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Field Guide · level 2 · Everyday skills

What should you hand AI, and what should you leave out?

Hand it the source, an example and the rules. Leave out the rest.

5 min · try it 10 min · as of Oct 2026
Bring this to your team · Team workshopsAgree with your team what goes in and what stays out. Get in touch
01

It used last year's figures

This year's report was still on your side of the desk. It answered from the one it could see.

02

What it can see

Context is all it can see as it answers. Your message, files, the chat so far, project, memory, connectors. Not your drive or your head.

03

Hand it four things

The real source, not a summary. An example of a good result. Your rules. Who it's for. Leave out the rest.

04

More isn't better

Anthropic's developer docs warn: more context isn't automatically better. As it grows, accuracy and recall degrade. Pick, don't dump.

05

One job per chat

A chat holds only so much. When it drifts, ask for a short summary and check it. Start a fresh chat with it.

06

Ask what it used

Ask: “Which of my files did you use, and where?” Then open them, and check the figures match.

Try it · 10 minutes · on your own work

Pack one hand-over

Use made-up or public material.

  1. List what you'd hand over for one real task.
  2. Cross out anything private, old or off topic.
  3. Run it with stand-ins.
  4. Ask which of your files it used.

The hand-over

Job: [one job]
Source: [the newest file]
Example: [one good past result]
Rules: [terms, tone, what it must not do]
For: [who reads it, and how]
Then ask: Which of my files did you use, and where?

Good looks likeIt names the files it used, the newest versions.

In your assistant · as of Oct 2026 · Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini

Hand it over, in your assistant

Menus move often. If something is missing, it may be your plan, your country or an admin setting.

My pickClaude first, ChatGPT second, Gemini third. ChatGPT wins when your files live in Box, Dropbox, SharePoint or Drive; Gemini Notebook, for your own pile of documents. Use the tool your company approves.

Claude

Attach it, keep it in a project, or fetch it

Attach
+thenAdd files or photos
Reuse
Project

Keep standing files in a project.

Fetch
+thenConnectors

Switch on only what the job needs.

Pro and above: Opus 5.5 and Sonnet 5.5 hold 1M tokens in chat. Tokens are the small pieces of text a model reads.

ChatGPT

Attach it, or bring it in from Library

Attach

Attach files. Pastes over 10,000 characters become attachments.

Reuse
Add from library

Or type @. Box, Dropbox, SharePoint and Google Drive files, no new upload. Web, Plus and above.

Fetch
Add source

In a private project: Google Drive or Slack links.

Free: 3 file uploads a day. Where you have Space (some Pro, Business and Enterprise accounts), it replaces Library.

Gemini

Attach it, mention an app, or use a notebook

Attach
Add filesthenUpload Files

Or Add from Drive (needs Keep Activity on). Up to 10 files.

Fetch
@

Mention a connected app.

Own docs
Gemini Notebook

Answers questions about the sources you add.

How much it reads at once, in tokens (small pieces of text), on personal accounts: 32k without a plan, 128k on Google AI Plus, 1 million on Pro and Ultra.

Quick check · three questions

Did it stick?

  1. 1What can the AI use when it answers?

    The answer: C What it can see. Context is what it can see when it answers, nothing more.

  2. 2A chat has run for hours across three topics. Now what?

    The answer: A Summarise, check, start fresh. A chat holds only so much.

  3. 3Which belongs in the hand-over?

    The answer: B The current source and an example. An old version or a whole drive makes it pick the wrong file.
0 of 3 answered
Ask lastSide note
With long documents, put your question after them. Anthropic reports up to 30 percent better answers in tests.
Fetch, don't pasteSide note
A connector brings in the one file or message needed, with your own permissions. Switch on only what the job needs.
What stays outSide note
Passwords and security codes always stay out. Personal data and client confidential material stay out unless your company allows them in its approved tool. Not legal advice: your organisation's rules come first.
Sources, checked 16 Oct 2026Source

Product details as of Oct 2026, each checked on the vendor's own page on 16 Oct 2026. Recheck by 16 Nov 2026. The examples in the pictures are made up for this lesson.

Free kitThe 2026 AI StarterBring this to your teamTeam workshops · Get in touchBack to level 2, Everyday skills

Hand it the source, an example and the rules. Leave out the rest.

Next lesson · 15 minHow do you check an AI answer before you use it?