Chapter 3 examines how grant writers can use artificial intelligence and other technologies purposefully throughout the proposal-development process. Rather than presenting AI as a replacement for professional judgment, the chapter situates technology within established writing, collaboration, and project-management practices. It begins with familiar tools, including word-processing and collaborative applications, file formats, extensions, and keyboard and clipboard commands, before introducing conversational AI and related technologies. The chapter also addresses data privacy, security, and essential AI terminology so that writers can make informed technological decisions. A major focus is prompt engineering: writers are introduced to strategies such as persona designation, flipped prompting, response revision, retrieval-augmented generation, feedback, rephrasing, learning prompts, and reasoning prompts. These techniques encourage users to develop more purposeful interactions with AI rather than relying on generic requests. Throughout, the chapter emphasizes ethical and critical use of technology, positioning AI as a “guide on the side” that can expand possibilities while leaving responsibility for accuracy, judgment, and decision-making with human writers.

The chapter covers: