Getting Started with AI Tools
It's time to move from theory to practice. In this lesson, you'll learn how to start using AI tools today — step by step, with practical guidance for beginners.
What You'll Learn
By the end of this lesson, you'll be ready to sign up for AI tools, have your first conversations, and use AI for practical tasks.
Before You Start
What You Need
- A device: Computer, tablet, or smartphone
- Internet connection: AI tools run in the cloud
- Email address: For creating accounts
- Curiosity: The willingness to experiment
That's it. No coding required. No special software to install.
Managing Expectations
AI is impressive, but:
- It won't be perfect
- You'll need to learn how to ask good questions
- Some responses will be wrong or unhelpful
- Getting good results takes practice
This is normal. Everyone starts here.
Step 1: Choose Your First AI Tool
Recommended Starting Point: ChatGPT
For most beginners, start with ChatGPT:
- Why: Largest user base, well-documented, free tier available
- Access: chat.openai.com or the ChatGPT app
- Cost: Free (with some limitations)
Alternative Starting Points
| Tool | Why Choose It |
|---|---|
| Claude (claude.ai) | If you value thoughtful, nuanced responses |
| Gemini (gemini.google.com) | If you're deep in the Google ecosystem |
| Copilot (copilot.microsoft.com) | If you use Microsoft products heavily |
All are free to try. Pick one to start — you can explore others later.
Step 2: Create Your Account
For ChatGPT
- Go to chat.openai.com
- Click "Sign up"
- Enter your email (or use Google/Apple/Microsoft sign-in)
- Verify your email
- Complete any prompts
For Claude
- Go to claude.ai
- Click "Try Claude"
- Sign in with email or Google
- Accept terms
For Gemini
- Go to gemini.google.com
- Sign in with your Google account
- Accept terms
You're now ready to chat.
Step 3: Your First Conversation
Start Simple
Type something casual, like:
"Hi! I'm new to AI tools. What can you help me with?"
The AI will explain its capabilities. This is a good way to learn what's possible.
Try Some Basic Tasks
| Task | Example Prompt |
|---|---|
| Explain something | "Explain how photosynthesis works in simple terms" |
| Get recommendations | "What are some good books about history?" |
| Help with writing | "Help me write a professional thank-you email" |
| Brainstorm | "Give me 5 ideas for a birthday party theme" |
| Learn something | "Teach me the basics of personal budgeting" |
Tips for Your First Conversations
- Be specific: "Help me write an email" is okay, but "Help me write a professional email declining a meeting invitation politely" is better
- Iterate: If the response isn't quite right, ask for changes
- Ask follow-ups: "Can you make it shorter?" or "What do you mean by...?"
- Experiment: Try different types of requests
Step 4: Learn What Works Well
Great Uses for AI
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Drafting | Emails, messages, social posts |
| Explaining | Concepts, instructions, jargon |
| Brainstorming | Ideas, options, perspectives |
| Summarizing | Articles, documents, information |
| Learning | New topics, how-to guides |
| Planning | Trips, events, projects |
| Problem-solving | Approaches, options, trade-offs |
Less Ideal Uses
| Task | Why |
|---|---|
| Real-time information | AI knowledge has a cutoff date |
| Highly specialized expertise | May lack domain knowledge |
| Critical decisions | Verify before acting |
| Personal medical/legal advice | Consult professionals |
| Things requiring accountability | AI can't be responsible |
Step 5: Develop Your Prompting Skills
The Anatomy of a Good Prompt
A strong prompt often includes:
- Context: Background information
- Task: What you want done
- Format: How you want the output
- Constraints: Any limitations
Example:
"I'm a small business owner (context). Write a welcome email for new newsletter subscribers (task). Keep it under 100 words and friendly in tone (constraints). Use a bullet point format for the main benefits of subscribing (format)."
Common Techniques
| Technique | Example |
|---|---|
| Role-playing | "Act as a career coach and..." |
| Step-by-step | "Walk me through this step by step" |
| Examples | "Give me 5 examples of..." |
| Specificity | "In exactly 3 sentences, explain..." |
| Iteration | "Make it more casual" / "Add more detail" |
Learning by Doing
The best way to improve:
- Use AI regularly for real tasks
- Notice what works and what doesn't
- Experiment with different approaches
- Learn from others' examples
Step 6: Explore Additional Features
Beyond Basic Chat
Most AI tools offer more than text conversations:
| Feature | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Voice input | Speak your questions |
| Image analysis | Upload photos for AI to discuss |
| File uploads | Share documents for AI to read |
| Web browsing | AI accesses current information |
| Code execution | AI runs code and analyzes data |
Explore these as you get comfortable.
Mobile Apps
Most AI tools have mobile apps:
- Quick access on the go
- Voice conversation
- Photo/document integration
Consider installing the app for your chosen AI.
Step 7: Stay Safe and Private
What Not to Share
Avoid sharing with AI:
- Passwords and authentication codes
- Financial account numbers
- Social Security numbers
- Sensitive personal information
- Confidential business data (check your company policy)
Privacy Awareness
- Your conversations may be stored and used for training
- Consider privacy settings in your account
- Some tools offer privacy-focused options
- Read the privacy policy (or a summary of it)
Verification Habit
For anything important:
- Verify facts independently
- Check sources AI mentions
- Don't blindly trust outputs
- Use AI as a starting point, not final authority
Practical Exercises
Try these to build confidence:
Exercise 1: Writing Help
Ask AI to help you write or improve an email you've been putting off.
Exercise 2: Learning Something New
Pick a topic you're curious about and have a learning conversation with AI.
Exercise 3: Planning
Use AI to help plan something — a meal, a trip, a project.
Exercise 4: Brainstorming
Ask AI to generate ideas for something you're working on.
Exercise 5: Explaining
Ask AI to explain something complicated in simple terms.
Common Beginner Challenges
"I don't know what to ask"
Start with something you'd normally Google:
- "How do I..."
- "What's the difference between..."
- "Explain..."
- "Help me with..."
"The response wasn't helpful"
Try:
- Being more specific
- Providing more context
- Asking for a different format
- Saying what was wrong and asking for revision
"I'm not sure if I should trust this"
Good instinct. Verify important information. Use AI for drafts and ideas, not as a sole source of truth.
"This feels overwhelming"
That's okay. Start with one simple use case. Build from there.
Key Takeaways
- Start with one tool (ChatGPT is a good choice)
- Creating an account is quick and free
- Begin with simple tasks — explaining, writing, brainstorming
- Good prompts include context, task, format, and constraints
- Explore features as you get comfortable
- Stay safe: Don't share sensitive information
- Verify important outputs
- Practice makes you better — use AI for real tasks
What's Next
You're now ready to use AI. But the field changes constantly. In the final lesson, we'll learn how to stay updated in the fast-moving world of AI.