How to Build an AI Assistant for Any Challenge

This practical, step-by-step resource shows you how to build a personal AI assistant — and offers examples of how AI can challenge your thinking and enhance your work. It comes from an episode of the HBR IdeaCast podcast, which shares a simple, adaptable method you can try with any AI tool.

Hint: it’s shockingly simple — and AI will do most of the work for you.

Most importantly, the episode is packed with practical examples you can apply right away. Even if building an assistant isn’t on your list, it’s still a great tutorial for using AI more effectively in your day-to-day work.

Listen & Read the Transcript ⮕ How to Build an AI Assistant for Any Challenge – Podcast

You can also listen on Spotify here. 

Key Takeaways:

• If you can type, you can make an assistant. After using an AI tool for a problem, you ask it to generate the prompt for a custom assistant to continue to give you advice using the context you gave. And even if you can’t build a custom GPT, you can use that prompt to turn a new chat into your assistant.

• Use AI to challenge your thinking. Don’t rely on it for decisions, but do use it to surface new perspectives and angles you might miss.

• Treat it like a relationship. Give context and ask open‑ended questions.

• A caution: Don’t confuse AI’s fluency with wisdom — it knows your patterns, not your soul.