Which AI tool should I try first?
Start with a chatbot
If you're brand new to AI, start with a chatbot like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or Microsoft Copilot. These are the most versatile AI tools and give you a sense of what AI can do across many different tasks.
Chatbots are free to start, easy to use (just type and get responses), and helpful for a wide range of activities like writing, learning, brainstorming, and problem-solving. Once you understand how chatbots work, you'll have a better sense of whether you need specialized tools for specific tasks.
We recommend ChatGPT to start
ChatGPT is the most popular chatbot with the largest user community. This means you'll find more tutorials, examples, and help online if you get stuck. It's also the most mature tool with well-tested features.
Why ChatGPT first:
- Easy to use with a simple interface
- Lots of online guides and examples
- Large community for help and inspiration
- Free version is quite capable
- Works well for most common tasks
Visit ChatGPT and create a free account. Start by asking simple questions or giving it basic tasks to see how it responds.
AI prompt to try: "Explain how photosynthesis works in simple terms"
AI prompt to try: "Help me brainstorm 5 gift ideas for a friend who loves hiking"
Alternative starting points
If ChatGPT doesn't appeal to you or you have specific needs, here are other good first choices:
Claude: Best if you prefer more thoughtful, careful responses or plan to work with long documents. Visit Claude.
Gemini: Best if you already use lots of Google services (Gmail, Docs, etc.) and want AI integrated with those tools. Visit Gemini.
Microsoft Copilot: Best if you use Windows or Microsoft Office and want AI built into your existing workflow. Visit Copilot.
All four chatbots are free to start, so you can try more than one to see which interface and style you prefer.
After you try a chatbot
Once you've spent a week or two using a chatbot, you'll have a better sense of where AI fits into your life. At that point, consider whether you need specialized tools:
If you write a lot: Try Grammarly to polish your writing automatically.
If you need images: Explore image generation tools like DALL-E (included with ChatGPT Plus) or free options like Bing Image Creator.
If you have lots of meetings: Try transcription tools like Otter.ai to automatically capture notes.
If you code: Explore coding assistants like GitHub Copilot.
If you do research: Try Perplexity AI for quick, cited answers.
For detailed guidance on these specialized tools, see the Specialized AI Tools section.
Don't overthink it
The best way to learn about AI is to start using it for real tasks. Pick one chatbot, create an account, and start experimenting. You can always try other tools later.
Avoid the trap of spending hours researching which tool is "best" before trying any of them. They're all free to start, so just pick one and begin.
What to try first
Here are some simple tasks to try with your first chatbot:
Ask it to explain something: Pick a topic you're curious about and ask the chatbot to explain it in simple terms.
Get help with writing: Ask the chatbot to help you draft an email, edit a paragraph, or brainstorm ideas for a project.
Solve a practical problem: Describe a decision you're facing or a problem you're trying to solve, and ask for suggestions.
Learn something new: Ask the chatbot to teach you about a topic, give you a study guide, or quiz you on what you've learned.
Create something: Ask the chatbot to help you plan an event, outline a presentation, or organize a project.
The goal is to get comfortable with the back-and-forth conversation style and see what kinds of tasks AI can help with.
Related resources
Ready to create your first account? See How to create accounts and get started. Want to understand what you can do for free? Check out What can you do with free AI tools?. For detailed chatbot comparisons, visit Which chatbot should I use?.