of 6— Define the briefing before you write anything

What you'll accomplish

By the end of this guide, you'll use AI to cut executive briefing preparation time by 50–60%. You'll turn raw program data and talking points into polished briefing memos, PowerPoint outlines, and talking points documents — then use AI to anticipate and prepare for hard questions before the meeting.

What you'll need

A Claude account (claude.ai) or ChatGPT account — free tier works
The program data, policy issue, or topic you're briefing on
Clarity on: Who is the audience? What decision or awareness are you driving? What do they already know?
Time needed: 30 minutes for first use; 30–60 minutes per briefing thereafter
Cost: Free

How-To Guide: Use AI to Prepare Executive Briefings and Policy Presentations

Step 1: Define the briefing before you write anything

The most common mistake in government briefing prep is starting to write before answering three questions. Use AI to help clarify first:

Prompt:

Copy and paste this

I need to brief [audience: e.g., the Deputy Secretary, a House subcommittee staff delegation, the Office of General Counsel] on [topic]. Help me think through this briefing before I draft anything. Ask me the following questions and help me develop clear answers: (1) What is the one decision or action I want the audience to take or understand after this briefing? (2) What do they already know about this topic? (3) What are the 2-3 most important things they need to know? (4) What is the most difficult question they will likely ask, and what is my answer?

Use the AI as a thought partner to clarify your own thinking — then proceed to drafting.