9 AI Prompts for Public Affairs Professionals Who Want Better Thinking, Not Just Faster Drafting
Discover 9 practical AI prompts for public affairs professionals to improve policy messaging, pressure-test arguments, anticipate objections, and communicate more clearly with EU stakeholders.
“What is the single weakest sentence in this briefing, and how would you fix it?”
This is a prompt I would probably never have come up with myself.
And yet, it is exactly the kind of question that makes AI useful for public affairs work.
Not because it writes the briefing for you.
But because it helps you test the thinking behind it.
A lot of AI use in public affairs still focuses on speed: summarise this, draft that, turn this into an email. Useful, yes. But not the whole story.
The real value is when AI helps you pressure-test your message before someone else does.
A policymaker.
A journalist.
A Commission official.
A sceptical attaché.
A client.
A colleague in the meeting who spots the weak point before you do.
So here are 9 AI prompts for public affairs professionals who want better thinking, not just faster drafting:
- Rewrite this message so it would survive a hostile question from an MEP in the relevant EP committee.
- List the 5 strongest objections a Commission desk officer at [DG] would raise to this proposal, then tighten the argument.
- Translate this policy language into something a national journalist would not misinterpret.
- What is the single weakest sentence in this briefing, and how would you fix it?
- Adapt this message for a sceptical Permanent Representation official who is short on time.
- Strip this text of buzzwords and replace them with concrete, defensible claims.
- Assume the audience is politically neutral but institutionally risk-averse, rewrite accordingly.
- What is the hidden assumption in this argument that could be challenged in a meeting?
- Reduce this to a 30-second spoken answer that sounds credible and not rehearsed.
The point is not to let AI do your public affairs work for you.
The point is to use it as a sparring partner.
To make your arguments clearer.
To make your messages harder to misread.
To find the sentence that sounds fine until someone challenges it.
To prepare for the question you hope no one asks.
That is where AI becomes genuinely useful.
Not as a shortcut around expertise.
But as a tool that helps you use your expertise better.
Stop Using AI for Answers. Start Using It for Better Questions
Discover why the real power of AI isn’t in providing answers, but in helping you ask better questions, uncover blind spots, and explore alternative perspectives for smarter decision-making.
Picasso once said: "Computers are useless, they can only give you answers."
That was true in his time, and still true today if you only use AI as a search ("answer") engine.
The real value is in the questions we ask:
- see blind spots in our reasoning ("Identify hidden biases or blind spots in my plan.)
- test assumptions we didn’t know we had ("Highlight my explicit or implicit assumptions.")
- explore alternative framings of the same problem ("How can this problem be viewed from multiple angles? How would a manager, a psychologist, a physicist, and musician look at it?") Or take these for example:
- Instead of asking “What’s the EU’s position on AI regulation?” try “What unintended consequences could the EU AI Act have for small startups?”
- Instead of “Summarize this report,” try “What’s missing from this report that an NGO focusing on circular economy could ask?”
- Instead of “Write a press release,” try “What would make this story credible to a skeptical journalist?”
AI doesn’t (and shouldn't) replace thinking. Just be sure to ask it the right way.
➡️ looking for AI workshops for your team? Influence Builders has trained 1500+ corporate and government affairs teams, and we'll be glad to work with you.
AI on LinkedIn: Hype, Hysteria, or Honest Insight?
A wry look at the LinkedIn AI conversation: from overhyped promises to doomsday takes, existential musings, and magical shortcuts. Where does reality meet rhetoric?
I get the impression that each time someone talks about AI on Linkedin, it's either:
- "oh this is such a hype/BS that only grifters talk about it"
- "you can go sit on a beach, it'll do everything for/instead of you"
- "whatever it churns out, it's a piece of cr*p that should be ridiculed"
- "here is some existential AI philosophy that I just invented"
- "a magic shortcut to hack your way to the top of the newsfeed"
- "it's the end of [name topic] and let's despair OR here is what to do about it"
- "this is revolutionary and the best of all worlds is about to come"
(I am guilty as charged of some of the above, I readily admit.)
Did I miss anything else?
p.s.: and the opportunistic plug, as the plus one: check out Influence Builders
Cost of Living: Comparing Brussels to Lisbon (and Beyond)
Is Brussels expensive? It depends on what you compare it to.
Is Brussels expensive? It depends on what you compare it to.
Here is an excellent website where you can compare two cities (or countries) to see the relative cost of living of where you are, and where you might want to be.
[...moves to Lisbon 🏃♂️]
*This was originally posted on Andras Baneth's LinkedIn account.
Europe à la Carte: A 2023 Snapshot #Infographic (Finland and Sweden Pending NATO Update)
Nice #infographic: Europe à la carte.
Nice #infographic: Europe à la carte (Finland and Sweden are not yet shown as NATO members as the chart is from 2023).
*This was originally posted on Andras Baneth's LinkedIn account.
Unleashing AI in Pharma: ChatGPT’s Role in Market Access, Marketing, and Data Insights
AI and ChatGPT for the #pharma sector: tools with tremendous potential.
AI and ChatGPT for the #pharma sector: tools with tremendous potential.
3 ideas to consider:
1) Market access and product marketing teams can use GPT to analyze scientific studies, prepare brochures, and cross-reference regulatory documents.
2) Everyone is in the business of persuasion: convince pricing regulators for higher reimbursement fees, change distributors’ mind to carry your product, and reassure your patients about the efficacy of your treatment. GPT is super helpful in crafting better arguments.
3) There is a lot of data and data crunching in the pharmaceutical sector, and AI is great at finding correlations, causations, and “non-obvious insights”.
Thanks a lot to ALK and Mercedes Romano Rodriguez for having me in Xmas infused Denmark, always a pleasure to visit this amazing country.
*This was originally posted on Andras Baneth's LinkedIn account.
EU Course Now on Spotify: Sample Lessons & Full 14-Hour Course Coming Soon!
...and we're on Spotify.
...and we're on Spotify with a few sample lessons from our "EU Course" (history, institutions, procedures) e-learning course's audio version.
We're soon adding the entire 14-hour course for a low monthly fee, so you can learn about comitology & trialogues & ECJ case law while jogging 😎 (Hurray!)
*This was originally posted on Andras Baneth's LinkedIn account.
Couldn’t Resist Sharing This Survey: Join Me in Shaping the Eurobubble Ecosystem!
I would have shared this survey anyways as the topic is important.
I would have shared this survey anyways as the topic is important but when Valentin Dupouey referred to me as “Eurobubble ecosystem influencer” I simply couldn’t say no 😅
Please fill out this important questionnaire: https://app.youform.com/forms/kpqyt01k
*This was originally posted on Andras Baneth's LinkedIn account.
Bringing Storytelling to the Stage: My Keynote at #InformEU
I had been wondering how to bring more storytelling into a keynote I was going to give two weeks ago at hashtag#InformEU.
I had been wondering how to bring more storytelling into a keynote I was going to give two weeks ago at #InformEU - below is the result.
Works better when presented live, but hopefully you'll find it interesting.
*This was originally posted on Andras Baneth's LinkedIn account.
This Christmas: Get a FREE Video or Podcast Recording at Ambiorix Studio in Brussels
Christmas is coming early... for anyone who'd like to get a FREE video (or #podcast) recording & editing at Ambiorix Studio in Brussels.
Christmas is coming early... for anyone who'd like to get a FREE video (or #podcast) recording & editing at Ambiorix Studio in Brussels.
Come before 20 December, and we'll help you record your NGO, trade association, or corporate video, or use it for social media, lobbying, or even job search.
Share with friends & colleagues, all are welcome.
*This was originally posted on Andras Baneth's LinkedIn account.
Welcome, New European Commission: The AI-Driven Future of Advocacy, Lobbying, and Public Affairs
Welcome, new European Commission!
Welcome, new European Commission! This will be an AI-driven 5 years ahead for advocacy, lobbying, public affairs, and communications.
Here is why [sound on] ⤵️
*This was originally posted on Andras Baneth's LinkedIn account.
The Biggest Myth About Using AI: It’s Not About Knowing Computers, It’s About Asking the Right Questions
The biggest myth about using ChatGPT/Gemini/Copilot.
The biggest myth about using ChatGPT/Gemini/Copilot etc. is that you need to know *a lot* about computers. All you actually need to know is how to formulate good questions, give instructions, and be self-reflective enough to know what you actually want and need.
*This was originally posted on Andras Baneth's LinkedIn account.
Featured articles
and Insights
This compilation takes us through the history of the first #EPSO candidates, showcasing their journey and achievements from the very beginning to the present day—and even looking ahead.
A compilation of the first #EPSO candidates throughout history, until today and beyond.
(Have you played with ChatGPT-4o's new image capabilities? Pretty impressive.)
*This was originally posted on Andras Baneth's LinkedIn account.
Discover the inspiring story behind The Ultimate EU Handbook, a book born from the unexpected connection of a chance pitch and years of creative collaboration.
20 years ago, John Harper said 'yes' to an unknown person's unsolicited book pitch, which set of a chain of positive events. Yesterday, another book came to be as a result of two years' intense work and creativity of Sonia Gongu, Martin Tomov, Ljiljana Pavkov... and 'The Ultimate EU Handbook' was born.
Special thanks to Maryana Panyevina, Klym Ahrykov and David Meszaros for your support to make the launch event at Ambiorix Center & Podcast Studio special.
🇪🇺🙏📚
*This was originally posted on Andras Baneth's LinkedIn account.
What began as a discussion about burnout quickly turned into an exploration of something deeper. In my conversation with Dr. Vasadi Anna, a psychiatrist with decades of experience, it became clear that burnout isn’t just about long hours or stress—it’s rooted in expectations, upbringing, and the invisible pressures we internalize from an early age.
English summary of the latest episode of András' Hungarian podcast, 'Lélek Algoritmus – Ilyen az ember (avagy beszélgetések egy pszichiáterrel)' – 'The Soul’s Algorithm: The Human Condition (Conversations with a Psychiatrist).
What began as a discussion about burnout quickly turned into an exploration of something deeper. In my conversation with Dr. Vasadi Anna, a psychiatrist with decades of experience, it became clear that burnout isn’t just about long hours or stress—it’s rooted in expectations, upbringing, and the invisible pressures we internalize from an early age.
Burnout: More Than Just Exhaustion
Burnout gets thrown around a lot, but what does it actually mean? Many assume it’s just extreme fatigue, but as Anna pointed out, it’s something deeper. Burnout drains you emotionally, mentally, and even physically. It’s not the kind of tiredness that a weekend off can fix.
A key distinction Anna made: while depression can affect every part of life, burnout is usually tied to work. But it doesn’t stay there. It spreads—first to colleagues, then to family, then to an overall sense of disillusionment.
The Perfectionist’s Trap
Burnout isn’t just about overworking—it’s about overworking with the wrong mindset. People who push themselves too hard, who never feel their efforts are enough, who equate self-worth with productivity—these are the most at risk.
A common misconception: If I love my work, I can’t burn out. But passion doesn’t shield you. In fact, it often makes things worse. Overcommitting, ignoring personal limits, and relying on caffeine or alcohol to keep up are all red flags.
The Long Shadow of Childhood Expectations
Why do some people burn out while others keep their balance? Often, it starts in childhood.
Many of us grow up believing that our worth is tied to achievement. If we didn’t excel, love and approval felt conditional. Some parents—often unknowingly—reinforce this by setting impossibly high standards or withholding affection when a child falls short. Over time, this creates a need for external validation, making burnout almost inevitable.
Take elite athletes. Their entire identity is wrapped up in performance. When they lose, it’s not just a setback—it feels like a loss of personal value. The same happens in workplaces. A high achiever who misses a promotion doesn’t just feel professional disappointment—they feel like they have failed as a person.
Midlife Crisis: Burnout of the Soul
This naturally led us to midlife crisis, which, in many ways, is burnout playing out on a larger scale.
Both stem from the same root: spending years chasing external markers of success without stopping to ask, Is this what I actually want?
The midlife crisis tends to hit in the 40s or early 50s, often when several pressures collide:
- Aging Parents: The growing responsibility of caring for elderly parents forces many to confront their own mortality.
- Teenage Children: At the same time, kids are becoming more independent, adding another layer of emotional complexity.
- Career Pressures: By midlife, most people have built careers, but many start questioning if they’re on the right path.
It’s a perfect storm of obligations, internal and external, that makes people reevaluate everything—from their job to their marriage to their purpose.
Finding a Way Forward
So, how do we deal with burnout and midlife crisis without making rash decisions?
- Rethink Success – Instead of measuring success by salary, job title, or external validation, define it in terms of fulfillment and balance. If your work is draining you, can it really be called success?
- Recognize the Warning Signs – Losing interest in work, feeling detached, and struggling to muster enthusiasm are all early signs of burnout.
- Set Boundaries – Work will always demand more. It’s up to you to decide what is enough.
- Address Deep-Seated Patterns – If your self-worth depends on achievement, it might be time to rethink where that belief came from. Therapy and self-reflection can help break the cycle.
- Embrace Change – A midlife crisis isn’t necessarily a crisis—it can be a wake-up call. Maybe it’s time for a career shift, a realignment of priorities, or simply a different perspective.
Final Thoughts
Burnout and midlife crisis aren’t just work problems or age-related phases. They’re signals—urgent ones—telling us that something needs to change. The real question isn’t How do I push through? but Am I living a life that actually fits me?
If the answer is no, maybe the crisis isn’t a disaster. Maybe it’s an opportunity.
