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Today’s Thoughts ☠️

Hey there 👋,

We’re getting nerdy and tactical with AI tech for L&D today.

I’ve been mapping out some of the things I want to bring to you over the next few months. One of those is more step by step tool tutorials with practical applications.

I see too many posts just talking theory about AI for work.

Today, we change that by unpacking how to use tools for specific L&D tasks. We begin with 6 ways you can use Perplexity AI to work smarter immediately.

Get your tea or beverage of choice ready, 🍵.

We've got lots to discuss!

→ Much love to today’s sponsor, Sana ❤️

👀 In today’s chat:

• Six ways L&D teams can use Perplexity AI For Research, Analysis and Search
  

• 3 AI prompt templates for your library
  

• The things L&D can’t fix in your company

[🚨I’ve launched a 1-week email course with 3 lessons to make you smarter with AI in L&D for zero cost. Access it here]

THE BIG THOUGHT
6 Unique Ways L&D Teams Can Use Perplexity AI For Better Design, Research And Analysis

What is Perplexity?

Let’s start with the obvious.

Perplexity positions itself as an AI search engine. This basically means they use AI to create a personalised answer for you from credited sources versus Google giving you lists of links.

It’s an attractive idea.

Instead of trying to figure out ‘which link is right for you’, you’re given a new way to discover and interact with information.

As with other popular AI tools like ChatGPT, it has a conversational interface to ask questions, upload documents and produce a variety of outputs.

Getting Started with Perplexity

Instead of me banging on for paragraphs about setting up the tool, here’s a 4-minute video.

Technically, it can be 2 minutes if you put it on 2x playback speed like me (I like to live dangerously). Before hitting play, get your free account on Perplexity.

This covers:

• Setup

• Key features

• Free vs Paid

• Search vs Pro

• Your first output

Now we’ve completed the essentials.

Let’s unpack our 6 use cases ↓

1. The Case Study

A lot of the promise of Gen AI tools has been personalised learning experiences.

That has always excited me.

So, you can imagine my surprise when all I find are L&D pros and workforces using tools for content creation 99% of the time.

The potential is untapped.

Let’s change that.

As our industry likes a good old case study. Here’s how to build case studies in under 15 minutes with Perplexity:

1. Identify your topic of interest.

2. Build your prompt (see example in video)

3. Review and provide feedback

4. Ask for guided steps on how you can implement the knowledge

5. Ask Perplexity to transform all outputs into a readable document.

6. [Bonus] Turn outputs into a podcast script and use ElevenLabs to create a podcast you can use as an audio lesson

The last one is a bonus, but it’s pretty cool and takes personalised learning to another level.

Why read it yourself when an AI-generated voice can read it for you?

What a time to be alive.

This enables you to craft case studies for use in community channels, newsletters and workshops. I used to spend hours trawling Google for good case studies to anchor workshops around back in the day.

I wish I had this back then.

I ran this example myself as research for the course arm of my business.

I created a case study on Kat Norton, creator of Miss Excel (who you’ve probably seen dancing around Excel sheets online somewhere) which I turned into a podcast as a lesson for others to learn from too.

Premium subscribers can learn how to do this in the step by step video below (scroll down to bottom of this).

2. The Research Assistant

Compelling credible and evidence-based research from scratch.

Similar to case studies, our industry lives on evidence-based research.

AI has a bit of a love/hate relationship with facts and data. I mean, we know it likes to make up a good old fact or two, or three!

Perplexity’s strength comes into play here.

It indexes the internet every 24 hours to keep its data on point. I’m not saying you can 100% trust it (it is still a probabilistic tech after all). It’s better than most AI tools on offer.

Let’s say you’re building a feedback experience and need industry-specific research,

You can use a prompt like this:

###Context###

I'm building a workshop focused on enhancing the feedback capabilities of mid- level managers in our technology department. 
To date feedback on their performance on this subject is incredibly mixed.

Ideally, I want to unpack examples of feedback scenarios from big tech companies. My plan is to use these as a central part of the experience to breakdown 'what good looks like'

###Task###

You will find 5 examples of feedback done well from top tech companies as outlined in my context.

Present these as follows:

- Title of company where example came from
- 150 max overview of scenario
- What the audience can learn from this
- Steps to replicate 'what good looks like'

###Constraints###

Only focus on examples from the last 5 years. They must be from technology companies only.

Do not make up examples if you can't find any. Respond with 'I can't find this'.

Here’s the response I got. Pretty good, right?

As with all things Perplexity, knowing your sources in a clear-cut format is a great feature. Below are the sources used to create my response to this prompt.

Also, note on the right-hand side of your screen where a gallery of images appears.

Click ‘View More’ to get a nice curated list of relevant images for your search. Mine provided good feedback frameworks related to the output.

You can use this to:

• Research new learning tech

• Improve old content

• Build business proposals

And much more. Let your imagination run wild!

(Not sure how to write AI prompts? Get the guide on the best AI prompt framework for business tasks on the blog)

3. The Data Analyst

As an industry, we love to talk about data - a lot.

The thing is none of us were trained to be data ninjas. We spin enough hats already. I’m all for being data-led and informed in making smart decisions for L&D.

Thankfully, we’ve entered a time where AI tools make this a lot easier for us. Perplexity isn’t unique in this feature. You can achieve this with ChatGPT and Claude. I’ll show you how to do that with their features in the weeks and months to come.

As with other AI tools, you can upload different document types to Perplexity including Excel, Google Docs and PDFs.

I spend too much time reading industry reports. I use AI tools to support me in analysing and uncovering the most useful insights.

Here’s an example prompt you can use with your data analysis:

###Context###

In the attached [enter file type here] you'll find [data type: comments, report etc] on [enter subject]

I need to [output: measure, analyse, understand] the [thing you need to know] to help me with [future task]

###Task###

Your task is to analyse this report and provide the following:

- Sentiment analysis of user feelings
- Trending data insights
- Catalogue mentions of the term [insert term]
- Provide 3 areas I should explore in more detail

Present this in a structured table format for easy viewing.

Play with this to align with your task.

AI tools are not just useful for analysing data. They can help as an incredibly valuable co-pilot working inside data handling tools like Excel, and Google Sheets and specialist tools like Tableau.

Gone are the days of scouring pages of Google for that one formula to rule them all.

Just ask your local conversational AI tool to give you a step-by-step guide.

Quick hack for info sentiment and analysis with comments

When compiling articles like this, I do a lot of research on places like Quora and Reddit.

These threads can have hundreds even thousands of comments. Unless I have months to write these (which I don’t) these pieces wouldn’t be in front of you now.

To help with this, I discovered a quick and so simple hack to get data from these sites into my chosen AI tool.

I use Microsoft Edge, but you can find this under the settings menu of any browser.

Click the three dots or settings menu in your browser → select ‘print’ → ‘save as PDF’ → upload the file to Perplexity or your AI tool of choice → ask it to review the document and provide the trending responses - voila!

4. The Market Researcher

Comparing new tech, whether L&D or not, is hard.

I have a moment every year when Apple releases 3 new phones in one day, where I stare at the screen and think, what’s the difference? Our little AI assistants can help make this easier.

What separates a tool like Perplexity from a Google search is personalisation.

I can’t use a Google search to say “I’m a late 30-something male who is confident with tech. I’m looking for an iPhone with a large screen that fits my hands. It must have a top of the range camera, ability to run high-demanding business apps and longevity of at least 5 years worth of updates”

Google would have a seizure if you typed that in.

Conversational AI tools don’t.

This is where Perplexity will give you an advantage. As mentioned earlier, it indexes the internet daily for the latest info. Where Google gives a bazillion links to review, Perplexity will create a structured answer on a page with sources.

Should I buy x tool?

You can use this same method to compare L&D tools.

We’re drowning in so many, it’s difficult to know who is worth your time.

Here’s a prompt template to try:

###Context###

I'm a [insert role] at [describe your company and industry].

We're looking to add a new [tool description] to helps us with:

- Problem 1
- Problem 2
- Problem 3

It must work with [insert current tech] and be able to support [specify audience and size]

###Task###

Your task is to identify and research 5 learning platforms that can solve the problems outlined in the context above.

They should be based in [enter territory or country] and specifically support [your industry]

Present the output in a table with:

- Supplier (include website URL)
- Location
- Price
- Key Features
- Previous customers
- Reviews

###Constraints###

Do not use your training data to fill in any missing pieces of information. If you can't find the information requested, leave the field blank.

5. Focused searching

Pinpoint answers with ‘focus’ mode.

This is a feature I’ve found with no other conversational AI tool.

It’s small, but I think rather useful. I’m talking about the ability to focus your query for the best results. Perplexity can refine its answer to only source information from:

• YouTube

• Social media

• Academic libraries

• Just it’s training data with no web access

I’ve found use for this in searching social media comments to get a sentiment analysis of attitudes towards AI tools like Perplexity.

Sometimes it’s better to refine your search vs look everywhere.

To access this, just click the ‘focus’ option within the input bar and select your source.

6. Replacing Google(?)

Probably never going to happen but it is an AI-based search engine first.

It stops you from scrolling through links to figure out ‘what’s worth my time’. Instead, you get a round-up of up to 10 sources that build a personalised answer.

Google gives you results, but Perplexity will give you answers.

I know this is the angle Perplexity is aiming for, and it is good at it in some areas, but I think it will take more than that to take down the king. Google is integrating more of its Gemini AI across its search technologies as we speak.

Still, if you prefer a structured answer versus playing a game of links. Perplexity is a good option.

✍️ Final Thoughts

There’s not much more to say, friend.

Just keep experimenting and open your mind to the enormity of the possible. It would be a real shame to use powerful tech to only 1% of its potential.

I hope you found today’s edition valuable. It took me 20 hours and 3 cups of tea to research and write.

Let me know how I’m doing by answering the poll at the end of today’s edition.

Talk to you next time.

(P.S. I’d love to see how you use the above use cases. Email me or tag me in what you do on LinkedIn)

Till next time, you stay classy learning friend!

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SMART THOUGHTS

🤔  Why you don’t need new ideas to build great content

Our industry suffers from content overwhelm, or chaos, as an old employer once coined it.

Instead of looking to create something new, you might find great worth in updating content and ideas you already have. This goes for anything across the spectrum of L&D solutions.

I unpacked more on this concept through the lens of a hugely popular video game series.

They proved that old does not mean dead, and can be relevant once more.

💡 Things L&D can’t fix in your company

I evidently touched a nerve with this one.

In my 17 years in the industry, I’ve seen some ridiculous expectations from senior leaders with L&D. I’m sure you have too.

I decided to share some of that on LinkedIn, and it seems like a lotta people have views on this too. If you find yourself equally frustrated with the crazy expectations for an L&D team in the corpo world.

→ You’ll enjoy this.

🔥  L&D school didn’t teach you this!

Don’t you just hate taking orders like a McDonalds drive-thru.

It drove me insane in many L&D teams. Stakeholder sends an order, you can’t ask any questions and you build cookie-cutter stuff - soul destroying!

This video is the introduction to The Art of Performance Consulting online course. I explore what it takes to become a strategic partner your business can’t ignore.

As the awesome person you are for reading this far, get the video now.

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3. Join The Cult of Thoughts ☠️: A backstage pass to exclusive industry deep dives, events and a monthly newsletter for L&D rebels.
   
   

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