Generative AI in Action: Streamlining Presentation Creation

 

Introduction

In today’s fast-paced corporate environment, managers and executives frequently find themselves tasked with presenting complex information to diverse audiences. Crafting a compelling narrative for a presentation—whether it's about a project update, evaluating a technology, or pitching an idea—requires time, focus, and creativity. But what if there was a way to streamline this process while enhancing its effectiveness?

Generative AI can act as your creative assistant, helping you outline, structure, and refine presentations tailored to your audience's needs. Surely, it often acts as my personal assistance.

In this post, we’ll explore a real-world use case of leveraging Generative AI to create a presentation, demonstrating how it can save time, enhance communication, convince and possibly excite your audience.

From Blank Slide to a first Narrative

Picture this: you’re tasked with introducing a new technology to a mixed audience of experts and non-specialists. You sit down to create your slides, but the empty canvas stares back at you. You may have a title, but translating your knowledge into an engaging presentation feels daunting.

Some key questions arise:

• How do you structure your presentation for maximum clarity?
• How do you simplify complex jargon for non-experts?
• How can you ensure the presentation resonates with your audience?

These are common challenges for managers, often exacerbated by tight deadlines and competing priorities. Generative AI offers a solution.

Using Generative AI to develop your presentation

Define the Objectives

Before turning to Generative AI, start by clarifying the goals of your presentation. For instance:

1. Introduce a new technology in a clear and engaging manner.
2. Communicate key strengths, weaknesses, and use cases.
3. Establish yourself as a knowledgeable and approachable resource.

These objectives set the foundation for your AI-powered workflow.

Crafting a Prompt for Generative AI

A well-designed prompt is critical to generating meaningful results. Your prompt should provide:

1. Context: Describe your role (e.g., project manager, team lead) and the purpose of the presentation.
2. Audience Details: Specify the audience composition (e.g., non-specialists, executives).
3. Desired Outcomes: Outline the presentation’s goals, such as informing or inspiring action.
4. Format Preferences: Include details about the structure, tone (e.g., formal, engaging), and desired interactive elements (e.g., quizzes, demos).
5. Duration: Mention the expected length of the presentation.

Surely, there are many more elements you must consider when developing a compelling presentation. But to get started this provides you with a good first framework.

Applying the above to a particular case, you may start by:

I am a team manager preparing a 10-minute presentation introducing non-specialists to the basics of baking white bread. The presentation should be engaging, interactive, and designed to excite the audience about baking.

Refine and verify your proposal

Generative AI can draft slides, suggest narratives, or even create interactive elements. However, you remain the editor-in-chief:

• Verify Accuracy: Double-check facts and figures generated by the AI.
•  Tailor for Relevance: Ensure the content aligns with your goals and audience needs.
•  Add Personal Touch: Incorporate anecdotes, examples, or visuals to make the presentation uniquely yours.

A Practical Example: Introducing a Hobby with AI 

To illustrate, let’s say you want to use Generative AI to prepare a fun, engaging presentation about your hobby: baking bread. Here’s how AI can assist. Remember the key is to craft a meaningful prompt. 

Create a 10-minute presentation introducing non-experts to baking white bread. The tone should be fun and interactive, and the goal is to excite the audience about trying it themselves. Include step-by-step instructions, a quick quiz, and a slide with tips for beginners.

This looks good enough for a start. We may include some details about ourself. We may also add details on how language and tone of the presentation should be or that we would like to include content on common definitions, terms, etc. This is something you may experiment with and evaluate the differences in generated responses.

So, if we feed this prompt to Claude what will we get - head down to the end of the article to see for yourself. Claude create an engaging interactive presentation structure. It entered a little quiz and also questions throughout the presentation. A practical section on baking an actual bread makes the topic lively and memoryable.

What's in it for me?

Now, you may be a bit sceptical, thinking why should I care? I have heard that Generative AI hallucinates or something else. Surely, if you are the expert in the content and in creating presentations in the blink of an eye, then Generative AI may not have much to offer here. But I argue, that you may still learn a few tricks simply by seeing what narrative and structure is generated based on your understanding and provided input. If you are like me, then you may care about:

• Time Efficiency: Speeds up the initial outline and draft creation process. 
• Enhanced Creativity: Offers fresh perspectives and ideas.
• Tailored Outputs: Adapts content for diverse audiences and objectives. 
• Consistency: Ensures structured, cohesive presentations. 

By integrating Generative AI into your workflow, you can focus on refining and personalizing content rather than starting from scratch.

Call to action

Have you tried using Generative AI in your role? Share your experiences in the comments or reach out for a free guide on crafting effective AI prompts for presentations!

 So, here comes Claude's take on drafting a presentation about baking bread!

The Joy of Baking: White Bread for Beginners

A 10-Minute Guide to Your First Loaf

Why Bake Bread? 🍞

• Nothing beats the smell of fresh bread
• Cheaper than store-bought
• Surprisingly easy!
• Incredibly satisfying
• Only 4 basic ingredients
• Great activity for family or friends

What You’ll Need

Ingredients:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon instant yeast
• 1 cup warm water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Equipment:

• Large mixing bowl
• Loaf pan
• Clean kitchen towel
• Measuring cups & spoons

The Magic of Yeast 🪄

• These tiny organisms are your friends!
• They eat sugar and produce bubbles
• These bubbles make bread fluffy
• Warm water wakes them up
• Too hot? You’ll kill them
• Too cold? They’ll be sleepy
  [Quick Test: Water should feel like warm bath water on your wrist]

Step 1: Mix & Knead (15 mins)

1. Mix flour, salt, and yeast in bowl
2. Add warm water and oil
3. Stir until shaggy dough forms
4. Knead with hands for 10 minutes
5. How to know it’s ready? The windowpane test

The Windowpane Test 🪟

• Take a small piece of dough
• Gently stretch it
• Should form thin “window” without breaking
• If it tears easily, knead more
• Practice makes perfect!

Step 2: First Rise (1 hour)

• Place dough in oiled bowl
• Cover with damp towel
• Put in warm spot
• Should double in size
• Poke test: dough should slowly spring back

Step 3: Shape & Second Rise (45 mins)

1. Punch down dough (fun part!)
2. Shape into loaf
3. Place in greased pan
4. Cover and let rise again
5. Should rise just above pan edge

Step 4: Bake (30-35 mins)

• Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C)
• Bake until golden brown
• Tap bottom - should sound hollow
• Cool before slicing (hardest part!)

Quick Quiz! 🎯

1. Water temperature should feel:
   a) Ice cold
   b) Like a warm bath ✓
   c) Hot to touch

2. Dough is ready when:
   a) It’s sticky and wet
   b) It passes windowpane test ✓
   c) It’s completely smooth

3. Bread is done when:
   a) It’s pale golden
   b) It sounds hollow when tapped ✓
   c) Timer goes off

Pro Tips for Beginners 🌟

• Measure ingredients precisely
• Be patient with kneading
• Don’t rush the rise
• Set timers - don’t guess!
• Keep yeast away from salt
• Practice makes perfect
• Don’t stress - even “ugly” bread tastes great!

Troubleshooting Guide

Dense bread?

• Didn’t rise enough
• Killed the yeast
• Not enough kneading

Collapse during baking?

• Over-proofed
• Oven not hot enough
• Door opened too soon

Your Turn!

Remember:

• Start with clean hands
• Read recipe twice
• Gather all ingredients first
• Have fun!
• Share photos of your creation

Questions?

• What other types of bread interest you?
• Ready to try your first loaf?
• Remember: Every baker started somewhere!
  [End of Presentation]