APRIL 23, 2025
STP: 🧠What Is Inverse Prompting, and Why I Use ItAnother quick tip today. Prompt engineering is the popular term for how you speak to an AI to get the results you're after. But, as I've worked more with ChatGPT and other genAI tools, I've started to notice that it's pretty terrible when you treat it like a genie. "I wish for a blog post." You get a blog post, sure. But it sounds like a robot has written it. You could apply this same generic outcome to any number of use-cases. Enter what I call "inverse prompting." This is where you ask the AI to prompt YOU on a given topic. Ask me 3-5 questions to trigger my critical thinking about [insert topic here]. Answer the questions to the best of your ability, and you've given the model thoughts and expertise that are UNIQUELY YOURS. From there, ask the AI to do whatever you need it to do:
You get the point. Try it the next time you decide to open up your ChatGPT, and see what results it produces. I guarantee it'll be something much better than if you prompted the AI cold. 📰 Half of U.S. Colleges Still Don’t Let Students Access the Same AI Tools as FacultyDespite the growing importance of generative AI in higher education, a new Inside Higher Ed survey reveals that half of college and university chief technology officers say their institutions do not provide students with institutional access to these tools. The primary reason cited is cost, even though many generative AI models—some open-source—are becoming more affordable and widely available. While 27% of institutions offer students access through an institutionwide license, 13% limit access to specific departments, and only 5% have developed custom tools. Community colleges are slightly more likely to offer access, with 36% providing it through institutional licenses. Experts warn that this lack of access could widen the digital divide, particularly as AI literacy becomes increasingly vital for both academic success and workforce readiness. Many institutions that do provide access fund it through central IT budgets or absorb the costs entirely, ensuring that students aren’t financially burdened. Leaders like Ravi Pendse at the University of Michigan emphasize that institutions must not be deterred by cost and instead focus on making AI literacy a core component of education. Others, such as Sidney Fernandes at the University of South Florida, point to the importance of secure environments like enterprise-level tools to protect data and guide responsible use. In addition to access, education is a critical component. Experts argue that without proper training, access alone will not close the gap. Morehouse College’s Muhsinah Morris highlights the need for culturally responsive AI tools, while Educause’s Jenay Robert stresses the importance of teaching students how to use these tools effectively. Notably, more than half of students report that most of their instructors prohibit the use of generative AI in coursework, underscoring a disconnect between policy and technological progress. Larger institutions are more likely to grant access, and only 11% of CTOs surveyed say their institution has a comprehensive AI strategy in place. Schools like Arizona State University and Michigan are setting the pace by offering a variety of tools based on user needs, closely monitoring consumption to manage costs effectively. As AI continues to reshape higher education, experts agree that institutions must balance cost, accessibility, and education to avoid deepening digital inequities and to prepare students for an AI-driven future. CHECK OUT MORE ON THIS FINDING HERETHE HEADLINES
TOOL SPOTLIGHT: RoomBoost Launches AI-Driven Interior Design ToolRoomBoost has unveiled a three-step platform that lets homeowners redesign any room in minutes: users snap a photo of their space, pick from preset or custom styles, and receive instant AI-generated visuals showing new furniture, colors, and décor. The company says the tool democratizes professional-grade interior design for living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and more, turning inspiration into tailored layouts in seconds. You can check out a gallery of AI-powered designs here. Pricing runs from $0 per month for the Free plan to $49 per month for the best quality, priority support, full design control, and 250 credits. GET STARTED HERERead All mAIn Street Back Issues HereYour input fuels the content. Let me know how I did today! |
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Ladies and Gents, thank you so much for continuing to support the newsletter, and helping grow it. mAIn Street is almost at 500 subs now. I know showing up every day plays a part; but that wouldn't be possible without seeing the growth, receiving feedback, answering your invitations to speak, and hearing about all of your experiences. I've learned so much from everyone, and for that... Thank you! I feel like AI drops bombshells on us every day. I'm excited about where it's heading, and I...
Yesterday afternoon, I had the honor of addressing the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) faculty in Fort Smith. What Kyle Parker and his team have built over there in just a short amount of time has been nothing short of amazing. As usual, when presenting about AI, I learn a lot from the attendees. Going as granular as you can with use-cases and prompting techniques is probably the best way to accelerate your education and ensure you're ready for the world that's coming. The...
TODAY: Bear with me this week, Everyone. I have an annual report and a quarterly report due at work this week, plus an Awards thing, an AI presentation, and Daddy duties. Definitely going to try and stay on track, but there might be some turbulence. APRIL 22, 2025 Steal This Prompt: 🧠7 Best Prompt Engineering Practices for Every AI Tool Top Story: Gen Z: AI Has Made Our College Degrees Irrelevant THE HEADLINES TOOL OF THE DAY: Fiverr Go Allows Freelancers to Create Their Own Models STP: 🧠7...