AI for the Curious · aiforthecurious.comSection 01 · last reviewed 2026-09-24
Cheatsheet: First steps with AI
What AI is (and isn't), the kinds of AI tools, and how to hold a good conversation. One page, free for everyone.
Section 01 · last reviewed 2026-09-24
Say the answer in your head, then tap the card to check.
Key terms
- Generative AI
- tools that produce text, images, or sound
- Chat assistant
- the AI you type or talk to
- Model
- the program behind it; learned patterns from its training data
- Hallucination
- a confident answer that is made up
- Thinking mode
- slower; works through tricky problems step by step
- Research tool
- answers with sources you can open
- Transcription
- speech turned into text
- Agent
- a tool that acts for you (early; supervise it)
- Try again
- a fresh version of the same reply
When this happens, do this
| When… | Do this |
|---|---|
| The answer invents a date or name | Correct it in one line and say what to keep. |
| You need facts you can print | Use a research tool, then open the source. |
| You need a picture | Use an image tool; check any text in it. |
| It's too long or too formal | Steer: "Shorter, and in plain words." |
| The chat has lost the thread | Start a new chat with a clear first message. |
| A headline says "soon" | File it under someday, not today. |
Copy-ready
Ask, and flag what to check
Help me with [task].
Then tell me which parts of your answer I should double-check, and why.
Find the right kind of tool
I need to [job].
What kind of AI tool fits this best, and what should I watch out for?
A good first message
Help me [what you want].
It's for [who, and what's going on].
Please give it as [shape].
Ask me if anything is unclear.
Three piles
- Good job for AI: drafts, explanations, ideas, summaries.
- AI, then check: dates, names, numbers, quotes, anything printed.
- Not a job for AI: what nobody wrote down, facts about your life, final decisions.
A good conversation
- Same topic: keep talking. New topic: new chat.
- Steer: "Shorter, and friendlier."
- Correct: "It's Tuesday, not Saturday. Keep the rest."
- Keep it: copy, rename, reuse the first message.
Never do this
- Print a fact, date, or quote from AI without checking it.
- Present an AI image as a real photo.
- Share passwords or private details with an assistant.
- Share a chat link that has private details in it.
From the lessons: What AI Is (and Isn't) · The AI Landscape Tour · Your First Conversations