How to run a strategy pre-mortem with ChatGPT's o3 model
{{#loggedIn}} {{/loggedIn}}
Next Story
Jaspreet Bindra ,Anuj Magazine Let's say you are a project manager preparing to launch a product or a strategy. And you want a peek into all the ways it could fail. Imagine you could look into the future to see all the ways your product or strategy could fail. (Pixabay) Gift this article
Let's begin with the term 'pre-mortem'. Unlike a post-mortem that analyses the reasons behind a particular outcome, a pre-mortem is a structured exercise done before you launch a major initiative. Everyone imagines the strategy has failed badly two years in the future and works backward to list the reasons. The team then turns those hypothetical failure causes into risk-mitigation actions or design changes while there's still time.
Let's begin with the term 'pre-mortem'. Unlike a post-mortem that analyses the reasons behind a particular outcome, a pre-mortem is a structured exercise done before you launch a major initiative. Everyone imagines the strategy has failed badly two years in the future and works backward to list the reasons. The team then turns those hypothetical failure causes into risk-mitigation actions or design changes while there's still time. Why is doing pre-mortems so hard?
Because it's not just logic at play—it's ego, politics, and fear. Leaders hesitate to run pre-mortems because they're already emotionally invested in the strategy. Confirmation bias creeps in—we look for reasons it'll work, not why it might fail. And then there's the fear factor: calling out what could go wrong can feel like you're betting against the team. So the session becomes a formality. Risks are raised, maybe even nodded at, but rarely owned or acted upon.
The tool to use: ChatGPT o3 model. Access via https://chatgpt.com/ Example:
A chief strategy officer at a telecom firm greenlights a bold expansion into the Asia-Pacific market using AI-driven cybersecurity. Before execution, she runs a pre-mortem with OpenAI's o3 model using the following prompt: Assume that the following strategy, which was selected as the most promising option after red teaming and simulation, has failed spectacularly two years after implementation.
Strategy chosen: [[Insert final strategy description here]]
Your task is to conduct a pre-mortem analysis—working backward from failure to identify what could have gone wrong.
Critically evaluate and respond to the following:
1. What were the early warning signs we missed or ignored?
2. What flawed assumptions turned out to be false?
3. Which internal weaknesses—talent, systems, incentives, org structure—amplified the failure?
4. What external shocks (market, regulation, geopolitical, tech evolution) derailed the strategy?
5. Where did execution break down (timing, leadership, resourcing, dependencies)?
6. Which stakeholders (clients, partners, employees) resisted or disengaged, and why?
7. What feedback loops or course-correction mechanisms were missing or underused?
8. If you could go back, what 3 specific safeguards or contingency plans would you embed in the strategy before launch?
Be brutally honest. Your goal is not to defend the strategy but to make it failure-proof. What makes ChatGPT o3 special?
1. Advanced reasoning capabilities: The o3 model excels in complex tasks requiring step-by-step logical reasoning.
2. Multimodal integration: o3 seamlessly combines text and visual data, allowing it to interpret and reason about images, charts, and graphics within its analytical processes.
3. Real-time tools access: The model incorporates live tools usage into its reasoning, enabling it to extend its capabilities at the inference time. Also read
How to crack research papers at breakneck speed
How to identify if an image is generated by ChatGPT
Mastering complex research papers faster with NotebookLM's Mind Maps
Eliminating repetitive phrases in ChatGPT responses
Note: The tools and analysis featured in this section demonstrated clear value based on our internal testing. Our recommendations are entirely independent and not influenced by the tool creators.
Jaspreet Bindra is co-founder and CEO of AI&Beyond. Anuj Magazine is also a co-founder. Topics You May Be Interested In Catch all the Business News, Market News, Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
25 minutes ago
- Time of India
What if AI did your health scan during next hospital visit? Is it safe? AIMS Delhi doctor raises concerns
AI in Radiology: A Double-Edged Sword Real-World Applications and Benefits MORE STORIES FOR YOU ✕ « Back to recommendation stories I don't want to see these stories because They are not relevant to me They disrupt the reading flow Others SUBMIT Training and Responsible Adoption Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming healthcare, especially in medical analysis and radiology. Hospitals are increasingly adopting AI systems for patient triage, initial scans, and workflow optimization. While these technologies promise faster and more efficient diagnostics, experts warn that the rapid rollout carries significant to Dr. Datta of AIIMS Delhi, radiology is moving swiftly to agentic AI systems, which can independently perform complex tasks. While this shift offers the potential to improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce human workload, current evaluation frameworks are not robust enough. Regulators are still catching up, raising concerns about the safety of deploying AI tools that appear intelligent but have not been fully Datta emphasizes the need for a structured approach to evaluation: pre-deployment benchmarking and red-teaming, real-world testing in hospital information systems, and continuous monitoring post-deployment with uncertainty reporting. He also suggests developing task-specific metrics for radiology AI and a stage-wise evaluation framework for clinical, research, and educational studies highlight AI's potential in healthcare. In the UK, AI-assisted scans have been shown to reduce unnecessary X-rays and missed fractures. NICE, the country's health guidance body, considers these tools safe and reliable, potentially reducing follow-up appointments. Similarly, digital patient platforms like Huma can lower readmission rates by 30% and reduce the time clinicians spend reviewing patients by up to 40%, according to a World Economic Forum the US, standard large language models like ChatGPT have struggled to provide sufficiently evidence-based answers for clinicians. However, hybrid systems combining LLMs with retrieval-augmented methods have shown a significant improvement in providing useful the benefits, experts caution against uncritical adoption. Dr. Caroline Green of the University of Oxford stresses that healthcare professionals need proper training to understand AI limitations and mitigate risks, including errors in information or biased recommendations. Yorkshire-based studies also show that while AI can predict patient transfers accurately in many cases, careful implementation and additional training are essential before widespread use.
Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
After billion-dollar hirings, Zuckerberg slams brakes on Meta's AI hiring spree as bubble fears shake Silicon Valley
Meta AI hiring freeze : Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has hit pause on Meta's aggressive recruitment of artificial intelligence talent, signaling a major shift in the company's AI ambitions amid growing concerns over an AI investment bubble shaking Silicon Valley, as per a report. Meta Freezes Recruitment in 'Superintelligence Labs' The company has frozen hiring across its so-called 'superintelligence labs,' allowing exceptions only with approval from AI chief Alexandr Wang, according to the Telegraph report. This sudden halt marks a sharp turnaround for Meta, which not long ago was offering sky-high pay packages, reportedly reaching up to $1 billion, to lure top AI researchers from rivals like OpenAI and Google, according to the report. ALSO READ: Can ChatGPT help you get out of debt? What experts and users say about AI chatbots' financial advice by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like NRIs Living In Germany Are Eligible For INR 2 Lakh Monthly Pension. Invest 18K/Month Get Offer Undo Stock Market Shakes AI Investment Confidence Meta's decision comes as the tech sector reels from a wave of stock market drops, triggered by doubts over whether massive AI investments are delivering real returns, as per The Telegraph report. Firms such as Nvidia, Arm, and Palantir have all taken hits this week, according to the report. The US stock market volatility was largely driven due to a report from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which claimed that 95% of companies were getting 'zero return' on their AI investments, as reported by The Telegraph. Live Events However, Meta's hiring freeze began last week, even before the recent market turmoil intensified, as per The Telegraph report. ALSO READ: Trump backs away from Russia-Ukraine peace talks, sources say — what's really behind the sudden pause? Meta Downplays Hiring Pause as Organisational Planning Meanwhile, a Meta spokesperson downplayed the hiring freeze, saying: 'All that's happening here is some basic organisational planning: creating a solid structure for our new superintelligence efforts after bringing people on board and undertaking yearly budgeting and planning exercises,' as quoted in the report. Analysts Warn High AI Salaries Could Dilute Shareholder Value Despite the hiring freeze, Zuckerberg recently told investors that he wanted 'small, talent-dense teams' to be driving its AI work, instead of large groups of researchers, according to The Telegraph report. Meta has emphasized that the cost of paying staff will significantly increase in the coming years, as per the report. However, analysts at Morgan Stanley have warned this week that the pay surge may 'dilute shareholder value without any clear innovation gains," as quoted by The Telegraph report. ALSO READ: Shocking twist: Computer Science grads face one of the highest unemployment rates today Sam Altman Compared AI Hype to Dotcom Bubble Meanwhile, concerns regarding AI progress have also increased after the modest response to GPT-5, which was the much-anticipated new version of OpenAI's ChatGPT, according to the report. Even OpenAI's chief executive, Sam Altman, warned that the hype around AI at present is similar to the dotcom bubble, as reported by The Telegraph. FAQs Why did Meta stop hiring AI researchers? Meta paused hiring to reorganise its AI efforts and focus on building smaller, more effective teams. Who can still be hired for AI roles at Meta? Only exceptions approved by Meta's AI chief, Alexandr Wang, are allowed to join right now.
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
Can ChatGPT help you get out of debt? What experts and users say about AI chatbots' financial advice
AI chatbot for financial advice: Artificial intelligence tools are becoming popular for managing personal finances. People are using AI for budgeting and retirement planning. One realtor, Jennifer Allen, used ChatGPT to tackle her debt. She used TikTok to earn money and reduce her debt. Experts warn that AI cannot replace financial planners. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads AI Tools Are Changing How People Manage Their Personal Finances Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Millions of Americans Now Use AI Every Day Tech Companies Admit AI Chatbots Can Make Financial Mistakes Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Financial Planners vs. Chatbots: What Experts Say FAQs : Artificial intelligence tools such as OpenAI's ChatGPT have become a go-to resource for individuals who need assistance with personal finances, as per a report. From managing budgets to retirement planning, many are looking to AI to provide guidance, however, while AI can provide speedy solutions, experts warn that it cannot substitute for personalised assistance from financial planners, according to a USA Today person who has found real value in AI's support is Jennifer Allen, a realtor who depends on ChatGPT for, among other things, overseeing grocery lists and creating a website for her practice, as per the report. When unexpected hospital bills and time away from work after giving birth led her to depend on credit cards, Allen's debt quietly grew and she was scared to tally the total amount, as reported by USA one day, she thought of asking ChatGPT to help, and then fed the AI chatbot the required information and it told her she had amassed $23,000 in debt, according to the report. Allen was shocked by the number, and did not know how she could pay it off and said that she didn't even consider consulting a financial planner, however, she ended up asking ChatGPT, as per the USA Today revealed that, 'Even if a financial planner told me something, I would still go to Chat to run it by them,' as quoted in the USA Today then asked ChatGPT how she could pay it off, and the AI provided her with a single small task to do each day, which Allen did and also documenting her progress in two 30-day challenges on the social media platform TikTok, according to the taking ChatGPT's suggestion and leveraging the Creator Rewards Program on TikTok, Allen was able to raise $13,078, reducing her debt to almost $5,000, as per the USA Today READ: Trump backs away from Russia-Ukraine peace talks, sources say — what's really behind the sudden pause? ChatGPT is not the only AI platform humans are using to answer their queries, according to the report. A Morning Consult survey discovered that over half of American adults look to AI-generated summaries when they are searching online, and one out of ten are reliant on AI alone and don't check other places, as per the USA Today report. Another study by Southeastern Oklahoma State University found that 1 in 3 Americans have used an AI tool to make a career decision, according to the Nick Turley said that ChatGPT has rapidly grown, reaching about 700 million users weekly, which is four times more than last year, as reported by USA READ: Trump demands release of ex-Colorado clerk Tina Peters jailed for election breach — warns of harsh measures While some people believe AI could completely change how we approach financial planning, making advice more accessible to everyone, as per the USA Today report. But others caution against putting too much trust in these tools when it comes to managing money and even the companies behind popular chatbots urge users to be careful, according to the warned that large language models, like Gemini, can "hallucinate" and present inaccurate information as factual, and the tech company's help center highlighted that people should not rely on Gemini for financial advice, as per the USA Today a spokesperson for Anthropic, maker of Claude, explained that while Claude can help people become more informed, it should not replace licensed professionals for personalized financial decisions, according to the report. The Anthropic spokesperson said, 'The most successful approach we see is people using Claude to level up their financial literacy, then taking that knowledge into real-world decisions,' as quoted in the USA Today a spokesperson for Microsoft said about tools like Copilot that 'AI can still make mistakes, so we always recommend people check sources and reach out to a financial adviser if needed,' as quoted in the READ: Shocking twist: Computer Science grads face one of the highest unemployment rates today A money expert who founded Her First 100k, Tori Dunlap pointed out that AI chatbotsare 'There as your digital robotic personal assistant. It's not meant to challenge you or push back, or help you think differently. That's something a coach or expert can you help you do,' adding, 'I would also say though, if you're going to go from no financial advice to ChatGPT, I will take ChatGPT every time,' as quoted by USA AI can't fully replace the personalised and emotional understanding a human advisor provides, as per the USA Today use AI as a helping tool, but always consult professionals for personalised advice, as per the USA Today report.
