Screenshot anything confusing
A dashboard, error message, form, appliance, chart or software screen.
Try: “Tell me what I’m looking at and what I should do next.”
01 · Start here
What do you need help with?
Start with the job, not the logo. Pick what you want to accomplish and we’ll point you somewhere useful.
Make it useful immediately
Try AI on something already on your plate.
A grant application. A lesson plan. A client email. A board report. A small-business process. A community event. That spreadsheet you’ve been avoiding.
The one thing to remember
Talk to AI like a collaborator, not a search box.
You do not need a “perfect prompt.” Give it context. Show it examples or files when helpful. Tell it what a good answer looks like. Then react to the answer and keep the conversation going.
Instead of: “Write an email.”
Try: “I need to tell a client their project will be two days late. Keep it warm, direct and under 120 words. I want to own the delay without sounding dramatic.”
02 · Wait... AI can do that?
Try something that feels a little like magic.
AI gets much more useful when you give it something real to work with.
Hand it the giant document
Use a supported tool to work through a report, policy, manual, presentation or PDF.
Try: “Give me the five things I actually need to know. Flag anything that requires action.”
Brain-dump instead of typing
Talk out an idea, paste the transcript, then let AI organize your thoughts.
Try: “Turn this ramble into a clear plan. Keep the good ideas and remove repetition.”
Practice a hard conversation
Role-play a client call, interview, negotiation, presentation or employee conversation.
Try: “Play the other person. Push back realistically. Afterward, tell me where I could improve.”
Turn source material into a tutor
NotebookLM can turn your selected sources into explanations, study guides, quizzes and Audio Overviews.
Try: “Teach me this from beginner to confident, then quiz me.”
Have AI interview you
You do not always have to know what information to provide first.
Try: “Ask me one question at a time until you have enough information to help me solve this.”
03 · Explore the tools
Where should I start?
These tools overlap, and their capabilities change quickly. Think of this as a starting point, not a ranking. You absolutely do not need eight subscriptions.
Start free.
Pick one general-purpose assistant and learn how to use it well. Add specialized tools only when you have a reason. Free access, limits and included features vary by product and account.
⚡ The 10-second chooser
General all-around helpTry ChatGPT
Long-form thinking + buildingTry Claude
Current research + citationsTry Perplexity
Your own source materialTry NotebookLM
Google ecosystemTry Gemini
Microsoft 365 workTry Copilot
Everyday visual creationTry Canva AI
Creative image + videoTry Adobe Firefly
ChatGPT
All-around
A flexible general-purpose assistant for everyday questions, documents, spreadsheets, images, analysis and multi-step work. Some capabilities depend on your plan.
Try ChatGPT ↗Claude
Think + build
Strong for sustained thinking, long-form work and turning ideas into reusable documents, code, websites, diagrams or interactive artifacts.
Try Claude ↗Perplexity
Research
An AI-powered search engine that searches the live web and gives conversational answers with citations so you can open and verify the underlying sources.
Try Perplexity ↗NotebookLM
Your sources
A source-grounded research and learning assistant. Add material you choose, ask questions about it, and transform it into useful formats such as briefings, study aids, quizzes and audio.
Try NotebookLM ↗Gemini
Google
Google’s AI assistant for writing, brainstorming, learning, planning, working with files and using Google-connected experiences. Available features vary by account and plan.
Try Gemini ↗Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft 365
Best fit for organizations already working in Microsoft 365. Depending on licensing, Copilot can help draft, summarize, analyze and work with the Microsoft apps and work context you already use.
Try Copilot ↗Canva AI
Design
A conversational creative workspace for moving from an idea to editable designs and content, with AI tools across writing, images, video and more.
Try Canva AI ↗Adobe Firefly
Creative
Adobe’s generative AI creative environment for generating and editing visual content, including image and video workflows.
Try Firefly ↗🏛️ Government or public-sector work?
Use your organization’s approved AI environment and policies. Government-specific offerings include Microsoft 365 Copilot for U.S. Government and Gemini for Government.
04 · Prompts worth stealing
You do not need to become a “prompt engineer.”
A good starting prompt usually gives AI four things. Then you improve the answer through conversation.
1. GoalWhat do you actually want done?
2. ContextWhat does AI need to understand?
3. OutputWhat should the answer look like?
4. StandardWhat makes the result good?
Work
“Turn these messy notes into an action plan. Separate decisions, tasks, owners, deadlines and unanswered questions.”
Business
“Act like a process consultant. I’ll describe how we do [task]. Find bottlenecks, repetitive work and places AI or automation could save time.”
Learn
“Teach me [topic] assuming I’m brand new. Start simple, use an analogy, then make it more advanced. Quiz me at the end.”
Think better
“Here’s what I’m considering: [idea]. Don’t just agree with me. Challenge my assumptions, show me what I’m missing, and tell me what would make this stronger.”
AI cheat codes
Tap one to copy it. Add it to almost any conversation.
05 · Keep going
5 things to try this week.
Not homework. Pick one that would make your actual life easier.
Try 01
Clean up something messy
Give AI rough notes, a ramble or a draft and ask it to organize without losing your meaning.
Try 02
Plan something real
A meeting, project, lesson, trip, event, meal or difficult conversation.
Try 03
Research with receipts
Use a web-enabled AI tool, ask for current sources, then open at least two yourself.
Try 04
Learn from your own material
Put non-sensitive source material into NotebookLM and have it teach the material back to you.
Try 05
Find one time-saver
Ask: “What repetitive task in my week could AI make easier?” Then test one suggestion.
06 · AI common sense
Four rules. That’s it.
Verify important facts.Especially numbers, laws, policies, health, money and anything current.
Don’t paste secrets.Avoid confidential, protected or sensitive information unless your organization has approved the tool and use.
You still own the decision.AI can be useful and confidently wrong at the same time.
Work rules win.Follow your employer, school or agency’s approved AI tools and policies.
Keep learning with us
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