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What can AI help me do? Find a question, get a useful answer
Start with the problem on your mind. Each guide gives a short answer and a practical next step.
AI basics
Which free AI apps can beginners try, and how do I start?
Start with one chat app, such as ChatGPT or Gemini. Open it, sign in if asked, and describe something you want help with: a message, an explanation or a plan. You can try other apps later.
Read the guide →How do I write a useful AI prompt as a beginner?
Tell the AI what you want to do, who it is for and any details that matter. Read the first answer, then ask for a specific change. A prompt can be an ordinary conversation rather than a special formula.
Read the guide →ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot: which AI app should I use?
Choose around your task and the tools you can access. For everyday writing or explanations, compare the same request in two chat apps. For work mail, check the Outlook Copilot experience your organization provides. This guide compares practical trade-offs, not benchmark scores.
Read the guide →How can I check an AI answer that sounds wrong?
Point to the sentence that seems off and ask where it came from. Add missing context, request a clear example or calculation, and check the detail you will act on, such as an opening time or price. Confidence alone is not verification.
Read the guide →What information should I share with AI for a useful answer?
Give the situation and the details needed for the task. A relevant passage or a few spreadsheet columns may be enough. Leave out unrelated contact details, passwords and login codes; use your organization’s approved tools for work files.
Read the guide →What is the difference between ChatGPT, Work, Codex and Dot?
Chat is for conversation and drafts; Work is for delegating a task and reviewing the result; Codex exposes developer tools for software work; a dot is for an ongoing responsibility with connected tools. Capabilities overlap, and access depends on the account and rollout.
Read the guide →What is agentic AI, and what can an AI agent do?
Agentic AI can choose steps and use available tools toward an outcome, such as preparing a draft update from approved notes. It needs the right access and a clear stopping point. These are possible task designs, not proof that every app can perform them.
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Writing
How do I make AI-written messages sound more like me?
Tell the AI who the message is for, what you mean and which details must stay. Give a tone and length, then keep the parts you would actually say. If it sounds too formal, name a specific change rather than starting over.
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Everyday life
Can AI suggest dinner from ingredients I already have?
List your ingredients, seasonings, equipment, portions and available time. Ask for a few options without extra shopping, then check that the answer has not added ingredients you do not have. This guide gives a suggested prompt, not a cooked or timed result.
Read the guide →How do I translate text on an Android screen without retyping it?
On a supported phone, hold the Home button or navigation bar to open Circle to Search, then tap Translate. Otherwise, take a screenshot and import it through Google Translate’s camera view. Small or blurry text may need a closer look.
Read the guide →How can I use AI to plan a relaxed day trip?
Give your date, starting area, companions, interests and budget. Ask for two activities, somewhere to eat, breaks and a rainy-day alternative. Before leaving, check the route, opening hours and any bookings for the places you choose.
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Learning
How can I use AI to learn something instead of just getting answers?
Say what you understand and where you get stuck. Ask for an everyday explanation, then one question at a time. Try answering before asking for a hint or correction, so you can see which part still needs work.
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Reading & finding answers
How can I compare AI apps on a task I actually need?
Send the same real request to two apps, then ask each for the same useful revision. Compare whether the answers help you finish the task and how easy they are to steer. Keep first replies separate from revised versions.
Read the guide →How can I use AI to find answers in a long document?
Provide the relevant document or passage and ask the question you actually need answered. Request the supporting original passage and a checklist of actions. If the document does not contain the answer, ask the AI to say so rather than fill the gap.
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Work smarter
How can Outlook Copilot help me catch up on email after a holiday?
In an eligible work or school Outlook account, ask Copilot for messages from your holiday dates that need a reply or decision, with links and next actions. Review that list before requesting drafts or any mailbox changes. Availability depends on your organization and Copilot experience.
Read the guide →How do I turn meeting notes into action items with AI?
Paste the notes into an approved AI chat and request separate decisions, actions and open questions. For each action, ask for an owner, due date and supporting note. Missing owners or dates should stay unconfirmed rather than become promises.
Read the guide →How can AI help me understand an Excel formula or spreadsheet?
Share the relevant formula or table, explain the columns and ask what you want to work out. Request a formula using your actual columns and an explanation of where it goes. Try changes in a copy and check a few rows you recognize.
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