Getting Started with AI Tools

Getting Started with AI Tools

by Sarah MacPherson, a product manager, ai enthusiast trying to find the best and most interesting ways to work with this new frontier

You're ready to try AI, but where do you start?

You've probably heard about AI tools like ChatGPT or seen people use them. Maybe you're curious about what they can do, or you need help with specific tasks like writing, research, or organizing information. But with so many AI tools available, it's hard to know where to begin.

This section helps you make practical decisions: which tool to try first, how to sign up, what you can do for free, and how to stay organized without getting overwhelmed. By the end, you'll have a working AI toolkit that fits your needs and budget.

What you'll learn here

We'll walk you through everything from creating your first account to managing multiple tools effectively. You don't need technical knowledge or experience with AI. We start from the very beginning.

Guides in this section

Getting started

Understanding free vs paid

Managing multiple tools

Privacy and security

Real example: A student getting started with AI

Let's follow Maya, a college student, as she starts using AI tools for the first time.

Choosing a first tool: Maya has heard about ChatGPT from friends and seen TikTok videos about it. She reads that it's the most popular chatbot with lots of online help available. She decides to start there rather than spending hours comparing every option.

She visits chatgpt.com, clicks "Sign up," and uses her Google account to create an account in about 2 minutes. No credit card required.

First experiments: Maya starts with simple tasks to get comfortable. She asks ChatGPT to explain a concept from her biology class: "Explain cellular respiration in simple terms."

The response is clear and helpful. She asks a follow-up question: "How is this different from photosynthesis?" ChatGPT maintains context and explains the difference.

Encouraged, Maya tries using it for a writing assignment. She asks: "Help me brainstorm thesis statement ideas for an essay about the impact of social media on political discourse."

ChatGPT generates five different thesis options. Maya picks one and refines it with a follow-up prompt: "Make the third option more specific and focused on misinformation."

Hitting a limit: After using ChatGPT heavily during midterm week, Maya gets a message saying she's reached her limit for the day. She's frustrated but realizes she can either wait a few hours or try a different chatbot.

She searches "ChatGPT alternatives" and finds Claude. She creates a free account and uses it for the rest of the day. The experience is similar enough that she doesn't miss ChatGPT.

Adding specialized tools: Maya notices she makes lots of grammar mistakes in her first drafts. A friend recommends Grammarly. She signs up for the free version and adds the browser extension.

Now when she writes emails or Google Docs, Grammarly automatically checks her grammar. This saves time compared to asking ChatGPT to proofread everything.

Managing tools: Maya creates a bookmark folder in her browser called "AI Tools" with ChatGPT, Claude, and Grammarly. She also makes a note on her phone listing which tools she has and what each is good for:

  • ChatGPT (Google login) - general chatbot, drafting
  • Claude (Google login) - backup chatbot when ChatGPT is limited
  • Grammarly (Google login) - automatic grammar checking

Staying on free tiers: After two months, Maya evaluates her usage. She uses ChatGPT and Claude a few times per week and rarely hits limits now that she has both. She occasionally uses Grammarly for important emails.

She decides free versions are working well and doesn't upgrade. She saves $40/month by rotating between free chatbots instead of paying for ChatGPT Plus.

Privacy awareness: Maya learns to avoid sharing personal information in AI conversations. When working on a scholarship essay, she doesn't paste her social security number or financial details into ChatGPT. She only shares the content of the essay itself.

In this example, Maya started simple, experimented without pressure, added tools as she discovered needs, and made conscious decisions about free vs paid options.

Key principles for getting started

Start with one tool: Don't try to sign up for everything at once. Pick one chatbot (like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or Microsoft Copilot), use it for a week or two, then expand if needed.

Use free versions first: Every major AI tool offers generous free access. There's no need to pay until you're sure the tool fits your needs and you're hitting limitations.

Experiment without pressure: Try different tasks and see what works. Ask questions, draft emails, brainstorm ideas, or get explanations of concepts. There's no "right" way to use these tools.

Add tools as you discover needs: If you realize you need better grammar checking, try Grammarly. If you need to transcribe meetings, try Otter.ai. Build your toolkit based on actual needs, not hypothetical ones.

Stay organized: Keep a simple list of which tools you use and what they're for. This prevents confusion as you add more tools.

Respect your privacy: Don't share sensitive information like passwords, financial details, or confidential business information in AI conversations.

Common mistakes to avoid

Analysis paralysis: Spending weeks researching the "perfect" AI tool instead of just trying one. Pick any major chatbot (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or Copilot) and start. They're all good.

Upgrading too soon: Paying for premium features before you know if the free version is insufficient. Use free tiers for at least a few weeks before considering upgrades.

Creating too many accounts: Signing up for every AI tool you hear about. Stick to tools you'll actually use regularly.

Ignoring privacy: Sharing sensitive personal information without understanding how the tool handles your data.

Not organizing: Having five different AI tools but forgetting which one you use for what, or not being able to find your login information.

Getting help when you need it

Use the tools themselves: Ask ChatGPT or Claude how to use them. "What kinds of tasks are you best at?" or "How should I phrase prompts to get better responses?"

Check official documentation: Most tools have help centers with guides and FAQs on their websites.

Search online: There are countless tutorials, YouTube videos, and articles about using AI tools. Search for "[tool name] tutorial" or "[tool name] how to use."

Start with easy tasks: Build confidence with simple questions before tackling complex projects.

What success looks like

After following this section, you should:

  • Have accounts with 1-3 AI tools that you actually use
  • Understand what you can do for free vs what requires payment
  • Know when to upgrade (or feel confident staying on free tiers)
  • Have a simple system for staying organized
  • Be aware of basic privacy considerations
  • Feel comfortable experimenting with AI tools for real tasks

Ready to begin?

Start by choosing your first tool. We recommend reading Which AI tool should I try first? to get a specific recommendation. From there, the guides in this section will walk you through creating accounts, understanding free vs paid options, and building an AI toolkit that works for you.

If you're curious about specific types of AI tools beyond chatbots, you might also be interested in specialized tools for writing, image generation, transcription, coding, or research. But start simple with one chatbot first.