The AI Architect — Starter Pack
A small, calm starting point: a handful of prompts you can adapt today, and a one-page safety checklist to keep beside you. The whole idea of the series in one line — you don't need to become a programmer; you need to become an architect. You describe the outcome clearly; the AI does the work; you keep your hand on the switch.
Free to read, keep, or save as PDF. Illustrative examples — adapt to your own work.
How to use the prompts
Treat each one like a brief to a capable teammate: say what you want, give the context, and
say what "done" looks like. Then look at the result and nudge it once. That loop — describe,
review, nudge — is the skill. Replace anything in <angle brackets> with your own details.
Starter prompt library
1. Organize a messy folder
"Here is a folder of files:
<describe them>. Propose a simple, sensible folder structure and a naming convention. Show me the plan first. Don't move anything until I approve it."
2. Get answers out of a spreadsheet
"Using this spreadsheet
<name/columns>, answer:<your question>. Show the numbers you used and how you got them, in plain language. Flag anything that looks inconsistent."
3. Draft a report you make often
"Turn this data
<source>into a one-page<weekly/monthly>report for<audience>. Keep it plain, lead with the three things that matter, and note anything that changed since last time."
4. Summarize a long document
"Summarize
<document>in one paragraph, then five bullet points, then list any decisions or deadlines it contains. Note anything I should double-check against the original."
5. Turn rough notes into a clear email
"Here are my notes:
<notes>. Draft a short, calm, professional email to<recipient>that gets to the point in the first two lines. Give me two subject-line options."
6. Compare two options
"Compare
<option A>and<option B>for<goal>. Give a short table of trade-offs, then a recommendation with your reasoning. Tell me what you're uncertain about."
7. Build a small reusable tool
"I do this task repeatedly:
<describe>. Propose a simple, reusable way to do it. Start with a rough version I can test on sample data before we refine it. Keep everything on my computer."
8. Plan before doing (the safe default)
"Before you change anything, show me your plan as numbered steps and tell me which steps touch or change my files. I'll approve the plan first."
One-page safety checklist
Print this. Glance at it whenever you start something new.
- Back up first. Work on copies, not originals, until you trust the result.
- Approve, don't autopilot. Have the AI show its plan and wait for your OK before it changes anything.
- Read-only first. Let it look before it touches. Grant the least access needed.
- Mind privacy. Don't share sensitive data unless you need to — and know where it's going.
- Watch the cost. Keep it small and predictable; check usage as you go.
- One change at a time. Small steps you can undo beat one big leap.
- Keep a stop. Know how to halt or roll back if something looks off.
- Know when to call a human. Some things belong with a real expert. Say so, and stop.
This starter goes with The AI Architect series. Want the full, guided version — set up from scratch and three real projects you can use at work? Start with Foundations, and grab its free companion pack any time. — Sage Voss
