1.1 | AI as an intelligent partner: Collaboration instead of delegation
What you already know
- AI can perform tasks based on your requests
- As a user, you have an influence on the results
- The nature of your requests determines the quality of the answers
What you will learn in this module
- The difference between delegation and cooperation with AI
- How to achieve better results through dialogue
- The ethical dimension of human-AI collaboration
- Responsible use of AI in daily work
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1. Understanding AI as a Partner
The true value of AI lies not in replacing us – but in complementing us. This principle is called: Augmented Intelligence.
AI + Human = more than the sum of the parts.
- Augmented instead of Artificial Intelligence
AI becomes a sparring partner that enhances our strengths. - Cooperation instead of Delegation
AI unleashes its potential in dialogue, not through commands.
| Delegation to AI | Cooperation with AI |
|---|---|
| One-way instruction | Dialogical exchange |
| Loss of control | User remains in control |
| Standard answers | Context-based solutions |
| „Black Box“ | Transparent iteration |
Research shows: Mixed teams of humans & AI solve complex problems more effectively – when the human actively leads.
2. The Ethical Dimension
Responsibility cannot be handed off to AI. Whoever uses AI remains responsible:
- Decisions require human oversight
- Our values are incorporated only through conscious dialogue
- Good collaboration with AI is also about transparency
Companies that focus on cooperation instead of control demonstrably reduce ethical risks – and strengthen acceptance among employees.
3. In Practice: What Cooperation Looks Like
Example 1: Project Planning for a CRM System
Delegation (less effective):
„Create a plan to implement a CRM system.“
Result: The AI delivers a generic plan with standard steps:
- Universal phases without specifics for your company
- No consideration of your unique situation or challenges
- A timeline without knowledge of your resources
- You have to completely revise and adapt the plan
Cooperation (more effective):
„I need a plan to implement a CRM system. Our team consists of 12 people with limited IT experience, we have a budget of €25,000 and a maximum of 8 weeks. Our priority is to improve customer communication and optimize the sales process. What steps and timeline do you recommend?“
Result: The AI delivers a tailored plan:
- Consideration of the small team and their IT background
- A realistic 8-week timeline with concrete milestones
- System recommendations that fit the budget
- A focused training plan for the team
- Prioritization of features according to your business goals
- Directly implementable with minimal adjustments
Example 2: Creating a Marketing Campaign
Delegation (less effective):
„Write an email campaign for our new product.“
Result: The AI delivers a generic marketing text:
- Generic promotional language unrelated to your product
- No consideration of your target audience or brand identity
- Lack of understanding of your USP and market value
- Requires complete rewriting or extensive editing
Cooperation (more effective):
„I want to create an email campaign for our new product ‚EcoClean,‘ an environmentally friendly household cleaner. Our main target audience is environmentally conscious parents aged 30-45. Our brand voice is friendly, informative, and authentic. The USP of our product is its 100% biodegradable formula, which cleans just as effectively as chemical alternatives. Please draft a three-stage email sequence that starts with a problem statement, then presents the solution, and ends with a compelling call to action.“
Result: The AI creates a targeted campaign:
- Tailored communication for the defined target audience
- Email copy that perfectly matches your brand voice
- Focus on the highlighted USP (biodegradability)
- A well-thought-out three-stage sequence with a strategic structure
- A persuasive call to action that drives conversion
- Ready to use immediately with minimal editing
Example 3: Data Analysis for a Presentation
Delegation (less effective):
„Analyze these sales figures and create a summary.“
Result: The AI provides a superficial analysis:
- A mere description of the numbers without strategic insights
- No consideration of the presentation context
- Lacks connection to business goals or decisions
- You have to draw the truly important conclusions yourself
Cooperation (more effective):
„I have sales figures from the last three years that I need to present to the board. It’s particularly interesting that our new product X was launched in the second quarter of this year. Please analyze the data focusing on: 1) General sales trends before and after the product launch, 2) Seasonal patterns to consider, 3) Direct impact on our revenue in key markets A, B, and C. The presentation should contain three key insights and a data-driven recommendation for the coming year.“
Result: The AI delivers a strategic analysis:
- Detailed sales trends with a clear highlight of the product launch effect
- Identification of seasonal patterns that can be incorporated into planning
- Market-specific analysis explaining regional differences
- Three concise, board-ready key insights
- Concrete, data-driven recommendations for future planning
- Ready-made analysis points that can be directly used in the presentation
The Cooperation Effect at a Glance:
Time Savings: With good prompts, you can reduce revision cycles by up to 70%.
Quality Leap: Context-rich requests lead to 3-5x more useful results.
Learning Effect: The AI adapts to your needs – the more you engage in dialogue, the better the results become.
4. Tips for Responsible AI Use
- Transparency: Understand and question the AI’s results
- Collaborative Control: Lead the dialogue and make the final decisions
- Conscious Learning: Use AI to enhance your skills, not to replace them
- Value Orientation: Actively contribute your human values and ethical considerations
Ask yourself with every use:
„Am I working WITH the AI in a dialogue – or am I just giving commands?“
Your Takeaway
- AI is most effective when we see it as a partner – not a replacement
- By engaging in dialogue with AI, you remain in control and promote quality
- Ethical responsibility always lies with the human – it cannot be delegated
- Collaborative AI use leads to better results and greater satisfaction