GETTING STARTED WITH AI
Five Useful Things to Try With AI
You don’t need to learn “AI” as a subject. You need a few things worth doing. Here are five that work well on any phone, tablet, or computer — using a free AI assistant such as the one already on your device or one you choose to try.
1. Draft a message you’ve been putting off
AI is good at first drafts: a thank-you note, a complaint letter, a message to a contractor. Try: “Help me write a short, polite email to my landscaper asking why the invoice is higher than the estimate.”
Then edit it so it sounds like you. The draft is a starting point — your judgment finishes it.
2. Plan something real
A day trip, a family visit, a week of meals. Try: “Plan a relaxed two-day visit to Philadelphia for someone who prefers museums over walking long distances.”
Always verify times, prices, and opening hours on the official website or by phone — AI suggestions can be out of date.
3. Turn a memory into a story
Speak or type a memory, and ask the AI to shape it: “Here is a memory from my childhood. Turn it into a one-page story I can give my grandchildren.” Read it aloud and correct anything that isn’t how it happened.
4. Get a plain-language explanation
Paste in a confusing paragraph — from a letter, a bill insert, a manual — and ask:“Explain this to me in plain language, and list anything it says I need to do.” Never paste in account numbers, Social Security numbers, or passwords.
5. Prepare questions before an appointment
Before calling a provider or attending a meeting: “I have a meeting with my insurance agent about my homeowner’s policy. What questions should I ask?”Bring the list with you, and write down the answers yourself.
One habit that matters more than any trick
AI answers can be wrong, confidently. For anything important — health, money, legal matters, travel details — check the answer against an official source or a professional. Treat AI as a helpful assistant, not an authority.
Would you like a hand trying these?
In a private session we try tasks like these together, on your own device, at your pace — and you keep printed steps so you can repeat them on your own.
Request a session