Setting Up Your First AI Account
It's time to get hands-on! In this lesson, we'll walk through setting up an account with an AI tool. Don't worry - it's free and takes just a few minutes.
What You'll Learn
You'll create your first AI account and understand the basic interface.
Why This Matters
The best way to learn AI is by using it. Once you're set up, you can follow along with all the exercises in this course.
Choosing Your First AI Tool
For this course, we recommend starting with one of these three options:
- ChatGPT - Most popular, great all-around choice
- Claude - Excellent for detailed work and longer conversations
- Gemini - Great if you use Google products
Pick one to start. You can always try others later.
Setting Up ChatGPT
Step 1: Go to the Website
Visit chat.openai.com in your web browser.
Step 2: Create an Account
- Click "Sign up"
- You can use your Google account, Microsoft account, or email
- Using Google/Microsoft is fastest - just one click
Step 3: Verify Your Account
- If you used email, check for a verification message
- Click the link in the email to verify
Step 4: You're In!
- You'll see a simple chat interface
- There's a text box at the bottom - that's where you type
- ChatGPT is ready to talk!
Setting Up Claude
Step 1: Go to the Website
Visit claude.ai in your web browser.
Step 2: Create an Account
- Click "Get started" or "Sign up"
- You can use your Google account or email
Step 3: You're Ready!
- Claude has a clean, simple interface
- Type in the message box at the bottom to start chatting
Setting Up Gemini
Step 1: Go to the Website
Visit gemini.google.com in your web browser.
Step 2: Sign In with Google
- If you have a Google account (Gmail), just sign in
- If you don't, you'll need to create a Google account first
Step 3: Start Chatting
- Gemini is ready to use immediately
- Type your question in the text box
Understanding the Interface
All AI chat tools have similar parts:
The Chat Area
- Where you see your conversation
- Your messages appear on one side
- AI responses appear on the other side
- Conversations scroll up as you chat
The Input Box
- At the bottom of the screen
- Type your message here
- Press Enter or click the send button to submit
The Sidebar (Usually on the Left)
- Shows your past conversations
- Click on old chats to continue them
- Start new conversations with a "New chat" button
Settings and Account
- Usually in a corner or menu
- Where you manage your account
- Adjust preferences if needed
Your First Message
Now that you're set up, try sending this message:
Hi! I'm new to using AI assistants. Can you tell me one interesting thing you can help me with?
The AI will respond with something helpful. Congratulations - you just had your first AI conversation!
Try It Yourself
Send these three messages to your AI (one at a time):
- "What's a simple recipe for pancakes?"
- "Explain why the sky is blue like I'm 10 years old"
- "Help me write a short thank-you note to a coworker who helped me with a project"
Notice how AI handles each request differently. It can cook, teach, and write!
Pro Tip
Every conversation starts fresh. AI doesn't remember previous conversations unless you're in the same chat. If you want to continue a topic, stay in the same conversation or remind the AI what you discussed before.
Common Questions
Q: Do I need to pay anything?
A: No! All three tools have free versions that work great for learning and everyday use. You might see prompts to upgrade to paid plans - you can ignore these for now.
Q: The AI asked me to agree to terms. Is that normal?
A: Yes, that's normal. Read through the terms if you'd like - they mostly cover data usage and appropriate use policies.
Q: I made a typo. Can I fix it?
A: You can't edit sent messages, but you can just send a correction. Say something like "I meant to say..." and the AI will understand.
Q: Can I use AI on my phone?
A: Yes! All major AI tools have mobile apps. Search for "ChatGPT," "Claude," or "Gemini" in your phone's app store.
Q: My conversation disappeared. What happened?
A: Check the sidebar - your conversation is probably saved there. Click on it to continue. If you signed out, sign back in to see your history.
What's Next
You're all set up and ready to go! In the next module, we'll learn how to have great conversations with AI - including how to ask questions that get you the best answers.