Getting Started with AI

New to AI

Start with one small task

An AI assistant can help you draft, explain, organize or brainstorm. It can also make mistakes. Treat its answer as a first draft that you still need to check.

Choose an AI assistant

You do not need all three. Choose the one you already have, or start with the option that matches what you want to do.

Writing and everyday questions Start with ChatGPT Draft a message, explain a topic or organize an idea. Google users and mobile tasks Start with Gemini Ask questions, summarize information or work with an image. Long writing and careful review Start with Claude Improve a draft, study a document or think through a decision.

The basic prompting method below works in ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude.

Choose what you need help with

Customers, documents and tasks Work & business Write clearer replies and organize practical work. Notes and difficult lessons School & study Make checklists and understand difficult passages. Claims, sources and events Research Check information against its original source. Plans, errands and household tasks Daily life Turn a busy week into a realistic plan. Privacy and careful use Safety & Security Protect private information, banking details and work files.

Keep private details out of the chat

• Never paste passwords, PINs, one-time passwords (OTPs), login codes or account recovery codes into an AI chat.
• Leave out bank and e-wallet account details, card numbers and card security codes (CVVs).
• Remove ID numbers, home addresses, signatures, faces and other people’s private details from documents and screenshots before uploading them.
• Do not paste workplace files, client lists, internal prices or company passwords into a public AI chat.
• Use placeholders such as [customer name] or [account number]. A made-up example is often enough.

Remove these details yourself before sharing. Do not upload the original and ask AI to hide them—the information has already been shared by then.

If you accidentally share a password, change it through the service’s official app or website. Deleting the chat does not change the exposed password.

Short tasks: Safety & Security.

Your first prompt

A prompt is the message or instruction you send to an AI assistant. Open your chosen assistant, paste the example into the message box, and press its send button. Use the made-up example first; replace the details when you are ready.

Tell the AI four things:

1. Goal — what you want done.
2. Details — the information it needs.
3. Answer — a list, a message or a short explanation.
4. Tone — how it should sound.

Help me write a polite message to a customer.
Their delivery is one day late because of heavy rain.
I can send them a tracking update tomorrow.
Keep it under 80 words. Do not invent a refund, discount or delivery date.

Check before you use the answer

• Confirm names, dates, prices and factual claims.
• Remove private information the AI does not need.
• Ask for a simpler explanation when something is unclear.
• Never let an AI send, publish, purchase or change an account without your approval.

Choose your next lesson

• ChatGPT — first chat, talk with voice, notes, connect apps & email, build a webpage, then work, school and home.
• Gemini — first chat, Gemini Live voice, connect Gmail & Drive, Android, NotebookLM, then work, school and home.
• Claude — first chat, interactive Artifacts, Projects & Co-work, connect tools & email, review a document, then work, school and home.
• Want practical daily examples? Open Everyday AI.
• Want to make a picture? Continue to Image Prompt Guides.

Learn more from the official guides by OpenAI, Anthropic and Google.