Where to type
Every AI assistant looks a little different, and they change their appearance often. So this course will not describe particular buttons. There is no need to.
What they all share is a box to type into. You type your question in the box, send it, and a reply appears above. Your question and the answer stay on the screen together, rather like a written conversation. That is all you need to know to begin.
You do not need to learn any special commands or phrases. You write in ordinary English, the same way you would write a note to someone.
Talk to it like a knowledgeable friend
Imagine you have a friend who has read a great deal and is happy to explain things. You would not speak to them in short, stiff commands. You would tell them a bit about the situation and ask your question in ordinary words.
Do the same here. Three small things make the biggest difference:
- Say what the situation is. A sentence or two of background.
- Say what you want. An explanation, a list, a suggestion, a short answer.
- Say how you would like it. Brief, step by step, in plain words, no jargon.
You do not need to get this perfect. It is a habit that grows with practice.
โ Weak prompt
Prompt
roses
Output
Roses are flowering plants in the genus Rosa. There are over a hundred species, and they are grown worldwide for their beauty and fragrance. They may be climbing, shrub or ground cover varieties...
One word gives it nothing to go on, so it writes a general encyclopaedia entry. Accurate, perhaps, but not what you needed.
โ Good prompt
Prompt
I have three rose bushes in my garden and the leaves have black spots on them. What might be causing this, and what can I do about it this week? Please keep it short and in plain words.
Output
Black spots on rose leaves are very often a common fungal problem called black spot. This week you could: pick off and bin the spotted leaves, clear fallen leaves from around the base, and water at the soil rather than over the leaves...
It knows the situation, what you want and how you want it. The answer is about your roses, today.
Asking follow-up questions
Here is something many people do not realise at first. You do not have to get everything from one question. It remembers what has been said earlier in the same conversation, so you can simply carry on.
If the answer about the roses mentioned something you did not follow, just ask:
What do you mean by a fungal problem? Is it catching, and should I worry about my other plants?
There is no need to repeat the background. It already knows you are talking about your roses. Follow-up questions are where these conversations become really useful, because you steer the answer towards exactly what you need.
Checkpoint
Describe the situation, say what you want, and then keep the conversation going with follow-up questions.
Asking it to explain more simply
Sometimes an answer comes back full of long words or technical terms. That is not your failing. It is the assistant pitching things at the wrong level, and you can correct it in a moment.
Any of these will work:
Could you explain that more simply, without any technical words?
Please explain that again as if I am hearing about it for the first time.
That was too long. Give me just the three most important points.
You can ask as many times as you like. It will not grow tired of you, and it will not think less of you. Asking for a clearer answer is exactly how experienced users work.
If an answer is not what you wanted, just say so in plain words: "That is not quite what I meant. I was asking about..." Then explain again. Correcting it is completely normal.
A few words of reassurance
Your first few conversations may feel a bit strange, like talking to someone on the telephone for the first time. That feeling passes quickly.
Nothing you type can cause harm. If a conversation drifts off course, you can start a fresh one. If you are not sure what to ask, you can even ask it: "What kinds of things could you help me with today?"
Try one conversation today about something you are genuinely curious about. A plant, a place you once visited, a word you have always wondered about. Real curiosity makes the best first question.
Checkpoint
If an answer is too complicated, ask it to explain more simply; it never minds being asked.
๐ Quiz
Question 1 of 3Which question is likely to get the most useful answer?