Getting started with AI

New to AI? Welcome. This page is for you. No experience needed. Everyone starts somewhere, and you can’t break anything by trying.

What is an AI chatbot?

An AI chatbot is a computer program you can talk with. You type or say a question in everyday words, and it writes back an answer, much like asking a helpful, well-read person.

You don’t need special words or commands. If you can write a note or ask a friend a question, you can use it.

A few words you’ll see on this page:

• App: a program on your phone or computer.
• Browser: the program you use to visit websites, such as Chrome, Safari, or Edge.
• Prompt: the question or request you type or say to the AI.

Free tools you may already have

These are all free to start. Some have paid versions with extras, but you don’t need them to begin. Features vary by device, country, and update, so yours may look a little different.

• ChatGPT (from OpenAI). Free at chatgpt.com, or in the ChatGPT app for iPhone and Android.
• Google Gemini. Free at gemini.google.com, or in the Gemini app. On many Android phones it is already built in as the phone’s assistant. You’ll need a Google account (the same one you use for Gmail) to use the Android app.
• Microsoft Copilot. Free at copilot.microsoft.com. On new Windows 11 computers, the Copilot app is usually already on the taskbar or in the Start menu. In the Microsoft Edge browser, look for the Copilot button in the top-right corner.
• Siri with ChatGPT (Apple Intelligence). On newer iPhones (iPhone 15 Pro and later models), Siri can pass harder questions to ChatGPT. Turn it on in Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri > ChatGPT. You don’t need a ChatGPT account.
• Meta AI in WhatsApp. Look for the Meta AI button on the Chats screen, or ask it in the search bar. It’s optional, and it isn’t available in every country yet.
• Be My AI (in the free Be My Eyes app) for people who are blind or have low vision. Take a picture, and it describes what it sees and answers your questions out loud. Free on iPhone and Android.

Step by step on a home computer

1. Open your browser. That’s the program you use for websites (Chrome, Edge, Safari, or Firefox).
2. Go to the site. Click the long bar at the top, type an address such as chatgpt.com, gemini.google.com, or copilot.microsoft.com, and press Enter.
3. Sign in, or not. Some let you try a few questions first. Signing in with a free account saves your past conversations so you can come back to them. Make up a new password just for this. Don’t reuse your bank or email password.
4. Type your question. Click the box near the bottom that says something like “Ask anything.” Type in plain words, then press Enter.
5. Read the answer. It appears on the screen in a few seconds. Scroll down if it’s long.
6. Ask a follow-up. Type again in the same box. It remembers what you just talked about, so you can say “Make that shorter” or “Explain the second part again.”

Step by step on a phone

1. Get the app from the official store only. On an iPhone, open the App Store. On an Android phone, open Google Play. Search the name (for example, “ChatGPT,” “Gemini,” or “Copilot”). Check that the maker is the real company: OpenAI, Google, or Microsoft.
2. Open the app and sign in if it asks.
3. Talk instead of type. Tap the microphone button and speak your question. Many apps also have a voice-chat button for a spoken back-and-forth.
4. Ask about a photo. Tap the camera or + button. Take a picture of a plant, a label, or a sign, then ask, “What is this?” or “Read this to me.”
5. Ask a follow-up the same way, by typing or talking.

On an iPhone with Siri and ChatGPT turned on, you can also just say, “Hey Siri, ask ChatGPT…”

Five first things to try

Copy any of these, change the words in [brackets], and see what happens.

1. Cooking. “I have [chicken, rice, and frozen peas]. Give me a simple dinner recipe for two, with large, easy steps.”
2. A confusing letter. “Explain this letter in plain English. What is it asking me to do, and by when?” (Type the main part, or snap a photo. Cover any account numbers first.)
3. A day trip. “Plan an easy day trip from [your town] for someone who likes [gardens and history] and doesn’t want much walking. Include a lunch stop.”
4. A birthday note. “Help me write a warm birthday card for my [granddaughter] turning [12]. She loves [horses]. Keep it short.”
5. A suspicious text. “I got this text: [paste it]. Does it look like a scam? What should I do?” Don’t tap any links in the text while you check.

Want more ideas? Browse real stories from people who are already doing this.

Staying safe

• Never share your Social Security number, Medicare number, bank or card numbers, or passwords with an AI.
• AI can be wrong. It can sound sure and still make mistakes. Double-check anything important, especially health, medicine, and legal matters. Ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• No real AI company will call you, text you out of the blue, or ask you to pay over the phone or with gift cards. If someone does, it’s a scam. Hang up.
• Watch for fake look-alike apps. Download only from the App Store or Google Play, and check that the maker is the real company.

It’s okay to be a beginner

There are no dumb questions. The AI won’t judge you, get impatient, or mind if you ask the same thing three times.

If an answer is too long, say “Shorter, please.” If it’s too technical, say “Explain that like I’m new to this.”

Want to start over? Look for New chat (often a pencil icon or a + at the top or side of the screen). It gives you a blank page, and the AI forgets the earlier conversation.