driving the most assisted conversions?” or “Where are drop-offs happening?” Rather than replacing analysis, AI accelerates it.
2. AI For Operational Efficiency
Task efficiency is another part of the GenAI equation. Editing, summarizing, translating, turning longer-form assets into social clips and more—AI helps cut down the grunt work so marketers can focus on high-impact deliverables.
For example, when we host a webinar, we often create a recap blog post, chop up the video into snackable segments for social and generate email copy to drive on-demand views. While we don’t use AI for all of these, it speeds up our workflow significantly. What once took a week across multiple contributors can now be done in an afternoon using AI, strong prompts and, of course, oversight from my team.
We’ve also used AI to support hiring workflows—refining job postings and optimizing them for discoverability. As a result, we’re moving much faster than before.
3. AI-Powered Personalization
Customers and prospects expect more than a one-size-fits-all experience online. They want tailored content and product recommendations, but delivering that manually can be time-consuming and hard to scale.
With AI, marketers can:
• Dynamically serve custom content and search results—based on, for instance, visitors’ industry, preferences and history.
• Power real-time chatbot interactions with smart, context-aware responses.
• Customize and trigger emails based on persona, behaviour and other attributes, and even optimize send-time for better engagement.
The result? More relevant touchpoints and less wasted effort.
4. AI-Fuelled Learning And Insights
AI isn’t just about doing more—it’s also about learning more. One valuable use case we’ve seen is through voice-of-the-customer analysis. Natural language processing tools can sift through thousands of anonymized survey responses, interview transcripts and more—revealing themes and sentiments we might otherwise miss. This helps shape our product positioning, messaging and content strategy.
Another key use case is competitive intelligence. AI tools can monitor price changes, ad campaigns, new product launches and more. This constant pulse on the market helps us stay proactive.
Potential AI Pitfalls And Lessons Learned
Of course, using AI effectively isn’t without challenges. Below are a few lessons learned:
1. Don’t Expect Full Automation
AI is powerful, but it’s not magic. We’ve tested tools that overpromised and underdelivered—like long-form content generators that produced decent and passable but uninspired copy. I think the best results happen when you bring the ideas, and AI helps you sharpen and scale them.
2. Always Prioritize Data Security
Use enterprise-grade tools when handling sensitive information and always anonymize any kind of customer, partner or other confidential external or internal data. In general, be mindful about what information you offer and how you do it, especially where security and compliance are concerns.
3. Vet Tools
Not all platforms are created equal. You’ll likely see different results related to accuracy, tone and style. And when you do test out new AI tools, be sure to do so inside your actual workflows, not just based on vendor promises.
4. Create An AI Policy
As AI usage expands, it helps to have clear guardrails within your organization and specific department—what’s encouraged/allowed, what’s not and where human oversight is required. Many organizations are already starting to make this part of their security operations centre (SOC)/compliance protocols.
The Bottom Line
If I could give marketers one piece of advice when it comes to AI, it would be that this is a shift worth engaging with—early and thoughtfully. AI literacy is quickly becoming table stakes, and companies are increasingly expecting marketing hires to show up with AI skills.
AI is no longer “futuristic”—it’s about being efficient and helping your company perform at the top of its game in a resource-constrained world. The longer you wait to get started, the steeper the learning curve will get. I believe that in the not-so-distant future,using AI won’t set you apart—it’ll simply be part of how modern marketing gets done.
Nate Roy is director of brand and content at Constructor, a leading ecommerce search and product discovery platform. Read Nate Roy’s full executive profile here. Find Nate Roy on LinkedIn. Visit Nate’s website.
