Watch this before using generative AI

That is an excellent reminder—genAI is a powerful tool, but it definitely comes with a “user manual” of best practices and ethical considerations. Whether the video covers hallucinations, bias, or privacy, staying informed is the best way to get the most out of these models.

If you’re looking to dive deeper into using AI effectively and safely, here are a few core principles to keep in mind:

1. The “Trust but Verify” Rule from Watch this before using generative AI

AI can occasionally present “hallucinations”—information that sounds confident and logical but is factually incorrect.

• Fact-check critical data, dates, and legal citations.

• Treat the output as a sophisticated first draft, not a final product.

2. Prompt Engineering 101

The quality of the output is almost always tied to the clarity of the input.

• Assign a Role: Tell the AI to act as an expert (e.g., “Act as a senior software engineer”).

• Provide Context: The more background you give, the less the AI has to guess.

• Set Constraints: Define the length, tone, and format (e.g., “Give me a 3-bullet point summary”).

3. Privacy and Security

Be mindful of the data you share.

• Avoid entering personally identifiable information (PII) or sensitive corporate data.

• Remember that many models use input data to improve future iterations (depending on your privacy settings).

4. Ethical Use

AI is a collaborator, not a replacement for human judgment.

• Bias Awareness: Be aware that models can reflect biases present in their training data.

• Transparency: When using AI-generated content professionally, it’s often best practice to disclose its use.

What was the biggest takeaway from the video you watched? I’m curious to hear which specific aspect of generative AI it highlighted.