In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, tools like ChatGPT offer unprecedented speed and efficiency in drafting communications—from emails to comprehensive proposals. However, without careful consideration, AI-generated content can inadvertently overlook cultural nuances, leading to miscommunication or offense. To harness AI's potential while maintaining cultural sensitivity, it's imperative to integrate Cultural Intelligence (CQ) into your AI prompting strategies.

Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is the capability to function effectively across various cultural contexts. By embedding CQ into AI interactions, managers can produce content that not only avoids cultural missteps but also fosters trust and strengthens connections in a diverse business environment.

Three Best Practices for Culturally Intelligent AI Prompts:

1. Incorporate Cultural Context into Prompts

   AI models predominantly reflect the cultural norms present in their training data, which can lead to outputs biased toward dominant cultures. To counteract this, explicitly state the desired cultural framework within your prompt. For instance, when drafting a "return to office" announcement, specify the cultural setting:

   "Draft a 'return to office' announcement considering the cultural expectations of our Japanese employees, emphasizing collective well-being and community."

   This approach guides the AI to tailor its response, aligning with specific cultural values and communication styles.

2. Specify the Desired Communication Style

   Different cultures have varying preferences for communication—ranging from formal and detailed to informal and succinct. Clearly indicating the preferred style in your prompt can help AI generate content that resonates with the target audience. For example:

   "Compose a formal proposal for our German clients, providing detailed technical specifications and a structured overview."

   By defining the communication style, AI can adjust tone, formality, and structure to meet cultural expectations.

3. Seek Feedback and Iterate

   AI-generated content should not be the final product without human oversight. After receiving the AI's output, review it for cultural appropriateness and relevance. Engage with colleagues or stakeholders from the target culture to obtain feedback and make necessary adjustments. This collaborative approach ensures the communication is both accurate and culturally resonant.

By implementing these practices, managers can leverage AI's capabilities to produce communications that are efficient, effective, and culturally intelligent—thereby enhancing engagement and fostering inclusivity in diverse settings.

For a deeper exploration of this topic, refer to the original article by David Livermore and Okthalia Adams: How to Write Culturally Intelligent AI Prompts.