AI for beginners: how to start using ChatGPT – in plain English and for free
AI for Beginners 60+ · part 1 of 5
Your first conversation with an AI is easier than the manual for a new coffee maker – and you don’t need to know what a language model is.
Meet your new gizmo
Imagine a patient helper sitting across the table from you. It helps you word a letter, comes up with a recipe and suggests questions you might never have thought of asking. And it doesn’t take offence if you ask it to explain something one more time. This helper is artificial intelligence, or AI.
AI is not a person, though, nor an all-knowing encyclopaedia. Its answers are produced by calculation, and now and then it can be wrong in a very convincing way. That’s why it’s best used as a conversation partner and a drafting aid, not as the final word on what’s true.
Where do I start?
Open the web browser on your phone or computer and type chatgpt.com into the address bar. Check the address carefully; there may be similarly named services or paid adverts online. Follow the site’s instructions for getting started, and sign in if the feature or service you’re using asks you to.
ChatGPT can be used free of charge. Free doesn’t mean unlimited, though: there may be separate limits on uploading files and images, creating images and using voice features, for example. The service tells you about them as you go. You don’t need to buy a paid subscription for the exercises in this series.
What do I say to it?
Write in ordinary, everyday English. No secret commands are needed. You could start with “Hello, I’ve never used AI before. What could we do together?” and send the message. The reply appears in the conversation.
You can carry on in the same conversation: “Say that more briefly”, “Give me an example from everyday life” or “I didn’t understand the last point”. This is AI’s biggest practical advantage over an ordinary search engine: you can ask for a fresh explanation straight away.
One small success is enough
The aim the first time is not to learn everything. If you get one question across and understand one answer, you’ve already made a start. Make a mental note of what felt awkward, too. By part five you may find that the hardest thing was plucking up the courage to try.
Try it yourself
Type:
Hello! I’ve never used AI before. Tell me three everyday things you could help me with. Use plain English and finish by asking me which of them interests me most.
The Hilavitkutin reality check
If the machine suggests a trip into space when you meant a shopping list, you can calmly say: “No thanks, let’s stick to what’s on the supermarket shelves.”
Remember this
An AI answer can sound certain even when it’s wrong. Check important information against reliable sources. Never type in your online banking details, your National Insurance or Social Security number, or other people’s private matters.
The AI for Beginners 60+ series
This is part 1 of a five-part guide that helps you get started with AI calmly and safely.
All parts of the series: AI for Beginners 60+ – a free beginner’s guide
Sources
- OpenAI Help Center: ChatGPT Free Tier FAQ (checked 27 Oct 2026)
