What is AI?

Many people think AI is complicated, yet you may already use it without noticing. For example, your phone suggests the next word as you type a message. This lesson helps you understand AI just enough to start using it, with no technical knowledge.

AI is software that learns from huge amounts of data to do things people do, such as answering questions, writing text or recognising images.

Picture a new assistant who has read a great deal but knows nothing about you. The clearer your instructions, the better the work. This assistant also makes mistakes, so you still need to check.

• Typing suggestions: your phone guesses the word you want.
• Video suggestions: an app guesses what you will like.
• Chat assistants: ChatGPT replies when you ask it something.

Step by step

1. Open ChatGPT

   On a computer or phone, open a web browser and go to chatgpt.com. You can also click "Open ChatGPT" in this lesson's prompt box.

2. Paste the question into the box

   Click "Copy prompt" in the box below. Click the ChatGPT message box and paste (Ctrl+V on a computer, or press and hold then choose Paste on a phone). Replace the part in square brackets with your job.

3. Send it and read the answer

   Press Enter on a computer, or tap the arrow button on a phone. Wait a few seconds and read the answer.

What did you learn?

• AI is software that learns from huge amounts of data.
• You may already use AI in daily life.
• The clearer your instructions, the better the result.
• AI can be wrong, so you still need to review.