Episode 1
Why AI Isn't Google — And How to Really Use It
In Episode 1 of How to Use AI (and Automation), Tony Winyard breaks down one of the most common beginner pitfalls: treating AI like a search engine. If your only move is asking a single prompt and hoping for gold, you're barely scratching the surface.
This episode introduces a powerful mindset shift – from passive input to active collaboration – and gives you a simple framework for working with AI instead of through it.
You’ll hear:
- A relatable story from Tony’s real-world AI use
- A practical walkthrough of the "Five Whys" to uncover better questions
- How to treat ChatGPT as a thinking partner, not a vending machine
- One experiment to try today to immediately improve your results
Whether you're a freelancer, coach, or small business owner, this episode will help you stop wasting time and start unlocking smarter, deeper output from your AI tools.
Transcript
Welcome to How to Use AI and Automation, the podcast for beginners
Speaker:who want to stop drowning in admin and start working smarter.
Speaker:If you are already deep into coding and prompt engineering,
Speaker:this show probably isn't for you.
Speaker:But if you want simple, clear ways to actually use AI in your day-to-day work
Speaker:or projects, you're in the right place.
Speaker:Today's episode is about one of the most common mistakes people make with ai.
Speaker:They treat it like Google.
Speaker:One question, one answer, done.
Speaker:But AI is not a search engine.
Speaker:It's a thinking partner.
Speaker:And today I'll show you how to use that shift to get dramatically better results.
Speaker:Big idea.
Speaker:Most people are using AI like a vending machine type of short,
Speaker:prompt, get a long answer, move on.
Speaker:But the real power of ai, especially tools like ChatGPT only shows up when you
Speaker:treat it like a brainstorming partner.
Speaker:That means back and forth dialogue, refining your ideas,
Speaker:challenging assumptions.
Speaker:Think of it like this.
Speaker:Google gives you facts.
Speaker:AI helps you think through problems.
Speaker:What makes someone effective with AI is not the prompts they copy and paste.
Speaker:It's how well they frame the problem.
Speaker:Ask better follow-ups and dig deeper.
Speaker:Let me give you a real example.
Speaker:A friend of mine was preparing a workshop on productivity.
Speaker:She asked ChatGPT, what are the best time management tips?
Speaker:It gave her a bland list, time blocking prioritisation, Pomodoro technique, and
Speaker:she was just about to close the tab.
Speaker:She then, she tried something different.
Speaker:She said, okay, pretend I'm a creative freelancer with ADHD.
Speaker:I've tried all those techniques and they don't stick.
Speaker:What else could I try?
Speaker:Now the answers were more specific, more human, and more useful ideas
Speaker:like body doubling, using novelty to spark focus and custom workflows in
Speaker:notion, same ai, better conversation.
Speaker:So how do you actually do this?
Speaker:Here's a simple three step flow to move from Google mode to thinking partner mode.
Speaker:Step one, expand.
Speaker:After your first prompt, don't stop.
Speaker:Ask, can you expand on that?
Speaker:What would this look like for me in my situation?
Speaker:What's a better way to approach this?
Speaker:Step two, refine the five whys.
Speaker:The five whys method originated with the Toyota Motor Corporation and
Speaker:is closely associated with Sakichi Toyoda, the founder of Toyota.
Speaker:I think he developed this in the 1930s.
Speaker:So let's walk through the five whys properly with an
Speaker:actual concrete AI use case.
Speaker:So imagine this scenario, a health coach asks ChatGPT, how can I get more clients?
Speaker:AI gives the usual stuff, improve your website, post on social media, et cetera.
Speaker:But now let's apply the five why's to refine the problem.
Speaker:Why do I need more clients?
Speaker:Because I'm not hitting my monthly income goal.
Speaker:Why am I not hitting my income goal?
Speaker:Because I'm only converting one in 10 discovery course.
Speaker:Why am I only converting one in 10?
Speaker:Because most of them say they can't afford it or need to think about it.
Speaker:Why are they saying that?
Speaker:Because they don't understand the value of the service.
Speaker:They think it's just basic advice.
Speaker:Why don't they understand the value?
Speaker:Because I haven't clearly shown how coaching actually
Speaker:changes outcomes in their lives.
Speaker:So the real problem uncovered.
Speaker:The issue isn't how to get more clients.
Speaker:It's how to communicate the value of coaching more effectively, likely
Speaker:through stories, case studies, and better onboarding content.
Speaker:This is where ChatGPT becomes truly helpful.
Speaker:Now you can ask.
Speaker:Help me craft a story that shows the real transformation a coaching
Speaker:client had in a way that builds trust with someone on the fence.
Speaker:That's how you go from generic noise to actionable signal.
Speaker:Step three, explore alternatives.
Speaker:Ask it to think in different directions.
Speaker:For example, what are three completely different ways to solve this?
Speaker:How would an expert challenge your answer?
Speaker:What's a contrarian take on this idea?
Speaker:Try speaking to it, using dictation, eg. The chat GPT mobile app.
Speaker:It helps you treat it like a real conversation and unlocks better responses.
Speaker:Before your next chat with ai, try this, ask your usual question,
Speaker:then immediately ask what questions should I have asked you instead?
Speaker:Or what's the real problem here?
Speaker:You'll be shocked how much further that takes you.
Speaker:If anything today wasn't clear or if you want to practice asking
Speaker:better prompts, come join my free "How to use AI" Facebook group.
Speaker:It's a safe jargon-free place to learn, ask questions, and get support
Speaker:link to in the show notes, and I look forward to seeing you next week.
