For work, school, and home · by Joe Rangel
You direct. AI does the work.
To get better with AI, start with one real task. You direct. The AI does the typing. No coding.
One path if you are new: the 7-day plan.
Take 01 → 02
- 84Guides
- 353Prompts
- 7Tools
- 21Topics
The path
Level up: use the 4 steps on Become an AI Director, then open one guide.
The skill
Learn the skill behind it
A guide finishes one task. These lessons are the habit underneath. Ask for a plan, show a real example, catch a fact you did not type, and refuse a reply that only agrees with you.
Ask for a plan before the workTo keep a big AI job on track, ask for a short plan and a checklist first. Do not let it do the whole job in the first reply.Show the AI an example of what good looks likePaste one real sample, such as an email you sent, and ask the chat to match that pattern. Tell it not to copy the sample's names, numbers, or stories.Catch facts the AI made upA sure tone is not a true fact. Ask the chat to mark what came from you, what is unsure, and what you must check yourself.Stop the yes-man replyA yes-man reply agrees with you. Ask what is weak, what it would not do, and what you might be wrong about.
The crew
Meet your crew
Four jobs beside the Director. Each one owns the guides for that work.
Scriptwriter
writing · prompts
Writes the first draft you can edit: emails, letters, resumes, and outlines. You still check the names and the facts.
16 guides
Researcher
research · the facts
Pulls the reading, the comparison, and the study pile into notes you can use. The sources stay in the prompt.
31 guides
Editor
rewriting · tone
Cuts a draft for a new reader, a shorter note, or a different tone. Nothing gets added that you did not ask for.
6 guides
Reviewer
checking · quality
Looks at the work before it leaves: the facts, the rules, and whether it is good enough to send.
20 guides
Guides
Pick one task
Prompt fixerWhich AIEmailsMeeting notesExam prepMeal plans
Plan a week of meals from what's already in your fridgeList the food you have, the nights you cook, and foods you skip. Get dinners that use that food, then a short list. Check it against your kitchen.Gemini, ChatGPT or Claude (free)20 MINSpot AI scams and deepfakesDo not trust a voice, a face, or a caller ID on an urgent money request. Hang up and call back on a number you know. A chatbot can list red flags in a message you paste. Its verdict is not proof.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, or Perplexity (free)20 MINStudy for an exam without AI doing it for youUse AI as a tutor. It quizzes you and explains what you miss. You still learn the material. Do not copy answers onto a test.ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude (free)30 MINTurn meeting notes into action itemsPaste messy meeting notes. Get a short summary, the decisions, and a list of who does what by when. Check the names before you share it.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)5 MINCollege application essay with AI, the right wayUse AI to interview you about your own life, help you pick a story, and give feedback on a draft you wrote. It does not write the college essay. You check your college's rules and the word count on the form.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)45 MINFind a restaurant with Meta AIAsk Meta AI in Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, Facebook, or meta.ai for a short list. Name the mood, budget, and foods you skip. Check hours before you go.Meta AI (in Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, Facebook, or meta.ai)15 MINPlan Thanksgiving dinner with AIGive the headcount, foods to skip, and when you serve. Get a menu, a store list, and a clock. Open USDA and FoodSafety.gov for thawing and 165°F.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)35 MINTurn a practice quiz into the concepts to learnAsk AI to group a long practice test into a short list of ideas. Then learn those ideas yourself. Do not turn the chat's answer in.ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude (free)45 MINUnderstand your ballot measures with AI before you votePaste the official ballot text. The chat quotes what a yes and a no would do. It does not tell you how to vote. Deadlines come from your election office.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)25 MINWrite a difficult work email without the stressUse AI to draft a clear, calm email when you need to push back, follow up, or say no. You edit every fact. You send it yourself.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)20 MINGet an Excel or Sheets formula in plain wordsDescribe your spreadsheet in plain words. Get a formula, such as XLOOKUP or SUMIFS, plus a short explanation. Test it before you trust it.ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot (free)5 MINGet honest feedback on your essay (without AI writing it)Ask AI to review a draft you wrote, against the grading sheet, and to ask you questions. You rewrite it. Do not hand in text the tool wrote.ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude (free)25 MINPlan a trip itinerary and budget with AIGive dates, a budget, and what you like. Get a day-by-day plan and a packing list. Check prices, hours, and entry rules before you book.ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude (free)30 MINPlan holiday gift shopping with AIOne note per person, a budget, and a delivery date you set. Get a shortlist with model and size. Check price, shipping, and returns on the retailer page.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)30 MINWrite your performance self-review with AILet the AI interview you one question at a time, then draft a year-end self-review only from facts you give it. Gaps stay marked Add detail here. You check every claim against your own records before you submit.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)40 MINAsk for a raise with AIInterview yourself first, build a raise case from wins you can point to, and leave pay blank until you paste figures you opened. You speak. The chat does not email your manager.ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, or Grok (free)45 MINMake a holiday budget with AISet one hard total for gifts, travel, food, and the costs people forget. Track what you actually pay through December. The chat does not know your bank.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)35 MINMake a monthly budget from the numbers you already haveSort one month of real income and bills into a simple plan. You bring the amounts. AI shows where the money goes. It does not invent your rent.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)25 MINMake a study schedule for midtermsBuild a day-by-day study plan from your real exam dates and the topics you are shaky on. The plan tells you what to practice. It does not study for you.ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude (free)20 MINSummarize a long report without missing the pointTurn a long report into a short brief: the decision, the numbers that matter, and open questions. Check every figure against the original.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)15 MINWrite holiday cards and letters with AIDraft a holiday letter, short card lines for a list of people, or a gentle note for a hard year. Read it aloud. Leave out addresses and travel dates. Check every name.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)30 MINBuild a PowerPoint outline before you design a single slideStart from the decision the room must make. Get a slide-by-slide outline in plain sentences, then build the deck. The story comes before the design.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)20 MINCompare two products before you buy either oneLine up two products using the facts on their pages and what you need them to do. You leave with a choice you can explain, not a sales pitch.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot or Meta AI (free)15 MINNegotiate a job offer with AIYou have an offer, not a raise at your current job. Open public wage pages yourself, paste only figures you copied, and draft a short counter you will say. This is not legal or financial advice.ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, Perplexity, or Grok (free)45 MINTurn lecture notes into flashcards you can actually answerMake a small stack of questions from your own notes, then practice from memory. The cards are a study tool. They are not an assignment to hand in.ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude (free)20 MINCheck Black Friday shopping deals with AIBuild a Black Friday list with a budget you set. Compare specs from pages you open. A deal is real only after you check the price, the maker's price, and the return policy.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, or Copilot (free)30 MINMake a slide deck with AIName the decision, approve an outline, then make slides. Check every fact and number. For class, follow the AI policy and do not turn in the tool's deck.ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Copilot (free)30 MINPlan a kid's birthday party without the 40-tab spiralGive the age, how many kids, the place, and a budget you already chose. Get a simple schedule. You still book the place and buy the food.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Meta AI (free)20 MINPrep for a job interview with AIMap your resume to the job post, predict a short list of questions, and practice STAR answers out loud. You get talking points. You do not memorize a script.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, or Perplexity (free)40 MINUnderstand a hard reading before you discuss itWork through a dense chapter in small pieces. You write the one-sentence version. AI explains and asks. It does not write what you turn in.ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude (free)30 MINWrite a speech with AI, from a toast to a work talkBring your own true stories. AI helps you outline, tighten, hit a time limit, and rehearse. You still say it out loud, and you check every name.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)40 MINPractice a presentation out loud before you give itUse AI as a practice audience for a talk you outlined. It asks questions and flags mushy spots. It does not write a speech you memorize.ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude (free)20 MINWrite a polite complaint letter with one clear askTurn a frustrating order, bill, or repair into a short letter with the facts, the date, and the result you want. You stay firm without inventing damages.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)15 MINWrite a weekly status update your manager will actually readTurn a messy week of notes into a short status your manager can scan: what moved, what's stuck, and what you need. You keep the facts honest.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)10 MINWrite an interview thank-you with AISend a thank-you within 24 hours that names one real detail from the interview. Keep it under about 120 words. The chat must not invent praise the interviewer did not give.ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, or Grok (free)20 MINCancel subscriptions and lower bills with AIList charges from a statement you opened. The chat sorts recurring from one-time and drafts a cancellation or a retention script. It does not log into your bank, cancel for you, or invent a fee.ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, or Grok (free)40 MINChatGPT for beginners, the first ten things to tryMake an account, learn a four-part prompt, and try ten ordinary tasks. You do not need every new feature. One tool and one real task is enough.ChatGPT (free). Gemini, Claude, or Copilot work the same way30 MINCompare health plans with AI before you enrollPaste the Summary of Benefits or Annual Notice of Change. The chat quotes it. You confirm doctors and drugs with the plan. This is not medical advice.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)40 MINUpdate your resume with AI without inventing a careerCompare your real resume to one job post, find the gaps, and rewrite bullets you can defend. The chat does not add jobs or numbers you did not supply.ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Copilot (free)30 MINUse AI for school the right wayA plain guide to what helps you learn, what to ask your teacher about, and what is cheating. This page will not help you hide AI use from a teacher.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)15 MINBuild a weekly ChatGPT study routineA repeatable week: explain the idea, quiz yourself, and review what you missed. This is a habit, not a one-night cram, and it never writes graded work.ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude (free)25 MINRedesign a room with AI using a photo and a real budgetUpload a photo, name a budget you can spend, and get a plan plus item types. You check prices. The chat does not know what the store charges today.ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot (free), if your account can take a photo25 MINUnderstand a medical bill with AIRedact names and ID numbers, then read an itemized bill and the explanation of benefits. Spot a duplicate, draft a polite request, and ask about financial help. This is not medical, legal, or financial advice.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)40 MINWrite a cover letter that sounds like youGive the posting, your resume, and two true stories. Get three short options in plain words, then edit by hand. The letter should not read like a template.ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Copilot (free)25 MINCompare Medicare plans with AI during Open EnrollmentStart at Medicare.gov/plan-compare for the real numbers. Use AI to read the Annual Notice of Change and line up costs you paste. Confirm doctors and drugs with the plan. This is not insurance advice.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)45 MINDesign your yard with a photo, your zone, and the sunUpload a yard photo, tell the chat the zone and the light you looked up, and get a planting plan you can check before you buy. It does not know your soil.ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot (free), if your account can take a photo30 MINPractice a language with AI at your levelRole-play a short talk, get a correction each turn, and review words you used. Voice is optional. It will not make you fluent on a schedule.ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude (free)15 MINRun a job search with a weekly plan, not a tab pileTurn your real background into job titles, search words, a tracker, and outreach you can send. You still apply. The chat does not find you a job.ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, or Perplexity (free)40 MINUnderstand lab results with AIBlack out your name and ID numbers, then ask a chat to translate one lab or test page into plain English and a short list of questions. It does not diagnose. You talk to your clinician.ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, or Grok (free)30 MINUse your FSA or HSA before year-end with AIPaste redacted plan-summary lines and build a year-end checklist for a health FSA or an HSA. You verify expenses on IRS Publication 969, Publication 502, and your plan. This is not tax, legal, or financial advice.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)40 MINCompare two documents with AISee what changed between two versions of a contract, a lease, a PDF, a Word file, or an Excel sheet. Ask for exact quotes, then find those lines yourself.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)25 MINFind unclaimed property with AIBuild a name-and-state search list, then look yourself on MissingMoney.com and your state's official unclaimed-property site. The chat does not find money or invent a balance. This is not legal or financial advice.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)30 MINRun a monthly budget check-in with numbers you typeAfter one real month, rerun a short check-in: bills due, cuts from amounts you supply, and what is left. This is the repeat visit, not a first budget.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)20 MINTurn lecture notes into a study guide that shows the gapsOrganize notes you took into sections, a list of terms, and the holes you still need to fill. You write the notes. Flashcards are a separate step.ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude (free)20 MINUnderstand your taxes with AI before you fileUse AI to build a tax document checklist, translate a term or a software screen, and list what to read on IRS.gov. AI does not file and is not tax advice. Strip SSNs.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)45 MINUse AI at work as a beginner, safelyStart with five ordinary work tasks and a short list of what you never paste. You stay responsible for what you send. Your employer's rules win.The assistant your employer allows, or ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, or Copilot (free)20 MINAppeal a denied insurance claim with AIRedact the denial, quote the reason, and draft a short internal appeal from those lines only. Deadlines come from your letter and HealthCare.gov. You file it. This is not medical, legal, or financial advice.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)45 MINKeep your data private with AILeave out passwords, ID numbers, and other people's files. A locked chat only hides a conversation. Disconnect a mail or calendar app when you are done.ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or Copilot20 MINLearn math with an AI tutor, one hint at a timeUse a worked example from the book, take one hint, try the step, then practice a similar problem. The tutor does not finish your graded homework.ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude (free)25 MINMake a four-week workout plan you can actually repeatGive your goal, days, equipment, and any injury. Get a four-week plan and a check-in. This is not medical advice, and it promises no results.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)20 MINRead a lease with AIPaste a redacted lease and get plain English that quotes the lines. Fees, deadlines, and house rules stay tied to the PDF. This is a reading aid, not legal advice.ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, or Grok (free)40 MINReply to work emails faster without sending a robotPaste the email you received and the point you want to make. Get a short reply in your tone, then send it yourself.ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Copilot (free)10 MINBrainstorm and outline an essay without the tool writing itUse AI to ask better questions and poke at your thesis. You write every sentence. Feedback on a draft you already wrote is a different guide.ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude (free)25 MINCatch up on your email and calendar with AIConnect the mail and calendar the product actually supports. Get a catch-up, draft replies, and see free time. You still send, delete, and accept invites.ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or Copilot25 MINPlan cheap flights and a road trip, then check pricesAsk for flexible dates, nearby airports, and a driving route. Then confirm every fare and stop yourself. A city itinerary has its own guide.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)25 MINUse Copilot in Excel on a clean tableOpen Copilot in Excel only if your account shows it. Save with AutoSave, format a table, then check every formula on a row you already understand.Copilot in Excel, if your Microsoft 365 account shows it20 MINUse Copilot in Word and PowerPoint when the button is thereDraft in Word or build a short PowerPoint deck only if your account shows Copilot. Check the facts. If the button is missing, outline the deck yourself.Copilot in Word and PowerPoint, if your account shows it25 MINWrite a letter with AI that asks for one real thingDraft a thank-you, a refund request, or a dispute from facts you supply. A complaint letter has its own guide. The chat does not invent laws or amounts.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot (free)20 MINResearch a topic with AI without trusting made-up factsGet a short sourced brief on any topic, then open the sources yourself. Ask the chat what it is unsure about before you use a single claim.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, or Perplexity (free)15 MINUse Copilot in Outlook and Teams for email and meetingsSummarize an Outlook thread, draft a reply, or catch up on a Teams meeting. The buttons show only when your plan and your admin include them.Copilot in Outlook and Teams, if your Microsoft 365 account shows it20 MINWrite prompts that get useful work (not vague answers)Ask for one real task with a goal, your facts, the shape of the reply, and a boundary. Then change one thing. The chat must not invent facts.ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude (free)15 MINMake ChatGPT remember your projectA chat does not keep a project by magic. Use a Project when you see one, pin a short brief, and paste a handoff into the next chat.ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini20 MINRewrite your LinkedIn profile without inventing jobsPaste the headline, About, and experience you already have. The chat may only rewrite those facts. You check every claim before you publish.ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude (free)20 MINMake a flyer or poster with AIWrite the event facts first. Let the chat draft the lines, then lay them out where you can edit the words. Check the date, time, and address.ChatGPT or Gemini, if your account can make an image, or Canva's free plan25 MINRewrite something for a different audience (same facts)Paste what you already wrote, name the old reader and the new one, and keep the facts. The words can change. The names, dates, and numbers cannot.ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude (free)15 MINPressure-test a decision with AI before you commitPaste the plan you like and the facts you already have. Ask for options, tradeoffs, and the case against the plan. You decide. The chat does not.ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude (free)15 MINLearn anything with AI, then take the quizExplain a topic back in your own words, then let a free chat quiz you. You write the notes. It does not do the thinking, or any graded work, for you.ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude (free)25 MINTurn a messy goal into a project plan with AITurn a messy goal into milestones, tasks, owners, and risks. The chat asks questions first. You supply the dates and the people. It does not invent them.ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude (free)20 MINPlan a school project with AI, then research itPaste the rubric and your real due dates. Ask for a timeline and research questions. You read the sources and write the project. The chat does not.ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude (free)25 MINMake a lesson plan with AIDraft a lesson plan from the standard and the objective. You check accuracy, age fit, and student privacy before you teach.ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, or your school's approved chat40 MINPlan your day with AI, then decide what does not fitPaste the appointments you already have and a messy to-do list. Ask for a day that fits the free hours. You choose what to drop. The chat does not.ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or Copilot (free)15 MINTurn a recording into notes with AIPaid ChatGPT plans can turn audio into notes or a follow-up. Transcripts can be wrong. Ask before you record. Do not use the notes to skip class.ChatGPT (paid plans for audio upload)25 MINUse ChatGPT in Word to draft and reviseChatGPT in Word is on every plan, including Free. It drafts, summarizes, and revises the open file. Save a copy before it edits a line you meant to keep.ChatGPT in Word (all plans, including Free)20 MINUse AI in Google Docs, Sheets, and SlidesUse Gemini in Google Workspace, or Claude's Docs, Sheets, and Slides add-on, to draft a doc, clean a sheet, and turn notes into slides. Read every edit. If the button is missing, it is not on your account.Gemini in Google Workspace, Claude for Google Workspace25 MIN
A real prompt
Write prompts that get useful work (not vague answers)
To get useful work from a prompt, name the goal, the facts only you know, the shape of the reply, and what the chat must not invent. Ask for one task, then change one thing and ask again.
Open Write prompts that get useful work (not vague answers).
Prompt
Goal: draft a status email I can send to my manager.
Context: Reader is [name, role]. This week: [what moved]. Stuck: [what slipped, and the real date]. I need: [the one ask, or "nothing"].
Output: an email under 120 words. Start with the result. Then what is stuck. Then what I need.
Boundaries: Use only the facts I typed. Do not add wins, numbers, or praise. If a date is missing, write MISSING. Do not send it. I will send it.
Do this one task, then stop.Newsletter
One short guide in your inbox each morning.
About 5 minutes. Real tasks. No hype. Leave anytime.
Free tool
Fix a vague prompt
Type a fuzzy ask like "write my resume." Get a director-style prompt with role, goal, plan-first, approval, and a check. Runs in your browser. No login.
Common questions
What is Your AI Director?
A free set of short guides for real tasks at work, school, and home. Each guide tells you what to paste into a chat, and what to check before you use the answer.
Do I need to know how to code?
No. You type and paste. The guides use free tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, or Meta AI.
What does 'directing' AI mean?
You pick the goal. You give the facts. You check the answer before you send it or turn it in. The AI does the typing.
Is it okay to use AI for school?
Use it to learn. Do not turn in work the AI wrote. Follow your teacher's rules.