You've heard about it at dinner. You've seen it in the news. Maybe your kid won't stop talking about it. But you've never actually tried it.
Starting is easier than you think. Easier than setting up a new phone. You don't need to know anything about technology.
Step 1: Pick one and go
Two AI assistants have free versions and run in a regular web browser, nothing to download. ChatGPT at chatgpt.com and Claude at claude.ai. Create a free account with your email and you're in.
Don't overthink it. The tool matters less than starting.
Step 2: Talk to it like a person
When you're looking at that empty text box, just type. Plain sentences. The way you'd explain something to a colleague down the hall. No special commands, no tricks.
Try something low-stakes:
- "Can you explain what inflation actually is, in simple terms?"
- "I need to write a quick thank-you email to a supplier. Can you help me draft one?"
- "What are some good questions I should ask before hiring a contractor?"
Or something entirely your own. Hit Enter and see what happens.
Step 3: Have a conversation, not a transaction
Most first-timers ask one question, get an answer, and stop there. Keep going. That's where it gets useful.
If the answer isn't quite right, say so. "That's close, but I was thinking more about..." or "Can you make that shorter?" The AI adjusts. Think of it less like a search engine that hands you a list of links and more like a knowledgeable friend who actually tries to help.
Step 4: Know what it's good at
First draft of a letter? Good fit. Plain-English explanation of a confusing document? Also good. Ideas you haven't thought of? Solid place to start.
Where it struggles is anything that needs to be exactly right. AI can state incorrect information with complete confidence, so for medical, legal, or financial questions, treat the answer as a starting point and verify it elsewhere. More on that next week.
One thing to do this week
Open a browser, go to claude.ai or chatgpt.com, and have one real conversation. It doesn't need to be work-related. Ask something you've been curious about for years and never bothered to look up.
You might be surprised how natural it feels.
Next week: "Don't Believe Everything the Robot Says." How to tell when AI is confident versus when it's guessing, and what to do about it.