The AI Sandwich: 15 Tasks to Stop Doing Yourself

This framing changed how I use AI. Think of every task like a sandwich, and you’re the bread on both ends.

You make the judgment calls at the start and the finish. AI runs everything in the middle. Get the two ends right and AI can do a shocking amount on its own. Most people skip the bread, hand AI the whole task, and end up back five minutes later fixing it.

The top slice is you

You set the goal and say what done looks like. You also name what AI should never do.

The filling is AI

The research, the analysis, the first draft and the repetitive work.

The bottom slice is you

Review it, ask for specific changes, and approve the final.

The more judgment you move to the two ends, the more AI can own the middle. The reusable prompt for all of this is at the bottom.

Each one runs as a sandwich in Claude or ChatGPT. What you feed it decides how good the middle is, so each task tells you exactly what to give it.

At work

Emails you’re dreading. Paste the thread and the outcome you want. Get two drafts and send the better one.
Rough notes into a clean doc. Dump the raw notes and name the format (memo, brief, SOP). It structures the rest.
Long threads or call transcripts. Paste it and ask for only the decisions, action items and owners.
Meeting prep. Give it the attendees and the goal. Get an agenda, background and three sharp questions to ask.
Reformatting data. Paste the list and show one row done the way you want. It converts the rest.

For content

One video into a week of content. Paste the transcript. Get captions, a carousel outline and five hook options.
Outlines that don’t suck. Give the topic and who it’s for. Get a five-point outline you just fill in.
Research before you write. Ask for the five things to cover and where to read more, then check the sources before you use them.
Alt text and descriptions. Upload the image. Get accessible alt text and a caption.
Comment and DM replies. Paste a batch plus your voice rules. Get on-brand replies to approve.

Admin and life

Comparing options. List the choices and what you care about. Get a side-by-side with a clear pick.
A project plan. Describe the goal and deadline. Get steps, owners and a realistic timeline.
Repetitive forms. Save your standard answers in a Claude Project or ChatGPT Project once, then paste each new form in to get it filled the same way.
A packing or shopping list. Describe the trip or the meal. Get a complete list you just check off.
Explaining something complicated. Paste the dense thing. Get it in plain English a kid could follow.

Here’s the reusable version. Fill in the top slice, paste in your material, and every task above becomes a sandwich you can actually walk away from.

The Sandwich Prompt

## THE SANDWICH PROMPT You are my sharp, careful assistant. I make the judgment calls at the start and the end. You do the middle. TOP SLICE (I fill this in): - The task: [what I want done, e.g. turn these notes into a client-ready recap] - Who it's for: [the reader or audience, e.g. my client, my boss, my followers] - Done looks like: [the finished result I'd accept, e.g. one page, my voice, no jargon] - Must include: [anything it has to have] - Never do: [off-limits, e.g. don't invent facts, don't change my numbers, don't promise dates] - What you have to work with: [paste the notes, thread, transcript or data, or attach the file] THE FILLING (you do this): 1. Read everything I gave you. If something critical is missing or unclear, ask me up to 3 questions and wait. If not, start. 2. Do the task using only what I gave you. If you need a fact I didn't provide, write [CHECK: what's missing] instead of guessing. 3. Give me TWO versions: Version A plays it safe, Version B is bolder. Label each one. 4. Under the versions, list in bullets anything you assumed or weren't sure about. FORMAT: - Match the "Done looks like" line exactly (length, tone, structure). - Plain words. No filler intro, no recap of my instructions. BOTTOM SLICE (I finish this): I'll pick a version and tell you what to change. Make only those edits, show me the final, then stop.

The Real Win

You keep the judgment and hand off the middle. That’s the difference between babysitting AI and actually leading it.

Want this ranked for your exact job? Run my AI Task Audit prompt. Want AI to finish the middle without check-ins? Read Stop Babysitting Claude.

The AI Sandwich(+ 15 Tasks To Hand Off)

The AI Sandwich
(+ 15 Tasks To Hand Off)