Mastering Notion AI: A comprehensive user guide

In the digital world, productivity tools play a crucial role in organizing and streamlining tasks. One such tool that has gained immense popularity in recent years is Notion. As a robust all-in-one workspace, Notion allows users to write, plan, collaborate, and organize their tasks efficiently.

Recently, it has taken a significant leap forward by integrating artificial intelligence, giving birth to Notion AI.

What is Notion AI and why is it a breakthrough?

Notion AI is a cutting-edge feature that incorporates OpenAI’s powerful language processing model, GPT-3. The implementation of AI into an already potent tool like Notion represents a significant breakthrough, as it extends the platform’s capabilities far beyond simple task management.

Notion AI functions as a smart assistant within the app, automating tasks, generating content, and assisting in decision-making. It’s like having a personal secretary who understands your needs, context, and workflow. By merging the computational prowess of AI with the task-management proficiency of Notion, productivity gets supercharged, making Notion AI a game-changer in the workspace arena.

What can Notion AI do for Notion users?

Notion AI expands the possibilities of what Notion users can accomplish within their workspace. Here are a few examples of what Notion AI can do:

1. Automatic content summarization:

For users dealing with a large volume of text, Notion AI can provide concise summaries. For instance, a user could prompt Notion AI to summarize a long business report, making it easier to grasp the main points without having to read through the entire document.

2. Direct question answering

Notion AI can answer quick questions directly within the app, removing the need to switch apps or browse the web for quick answers. If you’re writing a report and need to know a specific piece of information, you can simply ask Notion AI without leaving the workspace.

3. Automated content generation

Notion AI can also help generate content based on prompts. For example, a user can give a starter sentence or an idea, and the AI will generate text around that, saving time and effort.

4. Improving workflow with prompt-writing tricks

Users can use a range of prompt-writing tricks to improve Notion AI’s output or to get results formatted in a certain way. For example, using a phrase like “Return the results as a list” will instruct the AI to format the output as a bullet list, which can be handy for creating to-do lists or note summaries.

5. Problem solving

Users can ask Notion AI to think through problems in a step-by-step manner. For example, a user could ask “How can I improve the SEO of my website?” and the AI will provide a step-by-step process to follow.

Pricing of Notion AI

As of the time of writing, the Notion AI feature is in its alpha stage, and Notion has been providing it for free to its users. However, they have stated that this will likely change as the feature evolves and is refined. They have not specified the pricing yet, but it’s reasonable to assume that the final cost of this feature will be informed by the underlying API pricing of the machine learning model they’re using, which in this case is GPT-3.

Notion AI vs. ChatGPT: A comparative analysis

While Notion AI and ChatGPT are both powered by OpenAI’s GPT-3, their applications are distinctly different. While ChatGPT is designed to simulate human-like text conversations, Notion AI focuses on augmenting productivity by integrating with the Notion platform.

For example, Notion AI’s ‘summary feature’ can generate concise summaries of long pieces of text by splitting the text into sections and summarizing each one. This feature isn’t designed to provide one-sentence summaries but rather detailed yet concise overviews. On the other hand, ChatGPT isn’t explicitly designed for summarizing long text but rather engaging in detailed, nuanced conversation.

One of the most notable features of Notion AI is its ability to answer questions directly within the app. While it’s easy to use Google for quick answers, Notion AI ensures you don’t need to switch between apps, keeping your workflow intact.

While ChatGPT can also answer questions, it doesn’t offer the same embedded, seamless experience as Notion AI does within a productivity suite.

However, it’s also worth mentioning that, as of now, Notion AI might occasionally struggle with factual accuracy, as reflected in some testing scenarios. Enhancements are ongoing, and users can improve the quality of answers with better prompts and real-time corrections.

How to use notion AI: A practical guide

Before you start, note that Notion AI is an add-on feature that needs to be turned on within a workspace. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use this groundbreaking tool:

Step 1: Navigate to your Notion workspace. Find the AI tool option and ensure it is enabled.

Step 2: Once enabled, you’ll notice a ‘/help me write’ option. This is where you can give prompts to Notion AI.

Let’s consider an example. Suppose you have a large chunk of text that you need to summarize. Simply use the ‘/help me write’ option and provide a prompt like, ‘Summarize the following text.’

Step 3: You can also use Notion AI to answer quick questions. In the ‘/help me write’ field, ask a question like, ‘Who won the 2020 Super Bowl?’ Notion AI will provide you with an answer without you having to switch apps.

Step 4: You can leverage Notion AI’s formatting capabilities. If you need a result in a specific format, instruct Notion AI accordingly. For instance, ‘Return the results as a list’ will format the output as a bullet list.

Remember, you can also use prompt-writing tricks to improve the AI’s output. For instance, ‘Let’s think in steps’ encourages the AI to show its workings step-by-step, and the prompt ‘Create a table’ will generate a simple Notion table.

How to write better prompts in Notion AI

1. Begin with clarity: Start your prompt with a clear and direct command. This helps the AI understand the task more effectively. For example, rather than saying “I need some info on…”, you can say “Please provide a summary of…”.Example: “Please provide a summary of the concept of climate change.”
2. Use specific instructions: If you want the AI to format its response in a certain way, specify it in the prompt.Example: “Return the key points of World War II as a bullet list.”
3. Add context: If your question is about something specific, make sure to include enough context. This helps the AI generate a more accurate response.Example: “In the context of digital marketing, what are the benefits of SEO?”
4. Think in steps: If you’re working through a complex problem, asking the AI to “think in steps” can help it provide a more structured and logical answer.Example: “Let’s think in steps about how to build a personal brand on social media.”
5. Start and end specifications: If you want your output to have a specific beginning or end, you can instruct the AI accordingly.Example: “Start with ‘In this article,’ and end with ‘Thank you for reading.'”
6. Correct wrong answers: If Notion AI provides an incorrect response, you can include the correct information in your next prompt to help guide it.Example: If you asked “Who won the 2018 U.S. Open in the Men’s division?” and the AI incorrectly answered “Rafael Nadal”, your next prompt can be “Who won the 2018 U.S. Open in the Men’s division? The answer is not Rafael Nadal.”

Notion AI: The future of note taking and productivity

Notion AI, with its unique capabilities and easy integration, is poised to redefine the way we approach productivity. While still in its nascent stage, it’s already demonstrating potential to be a powerful ally for individuals and businesses alike.

Despite a few shortcomings, such as occasionally struggling with factual accuracy, Notion AI is a testament to how far AI has come and its potential to revolutionize our digital workspaces. It presents an exciting opportunity to take productivity to new heights, making Notion not just a task-management platform, but a comprehensive productivity powerhouse.

As AI technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see more refined and accurate results from Notion AI.

And as we embrace these technological advancements, we’re one step closer to a future where our digital tools are more than just passive platforms—they’re active participants helping us accomplish our tasks with efficiency and precision.