The #1 mistake people make with AI

25 snips

Apr 19, 2026

They explain why missing context, not prompts, is the biggest problem with AI chats. They introduce a single briefing document to give AI consistent background. They show a fast AI-led interview method to build that briefing in 15–20 minutes. They share concrete briefing types, storage options, and the exact adaptive interview prompt to generate them.

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INSIGHT

Context Beats Prompt Crafting

Context, not prompt wording, is the main reason AI outputs feel generic or off-target.
Amantha introduces the 'briefing document' as a single context file that fixes this by giving AI your world before you ask anything.

ADVICE

Create A Briefing Document By Interviewing AI

Run a short adaptive interview with AI to capture what matters about your role, stakeholders, and how you work, then produce a structured single briefing document.
Use the provided prompt and advanced voice mode; it takes ~15–20 minutes over coffee and you can add missing details verbally.

ADVICE

Upload One Briefing Document Instead Of Repeating Context

Stop retyping the same background into every new chat; instead upload a single briefing document to each new thread or attach it as project knowledge.
This prevents boredom or laziness that leads to generic AI answers and saves repetitive work.

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Every time you open a new AI chat, you're starting from scratch. You type out the background, explain your role, describe the project. Then you do it again tomorrow. And the day after.

There's a better way, and it takes about 15 minutes over a cup of coffee.

In this How I AI episode, Neo and I walk through the briefing document - a single context file that gives AI everything it needs to understand your world before you've typed a single word.

Neo and I cover:

Why context now matters more than a well-crafted prompt, and why even a clever prompt without background will give you a great average response rather than something targeted
What a briefing document is and why recreating that context in every new chat leads to lazy, generic results
How to use AI's advanced voice mode to interview you about your job so the briefing document gets built conversationally, not typed from scratch
The exact interview prompt we give Inventium AI workshop participants
Real examples from Neo's setup, including documents for Inventium's products and services, his AI programs, and a current client project
Real examples from Amantha's setup, including documents for managing her team, the How I Work and How I AI podcasts, and her upcoming book
Two ways to store and deploy briefing documents

The prompt for creating a briefing document:

“Run a short, adaptive interview that captures only what matters about my role, context, stakeholders, and how I work, then produce a single structured briefing that covers all information.

Be efficient, inquisitive rather than prescriptive, and tailor the depth and questions to my role and signals.”

Connect with Neo Aplin on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/neoaplin/) and via inventium.ai (https://inventium.ai), where he leads Inventium's AI training and upskilling work with organisations and teams.

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/

Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

Credits: Host: Amantha Imber

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

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