AI 101 · Start here
AI without the jargon.
You don't need to understand everything about AI to start using it. Pick one real thing you'd like help with and learn by actually trying it.
AI Without the Jargon
So... what can AI actually do for me?
AI tools like ChatGPT can help you find answers, solve problems, understand information, generate ideas and spark creativity. You may already encounter technology that uses AI in products and services you use every day.
But what if you started using it intentionally for your benefit?
Search helped us find information. AI lets us work with information.
A search for “Hotels in New York City” gives you places to explore. With AI, you can explain that you're a family of four, want family-friendly areas near activities, need reasonable prices and are driving a family-size van that needs parking. Then you can keep asking questions and comparing options.
For current prices, availability, ratings and other changing details, use current web information and verify what matters.What can AI help me do?
At the center of all five: you're learning.
Your first challenge
Choose one thing to carry through AI 101.
Think of something from the last few days that was annoying, confusing, difficult or time-consuming. Or choose something you're trying to accomplish, don't know how to start, or have always wanted to try or learn.
Don't worry yet about whether AI can help. Just hold onto it.
AI4MyNeeds Tip: Don't worry about learning everything AI can do. Start by finding one thing it can help you do.
Where Do I Actually Use AI?
You've got something you want help with. Now let's actually try AI.
AI isn't one website or app. You may hear names like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, Claude and others. For AI 101, we'll use ChatGPT because it's an easy place to learn conversational AI. The habits you're learning can transfer to other AI assistants too.
Open ChatGPT in a new tab ↗Remember what you chose?
Now ask ChatGPT about it.
Don't worry about writing the perfect question. Ask the way you'd ask another person.
What happened?
Was the answer useful? Generic? Did it misunderstand you? Did it mention something you hadn't considered?
Whatever happened, don't start over and don't close the conversation yet. Your first question was only the beginning.
AI4MyNeeds Tip: Your first question doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to start the conversation.
Your First Useful AI Conversation
Don't treat AI like a search box. Treat it like a conversation.
Imagine asking someone, “What's the best way to lose weight?” They might say to exercise more and eat better. But they don't know your goals, current habits, what you've already tried or what's getting in your way.
AI has the same problem when your question doesn't include much context.
“Help me start exercising.”
“I want to start exercising to have more energy and get in better shape. I haven't worked out consistently in a few years, don't have a gym membership, and want to start with three days a week at home.”
You don't need a special formula. Give AI relevant context.
Don't know what information to give it?
Keep talking.
If the answer isn't quite right, tell it.
Your turn
Go back to the conversation you started.
Add some relevant context. Let AI ask you questions. Then ask at least one follow-up question or challenge something in its response. Compare where the conversation ends up to where you started.
AI4MyNeeds Tip: A better AI conversation doesn't always start with a better first question. Sometimes it's the second or third question that makes the difference.
AI Can Be Wrong
Confidence doesn't equal accuracy.
AI can give you an answer that sounds confident, detailed and professional. That doesn't make it true.
Sometimes AI misunderstands your question. Other times it can provide information that is incorrect, unsupported or even made up. You may hear this called an AI hallucination.
Challenge the answer.
Ask for the source. Check the source.
For important factual information, ask where it came from. Then check whether the source is current, trustworthy and actually supports what AI told you. A citation isn't the same thing as fact-checking.
Be especially careful with numbers.
AI can be extremely useful for understanding data, spreadsheets, trends and calculations. But a polished chart or perfectly formatted table can still contain a mistake.
Use AI to help with numbers. Don't assume a number is correct just because AI gave it to you.
Your turn
Choose one thing AI told you that you shouldn't automatically accept.
If the answer matters, verify it.
AI4MyNeeds Tip: The more important the outcome, the more important the verification.
Privacy, Safety & What You Share
Give AI what it needs, not everything you know.
We've talked about giving AI more context. That doesn't mean giving it everything.
Before sharing something, ask: Does AI actually need this information to help me? If the answer is no, leave it out.
Share the budget, not the bank account.
If you're trying to save money, you can tell AI how much you spend on rent or mortgage, groceries, utilities, transportation, subscriptions and other expenses. AI doesn't need your bank account numbers, credit card numbers, policy documents or other sensitive information that doesn't change the answer.
Work information deserves extra care.
Just because you have access to information at work doesn't mean you're allowed to share it with an AI tool. Know your organization's policies and approved tools. If you're unsure, don't guess. Ask.
Your turn
Look back at your conversation.
Did you share anything AI didn't actually need? Could you remove personal, identifying, work-related or other unnecessary information and still get the same help?
AI4MyNeeds Tip: Useful context doesn't mean all context.
Don't Stop at the First Inquiry
What if your original question was only the beginning?
Imagine you started with: “Help me plan a family vacation.” After talking with AI, you've picked a destination. You could stop there. Or you could keep going.
What started as “Where should we go?” has become much more than an answer. It's becoming a plan.
Ask what comes next.
Your turn
Go back to your AI 101 conversation.
Explore one suggestion and see where it takes you. You don't have to follow every suggestion. You're exploring possibilities.
AI4MyNeeds Tip: Don't just ask, “Did AI answer my question or solve my problem?” Ask, “Where could I take this next?”
Knowing When NOT to Use AI
Can AI do it... or should AI do it?
By now, you're probably seeing more things AI could help with. That doesn't mean you should use it for everything.
“Write this for me.”
“Here's what I wrote. Help me make it clearer without changing how I sound.”
“Give me the answer.”
“Help me understand how to figure this out.”
AI can remove unnecessary work without removing the parts where you need to think, learn, decide or create.
Some things should stay human.
AI can help you prepare for a difficult conversation. It probably shouldn't have that conversation for you. It can help you think through an important decision, but it shouldn't automatically make the decision for you. And sometimes a calculator, quick search, phone call or doing it yourself is simply faster.
Your turn
Look at what you've been working on.
Which parts could AI make easier or better?
Which parts should still be yours to do?
AI4MyNeeds Tip: Don't ask only, “Can AI do this?” Ask, “Would AI make this better?”
Now Try That With AI
You've already done more than learn about AI. You've used it.
You started with one real thing you wanted help with. Along the way, you learned to start a conversation, add useful context, ask follow-up questions, challenge answers, verify important information, protect what you share, explore what comes next and decide when AI actually adds value.
Over the next day, when you run into something you're trying to do, understand, improve, create or figure out, stop for a second and ask:
Could I try that with AI?
One last challenge
Tell AI something you're trying to accomplish or something you've always wanted to try.
You might be surprised where the conversation takes you.
AI4MyNeeds Tip: You don't need to know everything AI can do. You just need to recognize the moments when it might be worth trying.