Learn AI in Plain English

01 · Start hereAI basics

You don't need to know how AI is built to use it well, just like you don't need to be a mechanic to drive. Here's what matters.

What it is

Tools like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini are AI assistants. They learned from a huge amount of text, so they can write, explain, summarize and brainstorm when you ask in normal words. You type a request (a "prompt"), and it writes back.

What it's great at

First drafts: emails, resumes, letters, posts
Explaining confusing things simply
Turning a mess into a plan or checklist
Practice: interviews, hard conversations
Ideas when you're stuck

Where it messes up

It can state wrong facts with confidence
It may not know recent news or local rules
It only knows what you tell it about you
It can sound generic until you add details
It's not a lawyer, doctor or advisor

02 · Your planThe 4-week starter path

About 20 minutes, three times a week. By week 4, AI is part of how you get things done.

WEEK 1

Meet an assistant

Make a free account on one tool from the list below. Just talk to it. Ask it to explain something you've always wondered about.

Try: "Explain how credit scores work like I'm 12."

WEEK 2

Prompt with purpose

Learn the 4-part prompt. Ask the same question twice, once lazy and once with details, and compare the answers.

Try: rewrite one email you actually need to send.

WEEK 3

Solve a real problem

Pick one thing that stresses you out, like a budget, a resume or meal planning. Use a prompt from the library and keep refining.

Try: "Ask me 5 questions first, then help me."

WEEK 4

Make something

Create something you couldn't before: a flyer, a short video, a weekly plan you reuse, or a saved set of instructions.

Try: an image or video tool from the list.

03 · ChoosePick a tool

They all do the basics well. Pick one and get comfortable before you try others. All of these have a free version.

Tool	Best for	Good to know
ChatGPT	All-around help, voice chats, images	The most popular, so most tutorials use it
Claude	Writing that sounds human, long documents, careful thinking	My go-to for scripts, resumes and planning
Google Gemini	People who live in Gmail, Docs and Android	Works inside Google apps you already use
Microsoft Copilot	Work in Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams	Many jobs already pay for it, so ask your employer
Perplexity	Looking things up with sources	Shows links, so you can check the facts
Canva (Magic tools)	Flyers, social posts, simple designs	Type what you want and edit the result
HeyGen	Talking-avatar videos and translations	Great for training and explainer videos

Free plans have limits that change often. Start free, and only pay once you use it every week.

04 · The skillHow to prompt

A prompt is just a clear request. The more the AI knows about your situation, the better the answer. Talk to it like a smart new coworker.

The 4-part prompt

Who it should be: "Act as a career coach…"
The job: "Rewrite my resume summary…"
Your details: your situation, goal and limits
The shape: "Give me 3 options, under 50 words each"

Didn't love the answer? Don't start over. Reply with:

make it shortermore casualask me questions firstgive me 3 moreexplain why

Lazy prompt

Write me a cover letter.

You'll get something generic that could be about anyone.

4-part prompt

Act as a hiring manager. Write a cover letter for a Training Specialist job at a hospital. I've coached adults for 2 years and helped 50+ people get hired. Keep it under 200 words, warm and confident, in 3 short paragraphs.

You'll get something specific to you, ready to tweak and send.

05 · Use itPrompt library

39 prompts for real life, including a resume builder and editorial image prompts. Copy one, fill in the [highlighted] parts with your details, and send.

Search prompts

06 · WordsAI glossary

The words you'll hear, explained the way I'd explain them in class.

AI assistant / chatbot: A tool you talk to in normal words that writes back, like ChatGPT or Claude.
Prompt: What you type to the AI. Better details in, better answer out.
Generative AI: AI that makes new things: text, images, video, music or voices.
LLM: "Large language model." The engine behind chatbots, trained on huge amounts of text.
Hallucination: When AI makes something up and says it like a fact. Always double-check.
Context: The background you give the AI so its answer fits your situation.
Training data: The text and images an AI learned from. It's why AI can be out of date.
Bias: When AI repeats unfair patterns from its training data. Watch for it in hiring and money topics.
AI agent: AI that can take steps for you, like searching, filling in forms or sending reminders, not just chat.
Automation: Setting up a task to run on its own, like a weekly reminder or a form that files itself.
Multimodal: AI that understands more than text: photos, voice, screenshots or video.
Deepfake: Fake video or audio that looks real. Be careful what you believe and share.