What is AI, actually?

An AI assistant like Claude or ChatGPT is a large language model — a system trained on an enormous amount of text from books, articles, websites, and more. It learned patterns in language and reasoning so well that it can now generate coherent, thoughtful responses to almost anything you ask.

Think of it less like a search engine and more like a knowledgeable study partner who has read everything — but who can also be wrong, so you should think critically about what it tells you. It reasons, explains, debates, summarizes, writes, edits, and teaches. It can adjust its explanations based on your level, push back if you ask it to, and pick up right where you left off in a conversation.

Pick one and sign up

You have two excellent free options. Pick either — you can always use both later. The free tiers are more than enough for this curriculum.

How to sign up (same for both):

1. Go to the website in your browser
2. Click Sign up or Get started
3. Enter your email address and create a password — or sign in with Google
4. Verify your email if prompted
5. You're in. You'll land on a chat screen. Type something and press Enter.

Get the app on your devices

Both Claude and ChatGPT have apps for your phone and your computer. Having it on your phone means you can use it anywhere — on a walk, during a commute, whenever an idea hits you.

How to ask good questions

This is the skill that separates people who get incredible results from AI and people who get mediocre ones. The model is highly capable — but it responds to what you give it. Vague question, vague answer. Specific question, specific answer.

Stay organized

AI doesn't remember you between separate conversations. Every new chat starts fresh. This means organization is your responsibility — and it's worth taking seriously.

Set tasks and get things done

AI is most powerful when you treat it as an active collaborator on a specific piece of work — not just a place to ask random questions.

Getting the most out of it — quick habits

These are the habits that compound over time. Start with one or two, then add more as they become natural.

• Use it every day. Even for five minutes. Consistent use builds the skill of knowing how to direct it — and that skill is genuinely valuable.
• Talk to it like a person. Write full sentences. Give context. Be honest about what you don't understand. The more natural your input, the more natural the output.
• Push back when it's wrong. It makes mistakes. If something feels off, say so — "I don't think that's right because..." It will often correct itself and explain the gap.
• Use it to explain things you just read. After a lesson, open a new chat and say "I just read about X. Here's what I think I understood. Fill in what I'm missing." This is one of the best study techniques available.
• Ask it to ask you questions. "Ask me questions about this concept until you're confident I understand it." This flips the dynamic and forces active recall.
• Be honest about your level. There's no embarrassment with AI. Saying "I don't know anything about this" will get you a better answer than pretending you do.
• Verify important claims. AI can be confidently wrong. Anything critical — a fact, a quote, a date — verify it with a second source before you rely on it.