oST Notes
Group 2 - Storage, Backups & "Where Did My Files Go?"
An older laptop's storage is being filled by the OS and other unknown things and had no room to update. How do I fix it?
PARTIAL — narrowed it down / workaround foundClean My Mac and then manually clean Messages.Clean My Mac
Tracy
Needed to learn how to save photos from Messages into the camera roll.
SOLVED — we found a fix
We taught her how to do it.
Tracy
Group 4 - iCloud, Apple Account & Sync Sorcery
Email accounts
PARTIAL — narrowed it down / workaround found
Discussion
Pat Fauquet
PARTIAL — narrowed it down / workaround found
Discussion
Pat Fauquet
Group 6 - On Your Body (Apple Watch & Vision Pro)
Apple Watch not charging with band, because it doesn't lay flat and removing the band called 911
SOLVED — we found a fixfound a new style of combo travel charger where the watch hangs on the charger and watch doesn't need to lay flat. folds flat for travelpurchase history from person with similar problem
Eric
SOLVED — we found a fixfound a new style of combo travel charger where the watch hangs on the charger and watch doesn't need to lay flat. folds flat for travelpurchase history from person with similar problem
Eric
Group 7 - Security, Scams, and Passkeys
Backgrounds of the group: Corporate management, K12 Education administration (non-IT), Corporate IT/security development, Conference Commissioner (Education athletics) and Accountant, retired/healthcare and family IT eager to solve problems and learn from others (encourages Apple strong passwords and reinforces its purposes), Leads a user group in Indianapolis and looking at the ever increasing ways to be scammed, and working to educate others to be safe).
How can we convince others to be safer, to not be scammed?
Demonstrate the apps - Apple built-in, 1Password, and don’t use the same password for multiple accounts.
Encourage use of passkeys
Hover over links
Use the Apps on the phone rather than clicking on a link.
Monitor credit - annualcreditreport.com; utilizing the FICO score from credit cards
Notice your US Mail - are you getting anything out of the ordinary (e.g., a credit card you didn’t sign up for)
Freeze your accounts.
Phone calls you don’t recognize - always call the number on the credit card/use the app.
VPNs - hides where you are/who you are; discussed various best practices (discussions on SSL locks, using apps rather than browsers, using cell data plan rather than public wifi, Open VPN and it’s security differences between “VPNs”)
Use trustworthy email servers. If one of the two exchanges that isn’t legit, or it is sent elsewhere.
Apple Private Relay - more of a proxy, than it is a VPN.
Keeping your devices up to date
Consider using TOR browser (https://www.torproject.org/)
How to discourage inertia:
Discuss common ways, and discuss often:
Keep talking about it - e.g., city governments won’t encourage you to pay your fines with gift cards.
Sense of urgency.
Clarifying questions:
Why use 1Password, when Apple Passwords does it (more features, works on multiple platforms)
How can we convince others to be safer, to not be scammed?
Demonstrate the apps - Apple built-in, 1Password, and don’t use the same password for multiple accounts.
Encourage use of passkeys
Hover over links
Use the Apps on the phone rather than clicking on a link.
Monitor credit - annualcreditreport.com; utilizing the FICO score from credit cards
Notice your US Mail - are you getting anything out of the ordinary (e.g., a credit card you didn’t sign up for)
Freeze your accounts.
Phone calls you don’t recognize - always call the number on the credit card/use the app.
VPNs - hides where you are/who you are; discussed various best practices (discussions on SSL locks, using apps rather than browsers, using cell data plan rather than public wifi, Open VPN and it’s security differences between “VPNs”)
Use trustworthy email servers. If one of the two exchanges that isn’t legit, or it is sent elsewhere.
Apple Private Relay - more of a proxy, than it is a VPN.
Keeping your devices up to date
Consider using TOR browser (https://www.torproject.org/)
How to discourage inertia:
Discuss common ways, and discuss often:
Keep talking about it - e.g., city governments won’t encourage you to pay your fines with gift cards.
Sense of urgency.
Clarifying questions:
Why use 1Password, when Apple Passwords does it (more features, works on multiple platforms)
Group 8 - A.I.
AI Summary of the Discussion
AI Discussion Notes
Our discussion centered around three primary topics: getting started with AI, improving AI-generated content, and using AI as a tool for personal growth.
1. Getting Started with AI
One of the biggest questions was where to begin and how much to rely on AI.
The overall advice was simple: start by experimenting.
Rather than treating AI like a search engine where you ask a question and expect a single perfect answer, think of it as an ongoing conversation. Explain your situation, provide context, ask follow-up questions, challenge its responses, and let the discussion evolve naturally.
The more conversations you have, the better you’ll understand:
* What AI is particularly good at
* Where it tends to make mistakes
* When to trust its suggestions
* When you should question or push back
Like any new tool, experience helps you learn both its strengths and its limitations.
2. Helping AI Create Better Content
A question was raised about using AI to help write homilies. The first attempt produced a very generic response, which led to a broader discussion about content creation in general.
The consensus was that AI produces much better work when it understands you
Instead of simply asking:
“Write me a homily.”
Provide context such as:
* Your background and experience
* Your theological or philosophical viewpoint
* Thinkers or authors who influence your work
* The education level of your audience
* The goals of your message
* The tone and style you normally use\
AI works best as an iterative partner rather than a one-time generator. Don’t hesitate to respond with comments like:
* “This isn’t quite what I meant.”
* “I like this section, but not this one.”
* “Can you make it more conversational?”
* “This doesn’t sound like me.”
Each round of feedback helps refine the result
Teach AI Your Voice
Another recommendation was to upload examples of your own writing or speaking.
For example, if you regularly prepare messages for two different congregations with distinct personalities, you could:
1. Upload examples from both audiences. Upload a lot of samples of your writings. It does not have to be on the same topic you want it to write about.
2. Ask AI to identify the differences between them.
3. Discuss whether its observations are accurate.
4. Once it understands those distinctions, ask it to remember them.
5. Then have it generate future messages tailored to each audience.
This allows AI to adapt not just to your writing style, but also to the needs of different groups you communicate with.
Using Multiple AI Systems
The discussion also touched on using more than one AI platform.
If you’re experimenting and don’t want to consume credits on a paid service, you can use Gemini as a learning partner.
As it gets to know your preferences, you can even ask:
“Write a prompt that summarizes what you’ve learned about me and how I like to work.”
That prompt can then be copied into ChatGPT, Claude, or another AI service, helping you transfer much of that context without starting completely from scratch.
3. Using AI for Personal Growth
The final conversation focused on using AI not just to produce content, but to gain insight into yourself.
One example mentioned was Dan Pink’s video:
“These AI Prompts Exposed My Biggest Blind Spots.”
As AI learns more about your goals, habits, strengths, and challenges, it can begin to recognize patterns that you may not notice yourself.
Some thought-provoking prompts included:
* “Based on everything you know about me, what are my biggest blind spots?”
* “What habits should I strengthen or change?”
* “Where do you think I’m limiting myself?”
* “What opportunities do you think I’m overlooking?”
One particularly interesting prompt was:
“Based on what you know about me, write a ‘Dear Me’ letter from my future self explaining what I should do to make the most of my life.”
While AI isn’t a substitute for wisdom, experience, or trusted mentors, it can act as a thoughtful conversation partner that helps organize ideas, reveal patterns, and encourage reflection.
Key Takeaway
Throughout the discussion, one idea surfaced repeatedly:
The quality of AI’s responses is closely tied to the quality of the relationship you build with it.
The more context you provide, the more you refine its responses, and the more you allow it to understand your goals, communication style, and audience, the more valuable it becomes—not as a replacement for your thinking, but as a collaborative partner that helps you think, create, and grow more effectively.
AI Platform Strengths
We also discussed the strengths of the major AI platforms and the idea that there isn’t a single “best” AI. Each has areas where it excels, and many people use more than one depending on the task.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT was viewed as one of the strongest all-around AI assistants. It excels at brainstorming, writing, editing, explaining complex topics, planning projects, and maintaining long, context-rich conversations. It tends to feel the most conversational and collaborative, making it well suited for ongoing work where it gets to know your goals, preferences, and style over time.
Claude
Claude was recognized for its thoughtful writing and analysis. It often performs well when reviewing long documents, summarizing information, helping organize ideas, and producing polished written content. Many people appreciate its ability to work through complex material carefully and maintain a consistent writing style.
Gemini
Gemini’s biggest advantage is its close integration with Google’s ecosystem. It works well with Google Search, Gmail, Google Docs, Drive, and other Google services. It was also suggested as a good platform for experimentation since many of its capabilities are available without immediately worrying about usage limits. One practical tip discussed was using Gemini to help develop prompts or discover what works best before moving that work into another AI platform if desired.
Perplexity
Perplexity stands out as a research assistant. Rather than focusing primarily on conversation, it is designed to search the web, cite sources, and provide current information with references. It’s especially useful when you want to verify facts, compare sources, or research topics where recent information is important.
The Bigger Picture
A recurring theme was that these tools are becoming increasingly capable, and their differences continue to narrow as each platform improves. Instead of becoming loyal to a single AI, it can be helpful to understand the strengths of each and choose the right tool for the job.
For many users, a practical workflow might look like this:
* ChatGPT for conversation, planning, brainstorming, and day-to-day assistance.
* Claude for deep writing, document review, and thoughtful analysis.
* Gemini for Google Workspace integration and experimenting with prompts.
* Perplexity for research, current events, and fact-checking with cited sources.
The overall recommendation was not to think in terms of “Which AI is best?” but rather, “Which AI is best suited for this particular task?” Just as different software applications excel at different jobs, AI tools each bring unique strengths that can complement one another.
AI Cheat Sheet: Practical Advice
1. Think Conversation, Not Search
Don’t say: “Write me a blog post.”
Do say: “I’m writing a blog post for people who are new to birding. I want it to be encouraging, practical, and sound like I’m talking around a campfire. Here’s what I’m trying to accomplish…”
The more context you provide, the better the result.
2. Tell AI About You
Don’t make AI guess.
Share things like:
* Your background and experience
* Your values and viewpoints
* Your audience
* Your goals
* Your writing or speaking style
* Examples of your previous work
Think of it as introducing a new coworker to your organization.
3. Push Back
The first answer is rarely the final answer.
Try saying:
* “That’s too generic.”
* “Go deeper.”
* “Make it more conversational.”
* “That doesn’t sound like me.”
* “Keep this section but rewrite the ending.”
Treat AI like a collaborator, not a vending machine.
4. Teach It Your Voice
Upload examples of your work.
Ask questions like:
* “What patterns do you notice?”
* “Describe my writing style.”
* “What makes this sound like me?”
Then ask it to use those observations in future work.
5. Build a Relationship
The more conversations you have, the more helpful AI becomes.
Over time it learns:
* your preferences
* your projects
* your communication style
* your recurring goals
Long-term conversations generally produce better results than starting over every time.
6. Experiment
Don’t wait until you have the perfect prompt.
Try things.
Ask weird questions.
See what works.
Experience is one of the best teachers.
7. Use the Right AI for the Job
Brainstorming & conversation - ChatGPT
Long writing & document analysis - Claude
Google integration - Gemini
Research & current information - Perplexity
You don’t have to pick one forever.
8. Let AI Learn Your Audience
If you communicate with different groups:
* provide examples for each audience
* explain how they’re different
* ask AI to identify those differences
* have it tailor future work appropriately
One size rarely fits all.
9. Use AI to Learn About Yourself
Interesting prompts:
* “What are my blind spots?”
* “What habits should I change?”
* “What strengths am I underusing?”
* “What opportunities do you think I’m missing?”
* “Write me a ‘Dear Me’ letter based on everything you’ve learned about me.”
Sometimes AI asks questions you wouldn’t think to ask yourself.
10. Move Between AI Systems
If you’re experimenting:
* learn on one platform
* ask it to summarize what it has learned about you
* create a master prompt
* bring that prompt into another AI if needed
Your knowledge doesn’t have to stay on one platform.
The Big Idea
Treat AI like a thoughtful collaborator, not a search engine.
The people who get the most value from AI don’t ask better questions—they have better conversations. They provide context, give feedback, iterate on ideas, and allow the AI to learn how they think and what they’re trying to accomplish. That’s where AI becomes far more than just a tool—it becomes a productive thinking partner.
AI Discussion Notes
Our discussion centered around three primary topics: getting started with AI, improving AI-generated content, and using AI as a tool for personal growth.
1. Getting Started with AI
One of the biggest questions was where to begin and how much to rely on AI.
The overall advice was simple: start by experimenting.
Rather than treating AI like a search engine where you ask a question and expect a single perfect answer, think of it as an ongoing conversation. Explain your situation, provide context, ask follow-up questions, challenge its responses, and let the discussion evolve naturally.
The more conversations you have, the better you’ll understand:
* What AI is particularly good at
* Where it tends to make mistakes
* When to trust its suggestions
* When you should question or push back
Like any new tool, experience helps you learn both its strengths and its limitations.
2. Helping AI Create Better Content
A question was raised about using AI to help write homilies. The first attempt produced a very generic response, which led to a broader discussion about content creation in general.
The consensus was that AI produces much better work when it understands you
Instead of simply asking:
“Write me a homily.”
Provide context such as:
* Your background and experience
* Your theological or philosophical viewpoint
* Thinkers or authors who influence your work
* The education level of your audience
* The goals of your message
* The tone and style you normally use\
AI works best as an iterative partner rather than a one-time generator. Don’t hesitate to respond with comments like:
* “This isn’t quite what I meant.”
* “I like this section, but not this one.”
* “Can you make it more conversational?”
* “This doesn’t sound like me.”
Each round of feedback helps refine the result
Teach AI Your Voice
Another recommendation was to upload examples of your own writing or speaking.
For example, if you regularly prepare messages for two different congregations with distinct personalities, you could:
1. Upload examples from both audiences. Upload a lot of samples of your writings. It does not have to be on the same topic you want it to write about.
2. Ask AI to identify the differences between them.
3. Discuss whether its observations are accurate.
4. Once it understands those distinctions, ask it to remember them.
5. Then have it generate future messages tailored to each audience.
This allows AI to adapt not just to your writing style, but also to the needs of different groups you communicate with.
Using Multiple AI Systems
The discussion also touched on using more than one AI platform.
If you’re experimenting and don’t want to consume credits on a paid service, you can use Gemini as a learning partner.
As it gets to know your preferences, you can even ask:
“Write a prompt that summarizes what you’ve learned about me and how I like to work.”
That prompt can then be copied into ChatGPT, Claude, or another AI service, helping you transfer much of that context without starting completely from scratch.
3. Using AI for Personal Growth
The final conversation focused on using AI not just to produce content, but to gain insight into yourself.
One example mentioned was Dan Pink’s video:
“These AI Prompts Exposed My Biggest Blind Spots.”
As AI learns more about your goals, habits, strengths, and challenges, it can begin to recognize patterns that you may not notice yourself.
Some thought-provoking prompts included:
* “Based on everything you know about me, what are my biggest blind spots?”
* “What habits should I strengthen or change?”
* “Where do you think I’m limiting myself?”
* “What opportunities do you think I’m overlooking?”
One particularly interesting prompt was:
“Based on what you know about me, write a ‘Dear Me’ letter from my future self explaining what I should do to make the most of my life.”
While AI isn’t a substitute for wisdom, experience, or trusted mentors, it can act as a thoughtful conversation partner that helps organize ideas, reveal patterns, and encourage reflection.
Key Takeaway
Throughout the discussion, one idea surfaced repeatedly:
The quality of AI’s responses is closely tied to the quality of the relationship you build with it.
The more context you provide, the more you refine its responses, and the more you allow it to understand your goals, communication style, and audience, the more valuable it becomes—not as a replacement for your thinking, but as a collaborative partner that helps you think, create, and grow more effectively.
AI Platform Strengths
We also discussed the strengths of the major AI platforms and the idea that there isn’t a single “best” AI. Each has areas where it excels, and many people use more than one depending on the task.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT was viewed as one of the strongest all-around AI assistants. It excels at brainstorming, writing, editing, explaining complex topics, planning projects, and maintaining long, context-rich conversations. It tends to feel the most conversational and collaborative, making it well suited for ongoing work where it gets to know your goals, preferences, and style over time.
Claude
Claude was recognized for its thoughtful writing and analysis. It often performs well when reviewing long documents, summarizing information, helping organize ideas, and producing polished written content. Many people appreciate its ability to work through complex material carefully and maintain a consistent writing style.
Gemini
Gemini’s biggest advantage is its close integration with Google’s ecosystem. It works well with Google Search, Gmail, Google Docs, Drive, and other Google services. It was also suggested as a good platform for experimentation since many of its capabilities are available without immediately worrying about usage limits. One practical tip discussed was using Gemini to help develop prompts or discover what works best before moving that work into another AI platform if desired.
Perplexity
Perplexity stands out as a research assistant. Rather than focusing primarily on conversation, it is designed to search the web, cite sources, and provide current information with references. It’s especially useful when you want to verify facts, compare sources, or research topics where recent information is important.
The Bigger Picture
A recurring theme was that these tools are becoming increasingly capable, and their differences continue to narrow as each platform improves. Instead of becoming loyal to a single AI, it can be helpful to understand the strengths of each and choose the right tool for the job.
For many users, a practical workflow might look like this:
* ChatGPT for conversation, planning, brainstorming, and day-to-day assistance.
* Claude for deep writing, document review, and thoughtful analysis.
* Gemini for Google Workspace integration and experimenting with prompts.
* Perplexity for research, current events, and fact-checking with cited sources.
The overall recommendation was not to think in terms of “Which AI is best?” but rather, “Which AI is best suited for this particular task?” Just as different software applications excel at different jobs, AI tools each bring unique strengths that can complement one another.
AI Cheat Sheet: Practical Advice
1. Think Conversation, Not Search
Don’t say: “Write me a blog post.”
Do say: “I’m writing a blog post for people who are new to birding. I want it to be encouraging, practical, and sound like I’m talking around a campfire. Here’s what I’m trying to accomplish…”
The more context you provide, the better the result.
2. Tell AI About You
Don’t make AI guess.
Share things like:
* Your background and experience
* Your values and viewpoints
* Your audience
* Your goals
* Your writing or speaking style
* Examples of your previous work
Think of it as introducing a new coworker to your organization.
3. Push Back
The first answer is rarely the final answer.
Try saying:
* “That’s too generic.”
* “Go deeper.”
* “Make it more conversational.”
* “That doesn’t sound like me.”
* “Keep this section but rewrite the ending.”
Treat AI like a collaborator, not a vending machine.
4. Teach It Your Voice
Upload examples of your work.
Ask questions like:
* “What patterns do you notice?”
* “Describe my writing style.”
* “What makes this sound like me?”
Then ask it to use those observations in future work.
5. Build a Relationship
The more conversations you have, the more helpful AI becomes.
Over time it learns:
* your preferences
* your projects
* your communication style
* your recurring goals
Long-term conversations generally produce better results than starting over every time.
6. Experiment
Don’t wait until you have the perfect prompt.
Try things.
Ask weird questions.
See what works.
Experience is one of the best teachers.
7. Use the Right AI for the Job
Brainstorming & conversation - ChatGPT
Long writing & document analysis - Claude
Google integration - Gemini
Research & current information - Perplexity
You don’t have to pick one forever.
8. Let AI Learn Your Audience
If you communicate with different groups:
* provide examples for each audience
* explain how they’re different
* ask AI to identify those differences
* have it tailor future work appropriately
One size rarely fits all.
9. Use AI to Learn About Yourself
Interesting prompts:
* “What are my blind spots?”
* “What habits should I change?”
* “What strengths am I underusing?”
* “What opportunities do you think I’m missing?”
* “Write me a ‘Dear Me’ letter based on everything you’ve learned about me.”
Sometimes AI asks questions you wouldn’t think to ask yourself.
10. Move Between AI Systems
If you’re experimenting:
* learn on one platform
* ask it to summarize what it has learned about you
* create a master prompt
* bring that prompt into another AI if needed
Your knowledge doesn’t have to stay on one platform.
The Big Idea
Treat AI like a thoughtful collaborator, not a search engine.
The people who get the most value from AI don’t ask better questions—they have better conversations. They provide context, give feedback, iterate on ideas, and allow the AI to learn how they think and what they’re trying to accomplish. That’s where AI becomes far more than just a tool—it becomes a productive thinking partner.