I enjoy using AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT. Yes, it’s easy to ask for an answer — but those answers may be wrong. Instead, I use these tools to teach me new skills. For example, I asked ChatGPT to teach me the fundamentals of game theory via prompt — see my prompt below.

PROMPT: Teach me game theory and assume I know nothing about it. I do best when I learn the simplest concepts first and then build upon that. Teach me one concept, test my understanding in a way that proves I know the concept and how to use it, and then proceed to the next higher level prompt. You are most helpful if you start simple, test and verify, and then proceed to the next concept. Keep going until I fail 3x in a row.

ChatGPT’s Output:

In game theory, a "game" is a situation where two or more players (which could be individuals, companies, or even countries) make decisions that affect each other. The key point is that the outcome for each player depends not only on their own decisions but also on the decisions made by others.

Key Points:

1. Players: The decision-makers in the game.

2. Strategies: The possible decisions or actions a player can take.

3. Payoffs: The outcomes or rewards that result from the combination of all players' strategies.

Example: Imagine two businesses, A and B, that are competing to sell a similar product. They each have to decide whether to set a high price or a low price. The profit each business makes (the payoff) depends on both their own pricing decision and the pricing decision of the other business.

Scenario: Two friends, Alex and Taylor, are deciding whether to go to a movie or stay home. They both like watching movies together, but if one goes and the other stays home, neither of them enjoys it much. If both stay home, they get to hang out but don't get to see the movie.

Question: Who are the players in this game, and what are their possible strategies?

ChatGPT prompts to provide an answer. If I’m correct, it will progress my knowledge. This is valuable because understanding game theory, for me, helps me better understand possible negotiations or account strategies.

Alice Evans writes an informative piece on developing AI-complementary skills that you might find useful.

Whether you like it or not, these tools are here. It’s best to learn how to work with these tools quickly. I find that my thinking becomes expanded and my outputs more valuable.