I watched the GenAI MasterClass so you don’t have to.
Summary: AI is HERE and while I’m using it to learn and share, I have mixed feelings. The “Achieve More with GenAI” series on MasterClass highlights AI’s strengths (idea generation, brainstorming) and weaknesses (factual accuracy, follow-through), with practical lessons on prompting techniques, validation strategies, and workflow integration. The ethics episode unfortunately skipped climate impact and instead speculated on AI’s future. Sentient machines a-la Ex Machina? Unlikely, for now.
I have mixed feelings about the use of AI. On one hand, it’s here and people are going to keep using it, whether I’m one of those people or not. On the other hand, it embodies the kryptonite of our society: that everything is someone else’s problem. For now I’m using it to understand and share what I’m learning, but could totally see myself quitting, like someone might quit sugar (ie. It’s so tasty! Dopamine! Must… tear… myself… away… for… long… term… benefit…).
As part of the ‘understanding’ piece, I’m watching the MasterClass series, Achieve More with GenAI. It explains what it’s good at (idea generation!) and bad at (being factually accurate!), and goes through various use cases, including acting as a soundboard, brainstorming business ideas, creating brand concepts, storyboarding and scripting videos, and flipping the dynamic so it asks YOU the questions.
I had high hopes that the final episode (Ethics, AI, and the Future) would at least touch on the climate impact of AI, but instead it mused on the different possible futures for the technology — like will it actually become sentient, a-la Ex Machina? They say it’s unlikely, for now.
What matters: lessons you can use
1. Be specific about what you want
Generic prompts get generic results. Instead of “help me with marketing ideas,” try “I’m a freelance designer looking to attract small hospitality businesses in Melbourne. Give me five specific ways to reach them, focusing on tactics I can execute in the next two weeks with minimal budget.”
The more context you provide about your constraints, timeline, and what success looks like, the more useful the output.
2. Treat it like a draft, not a deliverable
The MasterClass emphasises that AI should accelerate your first draft, not replace your thinking. Use it to break through blank-page paralysis, then edit ruthlessly. Your voice, your judgement, and your specific knowledge are what make the final output valuable.
This is particularly important for anything client-facing or public. AI doesn’t know your brand nuance, your audience’s pet peeves, or what you said last week.
3. Validate everything it presents as fact
AI confidently invents information. If it cites statistics, names specific tools, or references studies, verify independently. This isn’t scepticism for the sake of it, it’s basic due diligence, the same way you’d check sources in any research.
4. Use iteration, not one-and-done prompts
The best results come from conversation, not perfect first-try prompts. Start broad, then narrow. Ask it to explain its reasoning. Push back on suggestions that don’t quite work. The MasterClass demonstrates how treating AI like a collaborative partner (rather than a search engine) produces better outcomes.
5. Know when NOT to use it
AI struggles with:
- Anything requiring current, accurate data (use web search instead)
- Nuanced emotional intelligence or reading between the lines
- Original creative thinking that breaks from patterns
- Strategic decisions that need deep context about your specific situation
If you’re using AI because you’re avoiding thinking through something difficult, that’s usually a signal to step away and do the hard thinking yourself.
The use cases they covered
The series walks through practical applications:
- Acting as a soundboard for half-formed ideas
- Brainstorming business concepts with rapid iteration
- Creating brand identities (names, positioning, visual direction)
- Storyboarding and scripting video content
- Role reversal: having AI interview you to clarify your thinking
Each episode shows the process in action, which is more useful than abstract advice about “prompting techniques.”
The ethics episode: a missed opportunity
I had high hopes that the final episode (Ethics, AI, and the Future) would at least touch on the climate impact of AI, but instead it mused on the different possible futures for the technology. Like will it become sentient, a-la Ex Machina? They say it’s unlikely, for now.
What it didn’t cover: the energy consumption of training and running these models, the labour conditions of content moderators, or the environmental cost of the infrastructure required. These aren’t speculative future concerns. They’re happening now.
My take
AI is a productivity tool, not a productivity system. It can speed up certain tasks and help you think through problems, but it won’t fix unclear goals, poor prioritisation, or lack of follow-through. Those require systems: the kind that work when life is chaotic, not just when conditions are perfect.
The MasterClass is a solid primer if you’re AI-curious but intimidated. It demystifies the technology without overhyping it, which is refreshing. But don’t expect it to replace the fundamentals: clear thinking, good judgement, and systems that support consistent execution.
Episode list
Unlocking Productivity
Ethan Mollick and Allie K. Miller
Learn how to confidently navigate the age of AI with experts on the future of work. Prompt like a boss, boost your productivity, and go from idea to business plan in 15 minutes flat.
Creativity Unleashed
Ethan Mollick and Don Allen III
Discover how AI can be the creative partner you never knew you needed. Learn how to use AI to brainstorm, enhance creativity, and turn your vision into reality with AI artist and futurist Don Allen III.
Ethics, AI, and the Future
Ethan Mollick, Manuel Sainsily, and Allie K. Miller
Delve into the ethics of AI and learn to align technology with your values. Manuel Sainsily shows how to automate and optimise routine tasks and discusses ways to shape AI positively for the future.
FAQ
Is AI useful for productivity, or is it just hype? It’s genuinely useful for specific tasks: brainstorming, drafting, working through half-formed ideas. But it won’t fix unclear goals or poor prioritisation. Think of it as a tool that speeds up certain steps, not a complete productivity system.
What’s the biggest mistake people make when using AI? Treating its output as finished work instead of a first draft. AI doesn’t have context about your brand, your audience, or what you said last week. Always edit with your own judgement.
Should I trust the information AI gives me? No. Verify anything it presents as fact: statistics, tools, studies. AI confidently invents information, so treat it like you would any research source that needs checking.
What’s the point of learning about AI if it’s constantly changing? Understanding how it works and where it fails helps you use it strategically rather than reactively. The fundamentals (good prompting, validation, knowing when NOT to use it) remain consistent even as the technology evolves.
Will AI replace the need for good organisational systems? Not even close. AI can help generate ideas or draft content, but it can’t build the systems that help you prioritise, follow through, or maintain clarity when life gets chaotic. Those require intentional design that fits how you work.
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