Club Benefits
Any sort of new technology can be daunting. I should know, since my phone rings off the hook whenever my mother needs help scanning a document for the umpteenth time (even though I wrote down detailed notes on how to do it!).
Imagine how challenging it can be for most folks who want to dip their toes into the AI chatbot waters for the very first time. The sort of questions that run through one’s head range from “Which AI tool should I use first?” to “Can I even trust these chatbots with the information I give them?” While we won’t cover those specific queries in this how-to guide, we will answer this pressing question: What should I even try when I finally interact with a chatbot?
Article continues belowPut these seven actions to great use, and you’ll become a pro at the proper utilization of AI tools in no time.
1. Still confused about a complex topic? Ask it to explain it
There are countless AI terms floating around right now, and it’s easy to fall down a digital rabbit hole trying to understand them — jumping between articles, research papers and long video explainers. ChatGPT can help simplify that process by breaking down complex topics into clear, easy-to-understand language. Instead of spending hours piecing information together, you can ask the AI to explain a concept in a way that’s much easier to grasp. Here are a few prompts you can use to get started:
- Explain cryptocurrency like I’m 10
- What causes gas prices to rise?
- Summarize the basics of investing for beginners
- What is rocket science and how does it work?
2. Turn it into your personal tutor
AI can also help you learn about almost any topic by acting as a digital tutor. Students can use prompts like these to better understand subjects they’re currently studying. And if you’re simply curious and want to learn something new, these examples can help guide the AI to explain concepts clearly and effectively.
- Create 10 quiz questions on Ancient Egypt
- Create flashcards on American presidents
- Recommend 10 learning resources for information technology
- Teach me the basics of Python programming
3. Use it to summarize a lengthy article, research paper or document
You may have noticed that ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini all include a “+” button next to the prompt bar. Clicking it lets you upload photos or files, which the AI can then analyze.
This is especially useful when you want a quick summary of a document. Simply upload the file and use a prompt asking the AI to break the information down into a clear, easy-to-follow format.
You don’t even have to upload a file if you don’t want to. You can also copy and paste text directly into the prompt or include a link to an article you want summarized.
One simple method is to start with a prompt like the ones below. Then press Shift + Enter to move to the next line without sending the message and paste the text or link you want the chatbot to review.
These prompts work well when you want a thorough summary of a document, pasted text or webpage:
- Summarize this in five bullet points
- Explain all of this in plain English
- Give me the five key takeaways
4. Brainstorm ideas for events, recipes, business concepts and more
I’ve hit mental roadblocks countless times when trying to come up with ideas for birthday parties, housewarming sessions, cool events to go to over the weekend, and more. Plus, I’m sure you’ve wracked your brain trying to figure out what to cook for the week, what article pitches & YouTube video concepts you want to create, or what business ideas you want to bring to fruition. AI chatbots are perfect for helping you brainstorm and generate ideas you can play around with and make your own.
These prompts should put you on the path to turning your creative ideas into something practical:
- Help me come up with a workout routine for beginners
- What are some creative birthday party themes for adults?
- Find me the best free events to attend in [Insert Location here] this weekend
- Give me 10 blog post ideas about smart home technology
- Give me 10 YouTube video ideas about the best video games
- Come up with 10 dinner recipes for the next seven days
5. Ask it to help you with writing and editing
If you’re like me, then you’re constantly sitting in front of your desktop/laptop and furiously typing up something. Whether it be an email, a resume, a cover letter, an article, or whatever else requires your writing skills, you’ll always need a second set of eyes to oversee what you’ve typed out.
This is where AI comes in handy whenever human eyes aren’t easily accessible for your editing needs. It’s always worth using any of the following prompts, then copying and pasting whatever you need edits for:
- Rewrite this email to sound more professional
- Fix any grammar mistakes you come across and improve clarity in this cover letter
- Make this paragraph more concise
- Help me improve this resume
6. Plan a getaway and let it create an itinerary for you
Getting away from the madness of it all and enjoying a domestic/international getaway sounds amazing, doesn’t it? I know how hard it is to even start making plans for a future vacation, so I’ve gotten accustomed to using chatbots to get me started.
ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini make for amazing trip planners that can also create an itinerary for you when you put the following prompts to great use:
- Create a 7-day itinerary for visiting Tokyo, Japan
- What should I pack for a week in Iceland in August?
- What are the cheapest airline options for a trip to Jamaica?
- Where are the best international locations I can take a vacation to during the summer?
7. Let it become your productivity assistant
Coming up with a daily plan for your remote work schedule and at-home/gym workout sessions can prove to be much harder than you initially thought. And I know how mentally taxing it can be sometimes just coming up with a to-do list for the week. Interacting with an AI chatbot to help you structure your activities and produce clear goals for you to achieve is simple.
It’s always worth starting with any of the following prompts, then inputting your tasks, so it builds a productivity plan that caters to your specific needs:
- Create a realistic daily schedule based on the tasks I’ve included here
- Plan a 30-minute bedtime routine that gets me into bed before 10 pm
- Help me organize my to-do list for the week
- What's the best way to do spring cleaning over 7 days?
The takeaway
AI chatbots have come a long way since their initial introductions — years of constant updates have helped them become more efficient in aiding their users to perform whatever they're asked to do.
The likes of ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and countless other AI tools will quickly become your go-to digital assistants whenever you’re trying to learn something new, become more productive, help you conjure up creative ideas, plan a future getaway, and so much more. Having a conversation with your chatbot of choice makes it more familiar with who you are and what you do over time. And by using follow-up prompts, such as “Make it shorter,” “explain it more simply,” “give me more examples" and “rewrite this in a friendlier tone,” can help your AI partner produce better results.
Experimentation is key whenever you’re looking to maximize your time spent with chatbots.
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More from Tom’s Guide
- I built a library of 'thinking prompts' for Claude — these are the ones I use most
- I just tested ChatGPT vs Perplexity for research — and there's a very clear winner
- I use the ChatGPT ‘alpha' prompt to make stronger arguments — here’s how it works
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