Plain-language AI guides
Practical, no-hype help for using AI assistants in daily life. Each guide has a prompt you can copy and a note on what to watch out for.
Everyday tasks
How to use AI to summarize a long document or email thread
Get the gist of a long email thread or document in a minute, without missing the dates and amounts that matter. A prompt to copy, and the one check to do after.
How to use AI to help your child with homework, without doing it for them
AI can be a patient tutor or an answer machine. How to set it up so your child does the thinking, what to check first, and what to keep out of the chat.
How to use AI to plan a trip on a budget
Turn a destination and a budget into a realistic day-by-day plan with free and low-cost ideas, then check the details that AI tends to get wrong.
How to use AI to compare two products before you buy
Cut through marketing copy by asking an AI assistant to compare two products only on the specs you care about, then confirm them where it counts.
How to use AI to write a thank-you or condolence note
When the right words won't come, an AI assistant can help you get started. How to make the note sound like you, with one specific detail that makes it sincere.
How to use AI to write a cover letter that doesn't sound like AI
Generic AI cover letters are easy to spot. How to get a draft that uses your real experience and your own voice, and what to check before you send it.
How to use AI to write a complaint letter or dispute a charge
Get a calm, clear complaint or billing-dispute letter drafted in minutes, with a prompt to copy and the facts to check before you send it.
How to use AI to write a difficult email
Stuck on tone? A simple way to get an AI assistant to draft an awkward email you will actually send, with a prompt you can copy and adapt.
How to use AI to make sense of a confusing letter or bill
Insurance letters and official notices are hard to read. How to get a plain-English explanation from an AI assistant safely, and when to check with a person.
How to use AI to plan your week
Turn a messy to-do list into a realistic plan. A simple prompt for sorting tasks, choosing what to do first, and fitting it around your real life.
How to use AI to prepare for a job interview
Practice likely questions, shape your stories and plan what to ask the employer. A step-by-step way to rehearse with an AI assistant, without inventing anything.
How to use AI to plan meals and make a grocery list
Weeknight dinners, a budget and a tidy shopping list in a few minutes. Prompts for planning meals with AI, and the one thing never to trust it with.
How to use AI to learn something new
An assistant can explain a hard idea, quiz you and build a practice plan. How to use it to actually learn, and not just collect answers.
Safety and privacy
How to tell if an image or video is AI-generated
Fake pictures and clips are made to be shared before anyone checks. Simple checks that work better than squinting at the pixels, and what to do before you share.
How to spot AI scams: fake voices, deepfake calls and fake messages
Scammers now use AI to copy a loved one's voice or write a flawless fake message. Simple checks that work, and what to do if you get one.
What not to paste into an AI chatbot, and what to do instead
A plain checklist of the things to keep out of an AI chat, how to swap in placeholders, and where to check your privacy settings.
Basics
What is an AI agent? A plain-English explanation
An AI agent doesn't just answer; it takes steps toward a goal for you. What that means, when it helps, and how to stay in control.
How to write a good AI prompt, in plain language
You do not need special tricks. Five simple parts make an AI prompt work better, with before-and-after examples you can copy.
Why AI makes things up, and how to check what it tells you
AI assistants can sound sure of things that are not true. Why it happens, where it shows up most, and five habits for checking an answer.
Which AI assistant should you use? A simple way to choose
Instead of comparing feature lists that change every month, run the same three tasks through two or three assistants and pick the one that fits you.