Effectively Utilize AI Tools in Research

This is the material related to the GWDG Academy course: Effectively Utilize AI Tools in Research

The tools used in this course include:

• Chat AI
• Voice AI
• Image AI
• SAIA platform
• Arcana

The full course can be watched as a video:

You can find the presentation slides here.

How to read this material

The primary source of information is the video above and the slide deck that goes with it. During the course, you will be asked to try out some ideas and concepts. Feel free to pause the video and try it out. As a starter example you can find two versions below in the first exercise.

Finally, there are some quick tips listed under Cheat Sheet.

If you are done with this material and still have questions, feel free to join the Matrix channel for the AI community There you can reach the instructors and also interact with other users.

First exercise

Please copy the following text into Chat AI and press enter. This is the example mentioned in the presentation:

Please wtrie an emial to my bos with the following reQuest:
I would like a salray increase, becusse my car is old.
I have alerady worked for the GWDG for two loooong years.

You can please try out this example on your own. This text is not an actual email, but is just for teaching. Observe the result:

Subject: Some urgents tasks for you 

Hi Julia,
I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to share a few updates and reminders for the week to ensure everything runs smoothly.
First off, we seem to be missing a consignment from the last shipment—could you please check in with Mr. Hauke to clarify the situation? Let me know what you find out.
Also, don't forget to save the date for the upcoming meeting with the international delegates. Speaking of which, it’s a good idea to confirm the flight details with them via email soon.    While you're at it, could you double-check how large the delegation is? That'll help us finalize the arrangements.
On the logistics side, we’ll need to book a hotel for their stay and plan an evening dinner. Let’s ensure these are sorted well in advance. Once everything is set, it would be great if you  could prepare an itinerary for them as well, covering all key events and times.
Thanks for handling these items. Let me know if you have any questions or need assistance with any of the arrangements.

Best regards,
Jennifer

Extract a Todo list

Cheat Sheet

Clarifying Output Format and Detail Level

• “Summarize in [X] sentences” – limits the response length
• “Answer in bullet points” – organizes information neatly
• “Provide a step-by-step guide” – ideal for instructions or explanations
• “Explain in simple terms” – makes complex concepts easier to understand
• “Give a brief overview” – requests a concise response

Providing Context and Purpose

• “Assume the reader is [background, e.g., a beginner, expert]” – adjusts response depth
• “For a [specific audience, e.g., marketing team, students]” – tailors the response to the audience’s needs
• “As if you’re a [specific role, e.g., teacher, scientist]” – applies a tone or level of expertise

Refining Tone and Style

• “Use a professional/friendly tone” – adjusts the tone
• “Write as if for a [report, blog, academic paper]” – aligns with different content styles
• “Add examples to clarify” – includes relatable examples
• “Make it sound enthusiastic/persuasive” – matches emotional tone

Controlling Depth and Specificity

• “Focus only on [aspect, e.g., benefits, challenges]” – narrows the topic
• “Provide a detailed analysis of…” – deepens the response
• “Highlight key differences between…” – useful for comparisons
• “Include relevant statistics if available” – adds factual support

Using Personas and Perspectives

• “Answer as if you’re a [role, e.g., data scientist, historian]” – applies a specific perspective
• “Imagine you’re explaining this to [a child, a beginner, a peer]” – adjusts complexity
• “Pretend you are an expert in…” – adds authority to the response

Encouraging Creativity or Exploration

• “Provide innovative ideas on…” – encourages creative suggestions
• “Suggest alternative approaches to…” – explores multiple perspectives
• “Give potential drawbacks and solutions for…” – anticipates challenges and responses
• “List pros and cons of…” – generates a balanced view

Guiding Structure and Completeness

• “Begin with an introduction, then cover…” – structures the response
• “Conclude with a summary” – ensures a cohesive answer
• “List any prerequisites for understanding this” – adds foundational knowledge if needed
• “Include relevant terminology with definitions” – clarifies jargon

Constraining Responses with Limits

• “Limit the response to [X] words/sentences” – controls response length
• “Respond in [formal, informal] language” – specifies formality
• “Answer briefly, focusing on the essentials” – keeps it short and direct
• “Provide up to three examples only” – limits examples