New to AI? Start Here.
If you’ve heard plenty about artificial intelligence but still aren’t sure what you’re supposed to do with it, you’re in the right place. You don’t need to understand programming, machine learning, or how AI works behind the scenes. You just need to learn what it can do for you.
We’ll start with ChatGPT because it’s one of the easiest ways to experience AI for yourself. You can begin for free, and you don’t need any special technical skills.
First, What Is ChatGPT?
Think of ChatGPT as an assistant you can have a conversation with. You can ask questions, upload pictures, get help writing something, compare choices, brainstorm ideas, plan a trip, troubleshoot a problem, or ask it to explain something you don’t understand.
The biggest difference from a traditional search engine is that you can keep the conversation going. If you don’t understand the first answer, ask another question. If the answer is too complicated, tell it to explain it more simply.
You don’t need to learn special “AI prompts.” Just start by talking to it normally.
Try These 5 Things
1. Have It Explain Something
Explain Medicare Part B to me like I’m completely new to Medicare. Keep it simple and give me the five most important things I should understand.
2. Plan a Trip
Help me plan a three-day trip to San Diego for two adults. We enjoy sightseeing and good food but don’t want an exhausting schedule. Give me a relaxed itinerary.
3. Solve a Technology Problem
My computer is doing [describe the problem]. Walk me through the most likely causes and start with the easiest things I should check.
Tip: You can often upload a screenshot or photo of an error message instead of trying to describe it.
4. Compare a Decision
I’m considering retiring in [City A] or [City B]. Help me compare housing costs, taxes, healthcare access, weather, transportation, and other factors that could matter to someone in retirement.
5. Make Dinner
I have chicken breasts, potatoes, onions, garlic, and a few basic spices. Give me three easy dinner ideas using mostly what I already have.
Notice that none of these prompts uses special terminology. You’re simply telling ChatGPT what you want and providing enough information to help it give you a useful answer.
Before You Trust the Answer
ChatGPT can be remarkably helpful, but there’s something important to understand from the beginning:
AI can be wrong.
It can misunderstand your question, use outdated information, miss important context, or occasionally provide information that simply isn’t true.
That’s why I think of AI as a very capable assistant, not an unquestionable authority.
Be especially careful with important medical, financial, legal, tax, and safety decisions. AI can help you understand a subject, organize information, compare options, and prepare better questions, but important decisions should be verified with reliable sources or an appropriate professional.
Don’t Give AI Information It Doesn’t Need
Treat an AI conversation much like you would any other online service. Don’t casually provide sensitive information just because ChatGPT asks for more details.
Don’t provide:
- Passwords or security codes
- Social Security numbers
- Bank or credit-card numbers
- Copies of identification unless there’s a legitimate reason and you understand the privacy implications
- Confidential work information
- Other people’s private information
Usually you can remove or disguise sensitive details and still get the help you need.
That’s Really All You Need to Get Started
You don’t need to become an AI expert. Pick one real problem, question, or task from your life and ask ChatGPT to help.
Then keep talking to it.
Ask follow-up questions. Tell it when you don’t understand something. Ask for alternatives. Tell it when an answer isn’t quite what you wanted.
That’s when AI starts becoming useful.