Best practices for interacting with the AI Assistant for reporting (beta)

To maximize the effectiveness of your interactions with the AI Assistant, consider the following best practices.

These guidelines will help you obtain accurate, relevant information efficiently.

Providing specific information

  1. Use clear and concise language:
    • Frame your questions or requests as clearly as possible.
    • Avoid ambiguous terms or jargon that may not be universally understood.
    • Responses from the AI Assistant typically use the 2nd person voice (e.g., "Your customers are unsatisfied with the quality of your customer service."). If you want the responses in the 1st person (e.g., "Our customers are unsatisfied with the quality of our customer service." ), you can use a prompt like "Replace your with our" to regenerate the output using the 1st person.
    • If the response is more verbose than you want or need, you can use prompts like "Make it briefer" or "Rewrite as one paragraph" to reduce the length of the response. You can also prompt the AI Assistant to format the response as a table or bulleted list to make the output more readable than a long block of text.
  2. Specify the exact data or report elements you're interested in:
    • Use the correct names for data elements when possible.
    • If unsure of the exact name, describe the data as precisely as you can.
    • Specify the type of chart if you have a preference.
    • Mention any specific data points or trends you are particularly interested in.
  3. Provide context when necessary:
    • If your question relates to a specific part of the report, mention this context. For example, the name of the crosstab you want to visualize.
    • Include relevant background information that might help the AI Assistant understand your request better.
    • Specify date ranges or time periods if relevant. If your question pertains to a specific time frame, clearly state this in your request.
    • Indicate the level of detail you require. Specify whether you want a summary or a detailed breakdown of the data.

Asking about unknown features

When you need information about a feature or capability you're unsure about:

  1. Be direct in your inquiry: It's okay to ask if the AI Assistant can perform a specific task or access certain types of data. For example: "Can you show me sentiment analysis for open-ended responses?"
  2. Request clarification: If you don't understand a term or concept the AI Assistant uses, ask for an explanation. For example: "Can you explain what TURF analysis means in this context?"
  3. Ask for alternatives: If the AI Assistant can't perform a specific task, ask if there are alternative approaches or similar features available.
  4. Utilize WebHelp links: The AI Assistant may provide Alida WebHelp links for features. Use these for more detailed information.

Structuring complex queries

For more complex analyses or requests, break down complex questions into smaller, manageable parts. Ask one question at a time to ensure clarity and accuracy in responses. Use the information from earlier answers to formulate more specific follow-up questions.

You can also ask the AI Assistant to provide step-by-step explanations and walk you through the process.