Three questions before you hand a task to AI

2026-10-08 · Del Park

Not every task belongs with an AI tool. Before you paste anything in, run it past three questions.

1. Is it repetitive?

You do it every week, or the same way every time. Sorting the inbox, writing up a call, turning notes into a list.

2. Does it follow rules?

Could you explain how to do it in a few sentences? If the task depends on judgment, history or reading a room, it probably stays with you.

3. Is it cheap to fix if it's wrong?

You'll read the result before anyone else sees it. A first draft is cheap to fix. A message to an upset client isn't.

What the answers mean

Three yeses: a good candidate. Use a prompt and check what comes back.
Two: let AI do a first draft, then you finish it.
One or none: keep it.

Before you paste

Follow your employer's AI policy, leave out anything you haven't been cleared to share, and check every name, number and date. AI can sound sure and still be wrong.