How to Use AI to Produce Real Deliverables: Documents, Spreadsheets and Slides
Published 30 Sep 2026
Updated 30 Sep 2026
Last verified 30 Sep 2026 7 min read
The short version
Use AI for the structure and first draft, then you supply the facts, judgement and polish. Work in stages: brief, outline, draft, check, finish.
The five-stage process
- Brief. Purpose, audience, length, tone, must-include facts.
- Outline. Ask for structure first and approve it before any writing.
- Draft. Generate section by section rather than all at once.
- Check. Verify facts, numbers and names. See how to check an answer.
- Finish. Edit in your own voice, format properly, add your own examples.
I need a [DOCUMENT TYPE] for [AUDIENCE] to achieve [GOAL]. Length: [LENGTH]. Tone: [TONE]. Must include: [FACTS]. Don't add facts I haven't given you. First give me an outline with a one-line description of each section. Wait for my approval before writing.
By deliverable
- Documents: proposals, reports, letters. Ask for a structure, then draft each part.
- Spreadsheets: ask for column layouts and formulas, then test them on sample data. Never trust a formula you haven’t tested.
- Presentations: ask for a slide-by-slide outline with one key message per slide and speaker notes.
- Plans: ask for steps, owners, deadlines and risks in a table.
Many AI apps can now create and edit files directly, and features change often, so check what your plan supports. See also using AI with documents.
Common mistakes
- Sending unedited AI text to a client or boss.
- Not giving real facts, so it fills gaps with plausible-sounding invention.
What to try next
Sources
- General guidance written by Silent Overseer.
Silent Overseer uses AI tools to help research and draft, and every article is reviewed before publishing. How we work. Spotted a mistake? We correct and date changes.