Erica × Fluent · Wed 4 Nov

Build your own AI helper

Claude interviews you about your work and the task that takes most of your time. Then it writes the instructions for a helper that does that task.

Before you start

Open claude.ai in a new tab
1

Let Claude interview you

  1. In Claude, start a new chat.
  2. Copy Prompt 1 and send it.
  3. Claude asks you one question at a time: what you do, then what takes your time or causes mistakes. Answer in your own words. Short answers are fine.
  4. Claude helps you pick one task. Then it asks what the helper needs to know, what you give it and what you want back.

Not sure what to answer? Type: give me two options. Stuck for a task? Open "Ideas to start from" below.

Done when: Claude has written your Project instructions and a made-up sample to test with.

Ideas to start from
  • Minutes from a recorded meeting
  • A proposal from a client's brief
  • Your resume, shaped for each job you apply to
  • A first draft of a writing job, in the style the client wants
2

Make the Project

  1. Under Claude's answer, click Copy on the Project instructions.
  2. Open Projects and create a new Project. Name it after your task.
  3. Find the Project's Instructions box, paste, and save.

Done when: your Project exists with the instructions in it.

3

Test it

  1. Start a new chat inside the Project.
  2. Copy Prompt 2 and paste it into the message box. Do not send yet.
  3. Under it, paste the made-up sample Claude wrote in step 1. Then send.

Done when: you have a first answer.

4

Check it, then fix it

  1. Send Prompt 3 in the same chat, straight after Claude's answer.
  2. Check one fact yourself against the original.
  3. Found something wrong? Send Prompt 4 and say what was wrong.
  4. Claude cannot change your Project. Copy the new instructions it writes, open the Project, and replace the old instructions with them.
  5. Test again in a new chat inside the Project.

Done when: you fixed one thing, saved it in the Project, and the new answer is right.

5

Show Sam

Walk Sam through it, the way you would when you teach this yourself:

TaskWhat it is, how often you do it, and what it costs you today.
Told itShow the Project instructions. Point at Role, Context, Input, Output.
LiveGive it the input and show the answer.
CheckWhat did you check? What did you fix?
TimeHow long did this take before? How long now? Be honest.

The four questions behind every helper

ROLEWho is the helper and what is its job? A minute-taker who turns meetings into minutes.
CONTEXTWhat must it know about your work? The layout you use, who attends.
INPUTWhat do you give it each time? A recording's transcript, rough notes.
OUTPUTWhat do you want back? One page, with decisions and actions listed.