Any AI tool · 3 levels
Where to start with automation: 3 levels
Everyone says automate your workflow. Nobody tells you where to start. Here are the three levels I use, with the prompts, so one weekly task ends up running on its own.
Everyone says automate your workflow. Nobody tells you where to start. Here are the three levels I use, with the prompts, so one weekly task ends up running on its own.
In the video I said to comment AUTOPILOT. This is that guide. It works in ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Gemini or any AI tool you already use. Pick one task you do every week and take it through all three levels.
Turn this into numbered steps and mark every step where the work waits on me. For each step, add which file, app or person it needs. Then ask me about anything I skipped over, one question at a time, and update the steps with my answers.
Do step [number] for me this week and show me your work before anything goes out. Here's what you need for it: [paste or attach the files, notes or details that step uses]. Tell me anything you weren't sure about, and don't send, post or delete anything.
Some AI tools can run a prompt on a schedule. In Claude Cowork it's called a scheduled task, and weekly is one of the options. ChatGPT has scheduled tasks too. If your tool has no scheduler, set a weekly reminder and paste the same prompt each time. My AUTOMATE guide has the exact Cowork steps: aiprepper.ai/automate.
Start with one task. When that one runs on its own, pick the next.
Start with one task you do every week. Explain it out loud to your AI tool the way you'd train a new hire, then ask: Turn this into numbered steps and mark every step where the work waits on me. Those steps show you which parts the AI can take over first.
Hand over the most boring step. Type: Do step three for me this week and show me your work before anything goes out. Asking to see the work first means you check it before anything reaches a client or your inbox, and you learn what the AI gets wrong.
When it's been right three weeks in a row with no changes from you. Until then, keep checking the result each week and add a line to its instructions whenever you fix something. Once it's steady, set it to run on its own every week.
Yes, some can. Claude Cowork has scheduled tasks on all paid Claude plans, with hourly, daily, weekly, weekday and manual options. ChatGPT has scheduled tasks too. If your tool has none, a weekly calendar reminder and a saved prompt does the same job.
A two-minute check to run on each week's result, so you know when you've hit three right in a row, and a prompt that turns your steps into one schedule-ready instruction with a list of things the AI must never do on its own.
Here's what you did for step [number] this week: [paste the result] Check it against my steps with me. Ask me these one at a time and wait for each answer: 1. Did I have to change anything before using it? 2. Was anything missing or wrong? 3. Did it take me less time than doing the step myself? If I changed anything, add a line to the step instructions so you get it right next week, and show me the updated step. Then tell me how many weeks in a row this has been right with no changes. Week one counts as one.
This step has been right three weeks in a row: [paste the step and the updated instructions] Write it as one instruction I can paste into a scheduled task that runs every [day of the week]. Include: - What to read or check first, and where it is. - Exactly what to produce and where to save it. - A stop list: things you must never do without asking me, such as sending email, posting, paying, or deleting files. - What to do if something is missing or looks wrong: stop, and tell me what you found. Keep it under 200 words and write it so someone new could follow it.
Keep reading the result each week for the first month it runs on its own. When you trust it, go back to your Level 1 steps and hand off the next most boring one.
Prompts, step-by-step guides and checklists you can put to work today.