James Harvey Media

AI Whisperer | Lifesmith | Author | App Creator

Advanced AI Mastery Guide

15 Essential Skills 5 Proven Frameworks Custom GPT Building
Learn Basic AI Learn Advanced AI

15 Essential AI Skills to Master in 2025

1. Prompt Engineering

Master precise, context-clear prompts for LLMs like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini for better outputs in writing, coding, research, and idea generation.

2. Staying Updated

Stay informed with changelogs, papers, podcasts, and newsletters like OpenAI News and Mindstream to keep your knowledge current.

3. Retrieval-Augmented Generation

Connect LLMs to private data sources using tools like LangChain, LlamaIndex, or VectorDB for improved accuracy and trust.

4. AI Agents

Use multiple AI agents with frameworks like LangGraph, AutoGen, and CrewAI for collaborative task handling.

5. Multimodal AI

Work with images, audio, video, and text in single workflows using models like ChatGPT-o3, Gemini 2.5 Pro, and Claude 3.7 Sonnet.

6. Fine-Tuning & AI Assistants

Use platforms like OpenAI GPT Builder and Hugging Face to fine-tune models or create domain-specific AI assistants.

7. Voice AI & Avatars

Create lifelike AI voices and avatars using tools like HeyGen, ElevenLabs, Vapi, and Synthesia for various applications.

8. AI Tool Stacking

Combine multiple AI tools like ClickUp, Notion, and Zapier to manage your digital workspace efficiently.

9. AI Video Content Generation

Transform blog posts or scripts into videos using tools like Runway, VEED, and Opus with AI voiceovers and editing.

10. SaaS Development

Launch powerful SaaS tools by integrating APIs with no-code builders like Bubble, Lovable, and Cursor.

11. LLM Management

Evaluate AI performance by tracking accuracy, hallucination rates, latency, and cost using frameworks like PromptLayer and TruLens.

12. AI Content Marketing

Work with AI-powered content marketing tools like Writesonic and Jasper to create content that ranks on search engines.

13. AI Chatbots

Create AI voice and text chatbots using tools like Chatstimple that help with customer support and lead generation.

14. Website Creation

Create professional websites for startups and small businesses using AI tools like Webflow, Gamma, Dora, and Wegic.

15. AI Workflow Automation

Automate repetitive tasks using tools like Zapier, Make.com, and n8n, connecting various AI tools and triggers.

Proven Prompt Engineering Frameworks

R-T-F Framework

R - Role: Act as a [ROLE]
T - Task: Create a [TASK]
F - Format: Show as [FORMAT]
Example:
"Act as a Facebook Ad Marketer and create a compelling Facebook ad campaign to promote a new line of fitness apparel for a sports brand. Show as a storyboard that outlines the sequence of ad creatives including ad copy, visuals, and targeting strategy."

T-A-G Framework

T - Task: Define a [TASK]
A - Action: State the [ACTION]
G - Goal: Clarify the [GOAL]
Example:
"The task is to evaluate the performance of team members. Act as a direct manager and assess the strengths and weaknesses of the team members. Goal is to improve team performance so that the average user satisfaction score moves from 6 to 7.5 in the next quarter."

B-A-B Framework

B - Before: Explain problem [BEFORE]
A - After: State outcome [AFTER]
B - Bridge: Ask for the [BRIDGE]
Example:
"We're nowhere to be seen in SEO rankings. We want to be in the top 10 SEO rankings in our niche within 90 days. Develop a detailed plan for mentioning all the measures."

C-A-R-E Framework

C - Context: Give the [CONTEXT]
A - Action: Describe [ACTION]
R - Result: Clarify the [RESULT]
E - Example: Give the [EXAMPLE]
Example:
"We are launching a new line of sustainable clothing. Can you assist us in creating a targeted advertising campaign that emphasizes our environmental commitment? Our desired outcome is to drive product awareness and sales."

R-I-S-E Framework

R - Role: Specify the [ROLE]
I - Input: Describe [INPUT]
S - Steps: Ask for [STEPS]
E - Expectation: Describe the [EXPECTATION]
Example:
"Imagine you are a content strategist. I've gathered detailed information about our target audience, including their interests & common questions related to our industry. Provide a step-by-step content strategy plan, identifying key topics based on our audience insights, creating an editorial calendar, and drafting engaging content that aligns with our brand and message. Aim is to increase our blog's monthly visitors by 40% and enhance our brand's position as a thought leader in our industry."

Essential AI Terminology

Core Terms

Model: The specific version of ChatGPT used (e.g., GPT-4, GPT-4o)
Prompt: What you write to ChatGPT - ideally a clear, specific request
Input: The full text ChatGPT receives, including your message and injected context
Output: The response ChatGPT generates based on the input
Token: The smallest unit of text (can be part of a word, symbol, or space)
Max Tokens: The total number of tokens GPT can process in one exchange

Advanced Concepts

Training Data: Dataset(s) used to train an AI model
Fine-tuning: Process of adapting a pre-trained model for specific tasks
Temperature: Controls randomness in outputs (0-1, higher = more creative)
Top_p: Limits randomness by narrowing token choices
Hallucination: When AI generates false or misleading information
Context Window: Maximum amount of text the model can consider at once

Tone Guide & Parameters

Choose Your Tone

Expert + Visionary Thought Leadership

Authoritative, forward-thinking, and insightful

Friendly + Professional Client Communication

Warm, approachable, trustworthy without losing credibility

Urgent + Convincing Sales & Marketing

Grabs attention with strong urgency or time-based pull

Clear + Analytical Reports & Analysis

Rational, structured, and detail-rich with no fluff

Witty + Relatable Social Media

Playful yet smart, entertaining while still informative

Key Parameters

Temperature

Controls randomness. Higher = more creative.

Example: temperature = 1

Top_p

Limits randomness by narrowing token choices.

Example: Top_p = 0.5

Presence_penalty

Discourages repeated topics.

Example: Presence_penalty = 0.5

Frequency_penalty

Reduces repeated words.

Example: frequency_penalty = 1

Essential Commands & Best Practices

List

Show steps, items, or bullet points.

List the top 5 marketing strategies for startups

Act as

Set a role (e.g., "Act as a product designer").

Act as a financial advisor and explain investment basics

Rewrite

Rephrase or improve previous content.

Rewrite this email to be more professional

Continue

Finish incomplete responses.

Continue the previous explanation

Elaborate

Add more detail or explanation.

Elaborate on the benefits of cloud computing

Identify gaps

Point out missing info or logic issues.

Identify gaps in our current marketing strategy

Compare

Draw comparisons between options.

Compare React vs Vue.js for web development

Summarize

Condense information into key points.

Summarize the main points of this article

Critique

Provide pros and cons with reasoning.

Critique this business plan for potential issues

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Vague or Yes/No Questions

❌ Don't: "Is our product good?"
✅ Do: "Which product feature do you find most helpful and why?"

Ignoring User's Perspective

❌ Don't: "What's wrong with our service?"
✅ Do: "What obstacles have you faced using it, and how can we improve?"

Making Assumptions

❌ Don't: "Do you like our app?"
✅ Do: "Tell me a time when our app helped or frustrated you."

Overly Complex Language

❌ Don't: "Decrypt the quintessence of polycontent semantic constructs via hyperintuitive linguistic embedding in 2 syntactic paragraphs"
✅ Do: "Can you explain the differences in our customer support and customer acquisition process in simple terms?"

Additional Best Practices

✅ Be Specific: Include context, constraints, and desired outcomes
✅ Use Examples: Show the AI what kind of response you want
✅ Set Format: Specify if you want lists, tables, paragraphs, etc.
✅ Iterate: Refine your prompts based on the responses you get

Build Your Custom GPT in 7 Steps

1

Name: Strategic & Clear

Make the purpose obvious. Give your GPT a name that hints at what it will produce. Avoid vague titles, be specific about outcome or function.

Example: "Lever Brands Idea Generator", not "Nader's GPT"
2

Instructions: Set Rules of Play

Define what this GPT does and doesn't do. Use role-based instructions.

Format: "You are a founder specializing in [X]. Input → Output → Guidelines"
3

Conversation Starters

Quick prompts to align your GPT for better results. Show users exactly what they can get.

Examples: "Help me generate thought-leadership hooks", "Help me ideate content angles"
4

Knowledge Base: Fuel the Brain

Upload relevant files - call notes, performance data, brand guidelines, past content, etc.

Tip: PDF files are usually best, but research depending on your context
5

Model: Use the Best Brain

Select GPT-4o for general use, it's best for general use. But each model has different strengths:

  • GPT-4o: Free + can reason across audio, vision and text in real time
  • o1-mini: Smart reasoning model. Best for math, coding and visual tasks
  • GPT-4.1: For simpler, everyday coding tasks (strong at web development tasks)
6

Capabilities: Match Your Needs

Pick the features you need:

  • 📝 Web browsing - fresh, timely posts
  • 🎨 Code + Image - creative formats (e.g. quote cards, charts)
  • 📄 Canvas - long-form newsletter / post writing space
7

Bonus Tip: GPT Collaboration

You can call one GPT from another using @.

Just write the second GPT you want to use into the chat; they run along side each other, using both knowledge bases. No switching tabs. Making life easier.

Quick Reference Cheat Sheet

Popular Roles

• Nutritionist
• Data Scientist
• Travel Planner
• Resume Editor
• UX Researcher
• Marketing Analyst
• Content Strategist
• Financial Advisor
• Project Manager
• Social Media Expert

Common Tasks

• Budget Plan
• Lesson Plan
• Press Release
• Newsletter Draft
• Workshop Outline
• Research Summary
• Content Calendar
• Landing Page Copy
• Email Campaign
• Strategy Document

Output Formats

• Table
• Timeline
• Mind Map
• Bullet List
• Fact Sheet
• Short Story
• Gantt Chart
• Infographic Outline
• PowerPoint Slides
• JSON Format

Sample Prompt Templates

Marketing Campaign

"Act as a Social Media Strategist and create a Newsletter Draft for our tech startup's product launch. Show it as a Fact Sheet that highlights key features, target audience, and campaign hashtags."

Business Analysis

"Act as a Data Scientist and analyze our quarterly sales performance. Create a comprehensive report as a Table showing trends, insights, and recommendations for improvement."

Content Strategy

"Act as a Content Strategist and develop a 3-month editorial calendar for our blog. Show it as a Timeline with key topics, publishing dates, and target keywords."

Project Planning

"Act as a Project Manager and create a launch plan for our new mobile app. Present it as a Gantt Chart showing phases, milestones, and resource allocation."

Pro Tips for AI Mastery

Use Extensions & Integrations

Leverage tools like AIPRM for enhanced functionality and connect with other platforms for seamless workflows.

Iterate Until Perfect

Follow up with ChatGPT until you get the desired output. Don't settle for the first response - refine and improve.

Be Specific & Clear

Ensure prompts are specific and clear for the best outputs. Include context, constraints, and examples when needed.

Experiment & Learn

Try different structures, parameters, and frameworks to get better outputs. Each task may require a different approach.