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AI Tools for Everyday Work / Module 1

Module 1

Choosing a Tool Category Without Chasing Every Product

Unit ID: AIT-M01-U04 Estimated active time: 10-15 minutes

Tools change. Task types last longer.

AI products change quickly. Buttons move. Features are renamed. Some tools become popular, then disappear.

So this course does not begin with a list of products to memorise.

Instead, begin with the task.

Ask:

What kind of help do I need?

Then choose a tool category.

Common tool categories

For everyday work, you may see these categories:

  • chat assistant;
  • writing assistant;
  • document assistant;
  • meeting-note assistant;
  • presentation assistant;
  • spreadsheet or table assistant;
  • research or search assistant;
  • workplace productivity assistant.

One product may cover several categories. That is fine. The category helps you think about the job, not the brand.

Match the task to the category

If you need a first draft, a chat or writing assistant may help.

If you need to summarise a long document, a document assistant may help, if the document is safe to use.

If you need meeting actions, a meeting-note assistant may help, if recording and sharing are allowed.

If you need a slide outline, a presentation assistant or chat assistant may help.

If you need help thinking about a simple table, a spreadsheet or table assistant may help. But you must be clear whether the tool saw the actual data, a sample, or only your description.

Do not confuse access with permission

Just because a tool can accept text does not mean you are allowed to paste the text.

Before using a tool, ask:

  • Is this tool approved for this information?
  • Is the information private or confidential?
  • Can I remove sensitive details?
  • Can I use a safe sample instead?
  • Is there an organisation policy I must follow?

If you do not know, do not paste private material.

A product-neutral habit

Write your prompt in a place you control first, such as a note or template.

Then you can adapt it to whichever approved tool you are using.

This gives you a reusable habit. You are not trapped by one interface.

Quick practice

Match each task to a tool category:

  1. Turn rough points into an email.
  2. Summarise safe meeting notes into action items.
  3. Create a five-slide outline.
  4. Create questions for comparing two options.
  5. Explain what a simple table seems to show.

For each one, also write what you would need to check before using the output.