If You Haven't Added Generative AI to Your Skill Set Yet, You Should
AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini, along with AI image generators such as Dall-E and Canva, are easy to access and often free. They help you get things done—whether for work, hobbies, or learning. Now is a good time to start using them.
ChatGPT remains one of the top apps in Apple’s and Google’s stores, with hundreds of millions of users. Big tech companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft are also pushing their own AI tools, making it hard to ignore this trend.
According to a June Pew study, one in three Americans has tried ChatGPT, but two-thirds have not, and 20% have never heard of it. Meanwhile, AI is changing how workplaces operate. An IBM survey of 2,000 CEOs showed nearly a third expect many workers to need retraining in the next three years, and over half are hiring for AI-related roles that didn’t exist a year ago.
Experts encourage getting hands-on with AI tools and experimenting with different prompts to see what responses you get. Trying ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, or Claude with the same prompt can show you different outcomes and help you learn.
Getting Started with AI
Talk to AI the Right Way
How you ask questions or give commands to a chatbot—called a prompt—affects the quality of the answer you receive. Writing a good prompt is a skill that improves with practice. Refining your prompts helps you get closer to what you want while learning how AI thinks.
Get Familiar with Key AI Terms
Understanding basic AI terms like algorithm, hallucinations, and inference will help you use AI better and sound confident when discussing it.
Consider a Crash Course in AI
If the buzz about AI improving creativity and productivity feels overwhelming, consider a beginner-friendly course. For example, MasterClass offers an “Achieve More with GenAI” series that covers AI history, prompting techniques, business uses, and ethics. It’s a practical way to learn and start AI projects with expert guidance.
Get Started with ChatGPT
When using ChatGPT, don’t treat it like a search engine. Instead, think of it as a helpful conversation partner. Vague questions often lead to broad answers. Add details to your prompts for better results. For example, instead of “Plan a one-week vacation to Thailand,” try:
“I’m a 30-year-old man planning a one-week trip to Thailand later this year. My budget is $5,000. I want warm but not too hot weather, stay near the water, and be close to bars, restaurants, hiking spots, and temples.”
This context helps ChatGPT give advice suited to your needs.
Go Premium… When It Makes Sense
The free version of ChatGPT is powerful, so try it first. If you find yourself limited—especially when doing deep research, generating images, or analyzing photos—consider upgrading to the paid version. You can cancel anytime if it doesn’t fit your needs.
AI at Home
Use AI with Your Security Camera
Modern home cameras use AI to recognize people, pets, and vehicles, alerting you only when needed. You can adjust settings to customize alerts and even program familiar faces for notifications. Some cameras are exploring features like identifying specific vehicles or detecting missing items. While smart, keep privacy in mind as these devices collect personal data.
Plan a Meal and Your Grocery Shopping
AI can help you decide what to cook. Ask ChatGPT to create a weekly meal plan based on your dietary preferences and restrictions. It can also generate grocery lists or suggest recipes based on what ingredients you already have at home.
Manage Your Money Better
AI-powered money apps can help create custom budgets, suggest savings strategies, and offer motivation. They act like personal assistants to simplify financial decisions. However, they don’t replace professional financial advice, so always double-check recommendations and trust your judgment.
Learn a New Language
AI chatbots can create short lessons and help you practice basic phrases in your target language. They also provide cultural insights to deepen your learning. While AI won’t make you fluent overnight, it offers a convenient language partner available anytime. Popular language apps like Babbel and Duolingo also use AI to support learners.
Plan Your Next Trip
Travel planning can be stressful, but AI tools can help you pick destinations, find flights and hotels, and build itineraries quickly. For example, Google’s AI tools can suggest options based on your interests and budget. Always verify AI-generated details for accuracy.
AI and Wellness
Make AI Part of Your Fitness Routine
Some gyms use AI-powered machines that generate personalized training plans, track progress, and connect with apps. While AI can guide workouts, human trainers are still important for teaching proper form and machine use.
Use AI to Create a Bedtime Routine
If falling or staying asleep is a challenge, AI can help you design a bedtime routine suited to your habits and preferences. The more information you provide, the better the tailored suggestions.
Prepare for Your Next Doctor Appointment with AI’s Help
AI chatbots can help you organize your health concerns and prepare questions for your doctor. For example, you can ask about tests or treatments related to your family history or current symptoms. Keep in mind AI doesn’t replace professional medical advice.
Try AI, Carefully, to Work Through Your Grief
On difficult days, AI tools can suggest ways to honor a loved one’s memory or offer emotional support. Some AI programs aim to provide companionship, but experts advise caution and discourage recreating conversations with deceased individuals.
AI for Work
Try Out the Copilot AI Chatbot on a Copilot Plus PC
Many new Windows laptops come with powerful AI hardware and Microsoft’s Copilot chatbot, which uses ChatGPT-4 and Bing search data. Copilot helps with generating ideas, summarizing information, and creating content. It’s free, but using it inside Microsoft 365 apps requires a paid subscription.
Make Your Messages Safe for Work with AI on iPhone
iOS 18.1 introduced Apple Intelligence writing tools that proofread and make your messages sound more professional. Always review AI revisions to make sure they fit your context before sending.
Use AI to Be More Productive
AI can streamline work tasks without replacing you. Use Microsoft Copilot to take notes on PDFs, Zoom’s AI Companion to summarize meetings, or Grammarly to polish your writing. Google’s Gemini can summarize docs, Prezi AI can build presentations, and Motion AI manages your calendar. Always verify AI outputs for accuracy.
Go Job Hunting Using AI
AI can help write resumes, design them visually, suggest job roles, and generate cover letters. Tools like Final Round AI offer interview practice and salary negotiation scripts. Always double-check AI content for errors or exaggerations and avoid sharing sensitive personal info.
Check for Plagiarism with AI
Teachers and employers are noticing AI-written content in essays and applications. Use AI plagiarism checkers like Copyleaks to detect such cases, but avoid making accusations without evidence.
Keep Your Data Safe While Using an AI Chatbot
Anything you enter into AI chatbots becomes part of their training data and can’t be deleted. Avoid sharing private details like Social Security numbers or banking info. AI security is still developing, so be cautious with your data.
Creating Images with AI
Pick the Best AI Generator for You
AI image generators create art from text prompts, but not all tools are equal. Dall-E 3 by OpenAI is a top choice for detailed images with conversational flow. Beginners might prefer Leonardo.Ai, while professionals may want Adobe Firefly.
Write a Perfect AI Image Prompt
To get the best images, your prompt should include three essentials: characters or elements, the setting, and image dimensions. Add details about style (photography, cartoon, anime) and color palette for a clearer vision.
Learning to write effective prompts will improve your results and help you create images that match your ideas.
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