What’s One Thing AI has Helped you do smarter, not harder?

You Have to Be Creative, Clever, and Calculative to Use ChatGPT

There’s something I’ve learned about using AI tools like ChatGPT and it’s that not everyone gets it right.

You see, the secret isn’t in having access to the tool; the real power is in how you use it.
I’ve watched people open ChatGPT, type random questions, and close it in disappointment.
Then I’ve also seen others — the creative thinkers — who treat it like a partner, a thought amplifier, a personal brainstorming room.

That’s when you realize: to use ChatGPT effectively, you have to be creative, clever, and calculative.

1. The Creative Side — It Starts With Imagination

Creativity is the bridge between you and ChatGPT.
It’s not just about what you ask; it’s about how you ask.

When I first started using ChatGPT, I didn’t come to it like a robot trying to get answers. I came with curiosity.
I wanted it to think like me or even better, help me think beyond me.

For example, when I write or design, I don’t just ask ChatGPT to “write a post.”
I ask it to become a voice, to take on the perspective of someone living, feeling, and reasoning.
Sometimes I’ll say,

“Write like a Nigerian creative living in the UK who has seen life from two sides the struggle and the glow-up.”

The difference is instant.
The response becomes alive, human, and relatable.

That’s creativity.
It’s not about replacing your originality — it’s about shaping it into something deeper.

2. The Clever Side — Understanding the Game

Now, here’s where cleverness comes in.

ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, or any AI out there doesn’t know your life, your tone, or your audience until you teach it.
Clever people know how to guide AI.

They understand that every tool has layers, and your results depend on how well you navigate those layers.
Sometimes, I give ChatGPT background stories: who I am, what my audience feels, what I want to achieve.
Then, the responses begin to sound like me.

Clever users don’t stop at “write this.”
They say,

“Write it in a way that my audience can feel it.”
“Make it sound conversational, like I’m speaking to a friend.”
“Keep it professional but warm.”

That’s strategy — and AI respects strategy.

When you approach AI this way, you don’t just get content; you get connection.

3. The Calculative Side — Knowing What You Want

Being calculative doesn’t mean being cold; it means being intentional.
AI is like a mirror — it reflects what you feed into it.

If you’re unclear, it gets confused.
If you’re specific, it gives direction.

When I plan a project —whether a blog, a campaign, or a brand post — I think before typing.
I ask myself:

What emotion am I trying to trigger?

Who is this for?

What’s the end goal — awareness, engagement, or action?

Then I shape my prompts around those answers.
That’s being calculative.

For example:
Instead of saying “Write a blog post about design,”
I’ll say:

“Write a relatable blog post about how design reflects human emotion, using a Nigerian creative’s journey as context.”

That’s where the magic happens — when you calculate before you create.

4. The Reality — AI Isn’t a Threat; It’s a Partner

Let’s be honest: there’s fear everywhere.
People think AI will replace writers, designers, marketers, even thinkers.
But here’s my truth — AI is not replacing creativity; it’s refining it.

It’s not here to think for you; it’s here to think with you.

I’ve used ChatGPT to structure ideas, Gemini to visualize scenes, and Canva to translate imagination into visuals.
Each tool plays a role, but none of them can replace my human touch — the emotions, the intuition, the lived experience.

AI can imitate patterns.
But it cannot imitate pain, growth, or resilience — those things that make stories human.
That’s your edge.

5. A Personal Example — When AI Became My Creative Mirror

One day, I sat down feeling blank.
You know those days when your ideas feel stuck, like your mind is buffering?
That was me.

I opened ChatGPT and typed, “Write like a tired creative who still believes in purpose.”

The reply that came back sounded like a reflection of my exact moment.
It reminded me that even exhaustion can be art.
That’s when I realized AI doesn’t just respond to prompts — it responds to intentions.

When you know your why, even technology can sense it.

6. For Creatives — AI is a Skill, Not a Shortcut

Let’s shift perspective.
If you’re a writer, designer, or content creator reading this — understand this clearly:
AI won’t make you great overnight.
It’s not magic; it’s mastery.

It rewards those who think.
It respects those who experiment.
It elevates those who mix logic with creativity.

You can either fear it or train it to work for you.
The difference between the two is mindset.

A creative who uses AI well becomes unstoppable.
Because instead of competing with machines, they collaborate with them.

7. A Gentle Reminder

Don’t let anyone convince you that using AI means you’re not creative.
Creativity has always been about using tools to express thought — from pencils to Photoshop, from brushes to prompts.
AI is just the next evolution.

What matters is your voice.
Your experiences.
Your truth.

Use those as your anchor, and let AI handle the heavy lifting.

8. The Final Word

Using ChatGPT or any AI tool effectively isn’t just about prompts — it’s about presence.
It’s about showing up with curiosity, direction, and self-awareness.

Because at the end of the day, AI won’t define you — you define what AI becomes in your hands.

So yes, spot on —
You have to be creative, clever, and calculative to use ChatGPT.

And once you learn that, you’ll see it’s not just a tool — it’s your reflection, magnified.

💭 Question for You:
What’s one thing AI has helped you do smarter, not harder?

Let’s talk about it below.

— Adanne Udejiofor Chukwudi
Creative & Digital Specialist | Writer | Product Designer