Text-generating AIs, like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Copilot, are some of the most popular and well-known types of AI today. You’ve likely used them to draft some sort of writing. But here’s the catch: many users don’t realize how much control they have over the quality of the output. They type in a “prompt”—a simple request or command—and accept whatever text the AI generates. This approach often leads to generic, uninspired results that may not fully meet the user’s needs.
To truly harness the power of AI text generation, you need to think of the AI as a collaborator, a member on your team; not just a machine that spits out words. Here are some common mistakes people make when generating text with AI, and how you can avoid them to produce more tailored, unique content.
Mistake #1: Being Too Vague in Your Prompts
One of the biggest mistakes people make is providing prompts that are too general or lack context. When you give the AI a vague request, you’ll often receive a common or generic response—something similar to what everyone else might get. For example, if you ask the AI to “write a thank you email,” you’ll get a basic template that lacks any uniqueness.
The Fix: Be specific. The more detail you provide, the better the output will align with your goals. Instead of just asking for a “thank you email,” you might prompt:
- “Write a thank you email to a client who I met yesterday to discuss their new website project. Express excitement about working with them, and let them know I’ll follow up next week with next steps.”
This way, the AI has more context to work with, and the result will be more tailored to your needs.
Mistake #2: Settling for the First Output
Another common error is accepting the first output the AI provides without further refinement. The AI is capable of producing multiple drafts, exploring different tones, and making adjustments based on your feedback. Yet, many people stop after the first response, even if it’s not quite right.
The Fix: Think of your interaction with the AI as a conversation. Don’t be afraid to ask for multiple versions or tweak the output. Let’s go back to the thank you email in example. You can ask the AI to generate three different versions with varying tones.
Then, you can choose the one that resonates most and further refine it. You could say things like:
- “Make this version shorter by a paragraph.”
- “Simplify the language—avoid jargon.”
- “Make it sound less formal and more friendly.”
This dialogue with the AI ensures you get the best version of the text, customized to your exact needs.
Mistake #3: Assuming AI Should Generate the First Draft
While AI is great at generating text, there’s no rule that says it has to be the first to write something. Many users believe they need to start with a blank prompt and let the AI do all the work, but this often leads to impersonal results.
The Fix: Start by drafting something yourself, then feed it to the AI for refinement. This way, you’re giving the AI a foundation that’s already aligned with your voice and ideas. The AI can then enhance it, making improvements based on your specific instructions. For example, you might tell the AI:
- “Here’s a draft I wrote—tighten it up, make the tone warmer, and keep it under 150 words.”
By collaborating with AI in this way, you maintain control over the content while benefiting from AI’s speed and flexibility.
Mistake #4: Not Giving the AI a Clear Structure
A lack of structure can lead to disorganized or incoherent outputs. Many users make the mistake of assuming the AI will automatically know how to arrange the content logically. Without clear instructions, the result can feel random or incomplete.
The Fix: Guide the AI by providing a structure to follow. Again, let’s go back to the thank you email example. You can tell the AI to format the email with a specific outline like this:
- Greeting
- Thank the client for the meeting
- Express excitement about their project
- Mention you’ll follow up with next steps
- Offer to answer any questions
- Close the email
By outlining a clear structure, you’re helping the AI organize the content in a way that aligns with your vision.
Mistake #5: Treating AI Outputs as Rigid
Many people treat AI-generated text as final, assuming the output is rigid and can’t be altered. This mindset can limit creativity and lead to results that feel mechanical or generic.
The Fix: Remember, AI outputs are fluid. You can and should customize them to fit your needs. If the text feels too stiff or formal, ask the AI to adjust the tone. If the content is too long or too short, request changes to the length. AI is flexible and should be treated as a tool that adapts to your feedback.
And, hey, if it outputs something good, go ahead and give the AI an encouraging, “This is great, thank you!”
Make AI Your Assistant, Not a Taskmaster
The key to generating high-quality text with AI is communication (which is always the solution to teamwork isn’t it?). Think of the AI as an assistant or team member, not just a machine that produces words. By giving clear, detailed instructions and engaging in a dialogue with the AI, you’ll be able to create unique, tailored content that stands out.
Next time you use AI to generate text, be more intentional about your prompts, provide feedback, and treat the output as a draft that can be molded and improved. The more you interact with the AI, the more it will feel like a partner in your creative process—not just another tool.