Get up to speed on a topic fast
Gives you a plain-English briefing and the questions to ask next.
I need to get up to speed on [the topic] for [why you need it, such as a meeting or a decision]. What I know already: [what you know, or “nothing yet”]. Give me a plain-English briefing of under 300 words: what it is, why it matters, the main points of view, and three terms I’ll hear, each explained in a sentence. Then suggest five good questions to ask an expert. Tell me which parts are well established and which are disputed or changing fast, and say so if your information may be out of date.
Tips and an example: Get up to speed on a topic fast
Tips for a better answer
- For anything recent, use an assistant that can search the web, and check the date on what it finds.
- Ask for sources, then open them: an assistant can name a real report and still get what it says wrong.
An example, filled in
I need to get up to speed on heat pumps for deciding whether to replace our gas boiler. What I know already: they run on electricity, and there may be grants. Give me a plain-English briefing of under 300 words: what it is, why it matters, the main points of view, and three terms I’ll hear, each explained in a sentence. Then suggest five good questions to ask an expert. Tell me which parts are well established and which are disputed or changing fast, and say so if your information may be out of date.