Your First Month with an AI Assistant

What's inside

1. Level 1: Pick Your Assistant: Free vs PaidFree
   You'll compare the free and paid plans of ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot and Meta AI using their current help pages, then choose one to start your month with.
2. Level 2: Set Up Privacy and Memory FirstFree
   Before you type anything personal, you'll find your assistant's privacy, chat history and memory settings and set them the way you want.
3. Level 3: Ask Clearly: Context, Task, Format
   You'll learn a simple three-part pattern for requests (who you are and what's going on, what you want done, and how you want the answer laid out) and see how it changes the replies you get.
4. Level 4: Steer with Follow-Up Questions
   You'll treat each answer as the start of a conversation and use follow-up questions to make it shorter, simpler, more specific or just more useful to you.
5. Level 5: Write an Email That Sounds Like You
   You'll draft a real email or letter with the assistant, then shape it until it sounds like you and not like a robot.
6. Level 6: Summarise Documents and Web Pages
   You'll get the assistant to summarise a long document or web page, then check that the summary matches what the source actually says.
7. Level 7: Plan a Week of Meals
   You'll plan a week of meals and a shopping list around your tastes, budget, time and dietary needs.
8. Level 8: Plan a Trip and a Simple Budget
   You'll use the assistant to draft a trip itinerary and a simple budget, then check prices, opening times and travel rules against official sources.
9. Level 9: Learn Something New with a Tutor
   You'll set the assistant up as a patient tutor that explains a new topic step by step, quizzes you and adjusts to your level.
10. Level 10: Translate and Get By When Travelling
    You'll translate messages, signs and menus and practise useful travel phrases, while learning where translations can go wrong.
11. Level 11: Talk It Through in Voice Mode
    You'll have a spoken conversation with your assistant, using voice mode for hands-free questions, practice and brainstorming.
12. Level 12: Ask About Photos and the Camera
    You'll show the assistant photos or point your camera at everyday things, like labels, plants, appliances and notices, and ask useful questions about them.
13. Level 13: Make Simple Images and Know Their Limits
    You'll create simple images like cards and illustrations, and learn the usual weak spots, including text, hands, real people and copyright.
14. Level 14: Check Facts, Sources and Hype
    You'll check what the assistant tells you against real sources, and tell dated, sourced evidence apart from hype and from fear.
15. Level 15: No-Go Zones: High Stakes and Private Data
    You'll learn when not to rely on AI for medical, legal or money decisions, and how to keep your own and other people's personal data out of your chats.
16. Level 16: Accessibility Uses for Everyone
    You'll explore how AI assistants can make everyday tasks easier, like reading aloud, simplifying text, describing images and helping with dictation.
17. Level 17: Final Challenge: Your Month Plan Exam
    You'll bring the whole course together by building a four-week plan with weekly goals and completing a mixed task that uses every skill safely.

Access

The first 2 levels are free with a free account. Every level, the podcast edition and the AI tutor come with All Access at £4.99/month or any Creator plan — see pricing.

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