Notes from the AI Fluency course

I took Anthropic’s AI Fluency course. These are my notes on its three modes of AI use and the 4D framework.

Three ways to use AI

Automation: the AI handles a defined task.
Augmentation: you work through the task with the AI.
Agency: the AI acts independently on your behalf.

The 4D framework

Delegation

Decide which parts of the task to delegate and which to handle yourself. Consider the tool’s capabilities and whether you can evaluate its output.

Description

Specify the goal, constraints, method where needed, and expected format.

Discernment

Check the result and its reasoning. A brainstorm and a technical report need different kinds of review; factual claims still need verification.

Diligence

Consider the input’s reliability, possible bias and your responsibility for the result. When relevant, document which AI you used, what it contributed and how you reviewed the output.

Applying it

Before a task, decide what to delegate. Afterward, check the output before using it. Models can produce incorrect information and inconsistent results, so the review needs to match the consequences of an error.

For recurring tasks, keep useful prompts and revise them based on what worked.