YOU ALREADY HAVE WHAT IT TAKES FOR AI!

A Calgary Police Recruiting Campaign and ChatGPT Walk Into a Bar... 🍻

Okay, no, this isn't the start of a bad joke – it's the beginning of an important lesson I've learned about what it REALLY takes to thrive in the age of AI. Stick with me here.

WAY back in 2007, the Calgary Police Service ran a recruiting campaign with the theme "You already have what it takes," featuring real people from all different professions – oil rig workers, teachers, etc. – with the message that the skills they'd cultivated in their current jobs made them uniquely qualified to make a difference as police officers.

(Sidebar: If you're wondering how on earth I remember this, it's because my husband was a campaign poster boy! I know - I'm a lucky gal 😍)

I've been thinking about this a lot because my message to anyone who works in a communications-centred role is pretty much the same: You already have what it takes to succeed with AI!

You might be thinking, "But I don't have a computer science degree or know how to code!" Well, guess what? Neither do I! And I can tell you from experience the secret to getting the best results from AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Pi, Gemini, and Midjourney is all about being an effective communicator, not coding.

As professional communicators, we're already grandmasters in the art of crafting compelling and clear communications (prompts) that engage, persuade, and inspire people every single day. Every time we write a snappy headline, a concise holding statement, or a persuasive press release, we're essentially "prompting" our audience to think, feel, or act in a certain way.

Hear this, my fellow word nerds: if you've been hesitant to sidle up to the bar and order a double shot of AI, I'm here to tell you that you're already equipped with the skills you need to succeed. Is there a learning curve? Sure. But as someone who's been on this AI journey for a while now, I can tell you your expertise in writing, storytelling, and persuasion IS your superpower.

Here's my challenge: Dive in headfirst. Start playing with GenAI tools. If you're looking for a place to start, I highly recommend Claude 3, the best free AI out there right now. Use their free prompt library (DM me for the link!), and then use your comms magic to build on them and make them your own.

You already have what it takes ✅