I was enjoying dinner with my husband in Paris when we came across the wine menu, which was entirely in French. Barry wanted something like a Napa cabernet, so I snapped a photo of the menu and asked ChatGPT for suggestions. Within moments, it proposed a wine. I confirmed with the waiter, and he approved it.

You may assume that artificial intelligence is only for businesses or tech experts, but that’s a misconception. It’s accessible to everyone who’s open to trying it.

Instead of overlooking this incredible resource, consider embracing AI this year. It’s more user-friendly and beneficial than you might imagine.

Let’s cover the fundamentals

“So, where can I find ChatGPT?” is a question I receive frequently. You can access it through the web or via an app for iPhone or Android.

The free version caters to the needs of most users. I personally subscribe to ChatGPT Plus for $20 a month. To me, it’s worth it for enhanced features and quicker responses. Start with the free version; if you find yourself using the tool frequently, think about upgrading.

While ChatGPT is my top choice right now, there are other alternatives like Google Gemini, Perplexity, and Claude.

With all these options, the process is similar. Picture it as a conversation where you engage with the bot instead of just inputting a search term and sifting through results. You can ask for exactly what you need.

Like any tool, it’s important to leverage AI wisely and double-check its information. You wouldn’t want to be like those lawyers who faced trouble after trusting AI for court documents, resulting in embarrassing errors.

Are you familiar with prompts?

Prompts are the phrases, questions, or commands you provide to an AI to shape its response or action. It’s essentially your instruction on what you want, so clearer prompts lead to more accurate and useful replies.

“Priming” is an insider term that describes the process of specifying what you want from a chatbot. The more detailed your request, the better the answer will be. For instance, ask for “250-word responses,” request “bullet point lists,” or instruct it to “format as a table” or “generate a bar chart with this data.”

Keep in mind, AI cannot read your mind! It only responds to what you communicate. Utilize “do” and “don’t” in your prompts for clearer guidance. For example, if you’re preparing a meal for friends who have allergies, you could say, “Create a recipe for six. Do include protein, fruits, vegetables, and carbs. Don’t add dairy, shellfish, or nuts.”

7 Prompts to Simplify Your Life

Transform your goals into action steps: “I aim to achieve (your goal) by 2025. Can you assist me in making it SMART?” (SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Realistic, and Time-bound.) If you feel overwhelmed, try this: “I want to (your goal), but it seems daunting. Can you help me break it into smaller tasks?”

“Provide me with 10 additional examples”: I frequently use this prompt in ChatGPT to brainstorm. While some suggestions may not be great, they often inspire creative ideas.

“How can I enhance this?” This works wonders for refining anything you write – whether it’s an article, travel plan, resume, or even a heartfelt message. This prompt is like having your own personal editor.

Your complimentary assistant: If you have chaotic notes from a meeting, rather than manually crafting an email, simply open your favorite chatbot and say, “Transform these notes into a professional and friendly email for my team.” Paste your notes, and voilà! Pro tip: Ask, “Does anything need more details?” to fill in any gaps.

Simplify your inbox: When you receive a lengthy email, use your AI assistant to say, “Summarize this email for me, highlighting my actions, and draft a thoughtful response. Here is the email.” Paste it in, and let the AI do the work.

Want to get fit? Request a personalized fitness program. You could say, “Create a 30-day plan for fat loss and muscle gain for a (male/female) beginner of (your age).” Or be even more specific: “Design a four-week plan to help me run a mile for the first time.” No stress!

Your partner forgot to do the dishes again? Rather than sending an angry text, ask AI to reword your message more constructively. Try, “Make this message sound friendlier.”

Be cautious with privacy

It’s easy to view your chatbot as a reliable friend, especially when it’s providing helpful responses consistently. However, remember that it’s a data-gathering tool just like any other.

Be prudent about your input. Never share passwords, sensitive financial details, or confidential business information. A good guideline is to avoid telling the AI anything you wouldn’t want shared publicly.

With a free account on ChatGPT or Perplexity, you can disable memory features in their settings to prevent the tool from retaining what you type. For Google Gemini, this option requires a paid account.