By Bridget K. Burke
Ever wondered if your coffee machine could chat with you or if your to-do list could magically complete itself? Welcome to the world of everyday AI, where even the simplest tasks can take on an almost magical twist. We hear and see all of the amazing things AI can do, but if you’re not a “techie,” it can all seem pretty overwhelming. Where do you even begin? I got you! I’m going to show you how to get started using an AI chatbot in a few fun, easy steps.
Here’s a quick overview of what we’ll cover:
- Step 1: Choosing Your Tool. We’ll compare some top AI chatbot tools and help you pick the right one.
- Step 2: Selecting Your Platform. Discover the best ways to use your chosen AI on different devices.
- Step 3: Starting Small and Simple. Learn the basics of interacting with an AI chatbot without getting overwhelmed.
- Step 4: Staying Ethical and Secure. Important tips on using AI responsibly and protecting your personal data.
- Step 5: Experimenting and Playing Around. Have fun with AI and explore its potential in everyday life.
If you’ve ever guided a talented colleague through a new process, partnered with an expert team member to solve a complex problem, instructed a super-smart friend on how to do something new, or raised children, then I promise you already know more about using AI chatbots than you think. (Just keep in mind, this guide is for personal use of AI. Using AI in a work setting requires considering HIPAA and cybersecurity and employer protocols.)
So, let’s get started learning and having fun!
Step 1: Choose Your Tool
There are tons of AI chatbot tools out there, with the current top three being OpenAI ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini. You might also want to check out Anthropic Claude and Perplexity. Each of these tools offers unique features that cater to different needs. But remember, the features in each tool will vary depending on the version you choose. Many offer free versions with basic functionality, while paid subscriptions provide access to more advanced features. It can be confusing and time-consuming to compare these tools and select one to begin with. To help you choose, here’s a simple chart comparing the top three AI chatbot tools across seven key areas for their Public (Free), Free with Login, and Paid versions.
As you can see from the chart, there are many things to consider in selecting a tool. Let me give you an example to help get you started. As many of you already know, in January 2024, CAHL launched the first Technology Sub-Committee within ACHE, and I’m thrilled to be one of its Co-Chairs. Our mission? To demystify AI and related innovative technologies, making them accessible and user-friendly for healthcare professionals. However, when we started, I was the only member with AI experience. So, our first goal was to educate the committee members on AI and to do that, we needed to select a tool for the team to start with.
We selected the OpenAI ChatGPT tool, specifically the “Free with Login” version, which I’ve highlighted in the RED box on the chart. It was the only free version that provided all the multimodal features (text, images, audio input, and voice output) using recent training data, could access the internet for current information, and let you save your chats and share them with other people on your team. After a few months of using the free version, everyone on our committee upgraded to the paid version of ChatGPT. While some people like to use many chatbots all at once, we chose to focus on using just one tool to quickly build expertise and easily share our learnings across the team.
In selecting a tool, think through what features matter most to you and let that guide your selection. Many of the paid versions have great added features, but my suggestion is to start with a free tool to explore its capabilities. If you don’t like it, you can just try another tool without any financial impact until you find one that you enjoy using.
Step 2: Select Your Platform
Now, head over to the website of your chosen AI chatbot tool. You’ll notice that you can use the chatbot on two platforms: a web browser or a mobile phone app. Which should you use? It would make sense that either one would be fine. But it turns out that the features may be significantly different on each. Again, this can be a bit confusing when you’re starting out. Let me make it clear and easy for you.
OpenAI ChatGPT
There are five different variations, three for the web browser and two for mobile phones. But only the mobile phone app (items D and E) has the full multimodal functionality for text, photo, image, audio, and interactive voice. Note: It is the only chatbot of the three mentioned here that provides the full multimodal functionality in a free version.
Google Gemini
When I tested Gemini earlier this week, it wasn’t working for brand new Free user accounts (items A and C). But if you have an older Google account, you might be able to use Gemini (items B and E). Please note, in item D, Google states it “will process your data as described in the Google Privacy Policy.” This means they can use your data for training unless you opt out. However, you first must click the “Use Gemini” button, which lets them use your data. Then you must specifically opt out after you log in for it to stop using your data.
Microsoft Copilot
The functionality is similar using a web browser or the mobile phone app. However, if you use the “Free with Login” version (items B and D), there is a somewhat hidden feature to access a Notebook style interface (item E).
So, which platform should you choose? It really depends on your needs and how you plan to use the AI chatbot. Here are a few tips to help you decide:
- Web Browser: Great for detailed tasks, extended writing, or when you’re working at a desk. It’s often easier to navigate complex functions on a larger screen.
- Mobile Phone App: Perfect for on-the-go use, quick queries, or when you need the full range of multimodal features. Handy for those moments when inspiration strikes, but you’re away from your desk.
To make it even simpler, here’s a quick reference:
- If you need multimodal functionality (text, images, audio), go for the mobile app, especially with OpenAI ChatGPT.
- If you’re an older Google account user, double-check your privacy settings with Google Gemini.
- For hidden gems and notebook features, explore Microsoft Copilot’s free versions on both platforms.
Remember, the key is to start with whatever feels most comfortable and convenient for you. You can always switch platforms or tools as you become more familiar with how they work.
Step 3: Start Small and Simple
First things first, don’t overwhelm yourself—go slow. Take the time to get comfortable with how the AI chatbot works and be sure to use the documentation and tutorials to understand the workspace so you don’t feel lost in it. Then, start small with simple tasks that you can easily add into your daily routine. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Research a hobby: Curious about bonsai gardening or home brewing? Let the AI find all the info you need.
- Plan a trip: Have it create a detailed itinerary based on your preferences.
- Learn a new language: Use it for daily practice or to translate phrases.
- Summarize articles: Keep up with industry trends by having the AI condense lengthy reports.
- Write emails: Draft quick responses or full emails for you.
It’s important to note that at a basic level, communicating with an AI chatbot is like speaking with a person. In normal dialogue, people often make a REQUEST in the form of a question or statement, and the other person provides a RESPONSE.
- For example, I may REQUEST to know “how was your day” or “please write a memo to update the client on the current project status.”
- The other person would then provide a RESPONSE to my request, such as, “my day went well” or “here is your memo detailing….”
- When communicating with an AI chatbot, your “REQUEST” is called a “PROMPT”and the chatbot’s reply is called a “RESPONSE.”
Prompts are how you ask an AI chatbot to do something for you—like creating an email, analyzing a document, or researching a topic on the internet. Think about prompting like having a conversation, using plain but clear language, and providing context like you would with an assistant in your office or a friend helping you with a task. Generally, for best results with AI chatbots, you should be clear, concise, well-structured, and move step-by-step in your communication.
There are many types of prompting “methods” that people use, but I suggest starting out with simple approaches. The easiest is to just “converse” with the chatbot in a casual back-and-forth manner, which is most useful when you don’t have an end goal in mind and/or are exploring an idea or topic. However, most of the time, we do have an end goal in mind, and then it’s best to use a structured prompt.
For a structured prompt, plan your request in advance to be efficient and effective with the chatbot, just as you would with a person. To get you started, we’re using a very simple prompt structure consisting of a: Goal, Context, Expectations, and Source. This structure will help you communicate clearly and effectively with an AI chatbot (and possibly humans as well!).
Let’s look at this prompting method in another example:
By answering four basic questions, this easy prompt structure produces a clear, concise, step-by-step prompt for the chatbot.
- Goal: What do you want from the AI? Provide personalized budgeting and financial advice.
- Context: Why do you need it and who is involved? I spend a lot on entertainment and dining out and want to save more money.
- Expectations: How should the AI respond to best fulfill your request? Give practical advice on budgeting and managing finances in a supportive and clear manner.
- Source: Which information or samples do you want the AI to use? Use general budgeting principles and strategies.
There are many other elements that you can incorporate into your prompts including:
- Act as…an expert Financial Planner, certified in the United States.
- Format information in…a table, chart, diagram, etc.
- Search the web…for free Excel budget templates.
- Cite your sources…include a web link for each.
Important: Be sure to ask follow-up questions and iteratively refine your interactions as you would in a conversation with another person.
As you try different prompts, note how the chatbot responds in tone, manner, and content, and adjust it to what works best for you, just as you would adapt your interactions with a new coworker or friend. AND be patient. There’s a learning curve with any new technology. Don’t get discouraged if things don’t click immediately. Take your time.
The most important thing to remember is that using an AI chatbot tool effectively is all about clear communication. Provide concise, detailed instructions, just like you would with a new quick-learning staff member or a smart friend helping you with a new task. The better you explain what you want, the faster the AI will learn and deliver results the way you want them. The clearer your instructions, the better the AI chatbot (and humans) will perform.
Step 4: Stay Ethical and Secure
Now that you’re getting the hang of using AI chatbots, it’s crucial to talk about ethics and security. As amazing as these tools are, we need to use them responsibly and protect our personal information.
First, always double-check important information with trusted sources. Use AI as a helper, not the final authority, especially for critical decisions. Whether it’s an AI chatbot or a human, always verify the accuracy of the information you receive and be mindful of the biases and limitations of your sources.
Also, be cautious about your personal data security. Sharing some basic details can help the AI chatbot tailor its responses—the more it knows, the better it can assist you. However, if you share personal data, ensure you configure the tool’s security settings to protect your information.
Here’s a few steps to secure your personal data in ChatGPT (MacOS):
Use Strong Passwords
- Start by securing your account with a strong, unique password. This adds a critical layer of protection against unauthorized access.
- Consider using a password manager to create and store strong passwords.
Turn Off Chat History
- In your ChatGPT settings, look for the option to turn off chat history. This prevents your conversations from being saved and used for future training of the AI model.
- This setting can usually be found under Settings > Data Controls. When chat history is off, your interactions will not be stored or used to improve the model.
- Consider using a Temporary Chat. Temporary Chats are deleted from the systems within 30 days – and aren’t used for model training.
Manage Data Sharing
- Go to Settings >Data Controls, check the settings for data sharing. Make sure you disable any options that allow your data to be used for training purposes.
- This setting might be labeled as “Improve the model for everyone” or something similar. Disabling this ensures that your interactions are not used to improve or train future versions of the model.
Disable the Memory. Go to Settings > Personalization > Memory and toggle the button off.
Delete Existing Data
- If you’ve previously had chat history enabled, you may want to delete past conversations.
- Go to Settings > General > Delete all chatsand select the option to delete your chat history. This ensures that any past data you’ve shared is no longer stored by the system.
Review Permissions
- Regularly review and adjust the permissions the app has on your devices. Limit access to only what’s necessary for the AI to function.
- For instance, ensure the app doesn’t have access to your microphone, camera, or location data unless you’re using features that require them.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
- If available, enable Two-Factor Authentication for an extra layer of security. This requires not just your password but also a second form of verification, such as a code sent to your phone, to access your account.
- Go to Settings > Security > Multi-Factor authentication and select to Enable. This is especially important if you use AI tools for sensitive tasks.
Regular Updates
- Keep your software up to date to protect against vulnerabilities. Developers frequently release updates to improve security.
- Set your app to update automatically, if possible, to ensure you’re always running the latest, most secure version.
Be Mindful of Shared Information
- Even with all these precautions, be mindful of what information you choose to share with AI tools. Avoid sharing highly sensitive data like Social Security numbers, passwords, or detailed personal identifiers.
- When in doubt, treat your AI interactions as you would any public or semi-public communication.
By following these steps, you’ll create a secure environment for using ChatGPT or any other AI tools. Remember, ethical use of AI also means being mindful of the potential biases in AI systems. These chatbots learn from vast amounts of data, which can sometimes include biased information. Be aware of this and critically evaluate the AI’s responses. Don’t rely solely on AI for decisions that require nuanced understanding and human judgment.
By staying ethical and secure, you not only protect yourself but also contribute to a healthier and more trustworthy AI ecosystem.
Step 5: Experiment and Play Around
Lastly, remember that communication is also an art, so please experiment to see what works best for you and most importantly, have FUN! Think of AI as your new gadget—I truly believe that the best way to learn is by experimenting. I’ve never read a user guide that is as fun as just plonking around with a new tool. Everyday play is essential for a happy life.
A fun, easy way to play with an AI chatbot is to ask it to suggest recipes based on what’s in your fridge. Mine usually has an odd mashup of seasonal Trader Joe’s stuff. As I am a cooking novice and lazy about typing prompts, I built a free ChatGPT App called “TJ Gourmet” to do it for me. But maybe music is more your jam than cooking.
You could try making a free song in Suno. You can write your own lyrics or have the AI create them for you and then it will auto-generate the accompanying music based on your choices. “The Roaming Cloud” is an example of a song that I wrote and uploaded into Suno using the free version (listen to my song here). Try goofy stuff, too—like asking it to draft a poem about your morning mocha latte!
AI is always evolving, so stay curious. Keep exploring new tools and features, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. The more you explore, play, and experiment, the more ways you’ll find to use AI in your personal and professional life.
Inspiration for Starting Your AI Adventure
As I mentioned earlier, in January 2024, CAHL launched the first Technology Sub-Committee within ACHE. Recently, we hosted our first webinar, “Building Comfort with Everyday AI: A Hands-On Experience,” showing how AI can elevate our everyday lives. I’m eager to share with you some of the practical AI uses from our webinar. But before I get into those, let’s rewind a bit to our committee’s first steps with AI as they may motivate and inspire you to get started on your own path with AI.
At our first committee meeting in January, everyone was excited but also a bit nervous and hesitant. Some questioned if AI was worth their time or just a passing fad, while others felt it was confusing and intimidating. They were a bit overwhelmed about how to start using AI but also didn’t want to be left behind. Sound familiar? If you’ve ever had these thoughts about AI—or maybe still do—you’re not alone. Our committee members—Clarisse Vidal, Damon Pridgeon, Jeremy Hough, Lauren Mock, and my great co-chair, Sarah Khan—were all new to AI when we started, just as you may be today. Yet, they all took the small steps mentioned in this article and experimented with ChatGPT for simple daily tasks. And guess what? In just a few months, these AI novices transformed into confident AI chatbot users, now proficient enough to guide others.
Our committee’s collective AI learning journey was the inspiration for our inaugural webinar. We designed it for healthcare professionals who aren’t “techies,” to show that learning to use AI can be fun and straightforward. And now, a few everyday AI uses from our webinar:
- AI Companion: Jeremy named his ChatGPT “Scout.” He begins his day with a cheery “Good morning, Scout,” and uses polite manners like “please” and “thank you.” He treats it like a colleague or friend, feeling that this makes “Scout’s” responses more personalized and relevant. He showed how to use ChatGPT to quickly create well-structured documents, draft meeting agendas, follow-up emails, and reports.
- Job Search Optimizer: Clarisse shared tips on using ChatGPT for job hunting in healthcare. She walked through uploading job descriptions to ChatGPT, getting it to highlight required key skills and experience, compare these with her resume, and make changes to tailor her resume to the job. She also showed how to use ChatGPT to generate relevant questions and conduct mock interviews.
- Communications Pro: Damon showed how he uses ChatGPT to draft orientation emails for new nurses, ensuring all necessary details are included clearly and engagingly. He also demonstrated using ChatGPT for brainstorming conference presentation topics and providing structured outlines for speeches, breaking down the content into manageable sections.
- Creative Boost for Mental Health: Lauren shared two fun, free AI-powered games that can lift your spirits in just a few minutes. She demoed Poem Postcards where you can generate poems based on selected subjects and artworks and share them with friends as a little surprise to brighten their day. Next, Lauren showed Food Mood which lets you combine elements from two different global cuisines to create unique fusion recipes, making meal planning fun and innovative.
From boosting productivity and personalizing job searches to enhancing mental well-being and fostering creativity, AI is here to help. I hope these tips from our webinar, along with my easy steps on how to get started with AI, show you that with a bit of curiosity and willingness to experiment, AI can become a fun and useful tool in your daily routine. Remember, the key is to start small, be patient, and keep exploring.
So, go on, take that first step to get started. Let AI add a little magic to your everyday tasks. But don’t keep your AI adventures to yourself! Share your experiences with friends and learn from theirs. The more you share and collaborate, the more confident you’ll become in using AI effectively. Happy exploring, and here’s to making our work—and our lives—a little bit easier with AI.
