AI Basics for Beginners Who Feel Behind
(But Are Willing to Learn)
No jargon. No pressure. Just the basics explained in plain everyday language.

👉 Prefer listening? An audio version is included.
Welcome. You're Not Behind.
If you've been hearing about AI everywhere and quietly thinking, "I should probably know this by now"… you're not alone. Thousands of curious, capable adults feel exactly the same way. The difference between feeling overwhelmed and feeling empowered often comes down to having the right starting point.
This guide was created specifically for people who are curious, open, and willing to learn, but don't want to feel stupid, rushed, or overwhelmed in the process. There's no judgment here. No expectation that you should already know this stuff. Just a clear, friendly path forward.
You don't need a tech background to understand AI. You don't need to move fast or scramble to catch up with everyone else. You don't need to pretend you know more than you do.
You just need a clear starting point and permission to learn at your own pace. That's exactly what this guide offers. You can read through it carefully, or listen to the audio version if that feels easier or more comfortable today. Either way, you're in the right place.
How to Use This Guide
You don't have to follow a single path. This guide offers flexibility, allowing you to choose the format that best suits your learning style and energy levels. Pick what feels easiest today.
Read the Guide (PDF)
Download a Copy
Ideal for those who prefer to move at their own pace, highlight sections, or revisit specific prompts. Skim or deep-read—both are valid.
Listen to the Audio
If reading feels draining, the podcast-style audio offers a calm, conversational experience. Listen while walking, resting, or engaging in light activities.
Watch the Video Walkthrough
For visual and auditory learners, the video breaks down the guide step-by-step. Pause, rewind, or stop anytime—learn on your terms.
There's no pressure to use all formats or finish in one go. Choose what supports you today; you can always switch later.
A Note About What Comes Next
This guide is designed to be complete on its own. If it brings you clarity or confidence with AI, it has served its purpose.
For those who later seek:
  • Ready-to-use beginner prompts
  • Fewer decisions
  • Less starting from scratch
Support options are available when you're ready. There's absolutely no rush.
What AI Actually Is (Plain English)
Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is simply a tool that responds to instructions. That's it. Nothing magical, nothing scary, nothing that requires a computer science degree to understand.
AI doesn't think like a human. It doesn't have opinions, feelings, or secret plans. It doesn't replace you or make decisions on your behalf. Instead, it takes what you give it—your words, your questions, your requests—and responds based on patterns it has learned from massive amounts of text.

Key Takeaway
AI is a responsive tool, not a thinking being. It follows your lead.
You're always in charge.
Think of AI like a very fast, very attentive assistant that needs clear directions to be helpful. If you tell this assistant exactly what you need and how you want it, they'll do their best to help. If you're vague or unclear, they'll still try, but the result might not be what you hoped for.
The better your instructions, the better the result. And that's really the whole game: learning to communicate clearly with this tool so it can actually save you time and mental energy.
What AI Is Good At Right Now
AI is especially helpful during those moments when your brain is tired, your motivation is low, or you simply don't want to start from scratch. It's not about replacing your thinking—it's about supporting it.
Drafting Content
AI can help you write emails, messages, social media posts, or simple documents without staring at a blank page.
Simplifying Complexity
It excels at breaking down confusing topics into language you can actually understand and use.
Organizing Ideas
When your thoughts feel scattered, AI can help structure them into clear, logical formats.
Getting Unstuck
If you don't know where to begin, AI can suggest that crucial first step to get momentum going.
AI's real value isn't just speed—though it can be fast. The deeper benefit is relief. Relief from decision fatigue. Relief from the pressure to be perfect on the first try. Relief from feeling like everything has to come from your own brain, especially when you're already tired.
What AI Is NOT Good At
AI is not perfect, and understanding its limitations is just as important as understanding what it can do. Being realistic about AI's weaknesses will actually help you use it more effectively.
AI Can Make Mistakes
Sometimes AI gets things wrong. It might misunderstand context, mix up facts, or give you information that sounds confident but isn't accurate. This happens because AI doesn't actually "know" things—it predicts what words should come next based on patterns.
AI Misreads Vague Instructions
If your prompt is unclear or too general, AI will fill in the gaps with its best guess. Those guesses aren't always what you meant. The more specific you are, the better AI performs.
Everything Needs Your Review
Never use AI's output without reading it first. You're the quality control. AI generates drafts, suggestions, and starting points—but you're always the one who decides what's actually good enough to use.
This is completely normal. You are always in control. AI works with you, not instead of you. It's a tool in your hand, not a replacement for your judgment.
Your First 3 Beginner Prompts
(Copy and paste these exactly as written)
The best way to learn AI is to actually use it. These three prompts are designed to be simple, clear, and immediately useful. You don't have to understand everything about how AI works—you just need to try these and see what happens.
You can read through these prompts now and try them yourself, or listen to the audio walkthrough where I explain exactly how to use each one and what to expect from the results. Either approach works perfectly.
Each prompt follows the same basic formula: you're telling AI your experience level, what you need, and how you want the result to look or sound. That clarity is what makes these prompts work so well.
Prompt 1: Explain This Simply
Use this when:
Something feels confusing or overwhelming.
The Prompt Template
Explain [topic] to me like I'm a beginner. Use plain everyday language. No jargon. Give one simple example.
Filled-In Example
Explain artificial intelligence to me like I'm a beginner. Use plain everyday language. No jargon. Give one simple example.

Why this works: You're setting the level, tone, and format upfront, so the response stays simple and accessible. AI knows exactly what voice to use and won't assume you already understand complex terms.
This prompt is incredibly powerful because it puts you in control of how information is presented. Instead of getting a technical definition full of words you'd have to look up, you get clarity right away. You can use this prompt for any topic—technology, health, finance, anything that feels harder to understand than it should be.
Prompt 2: Help Me Get Started
The Prompt Template
I am new to [tool or topic]. My goal is [simple goal]. What is the first small step I should take today?
Filled-In Example
I am new to using ChatGPT. My goal is to save time writing emails. What is the first small step I should take today?
Use this when:
You don't know what to do first.

Why this works: AI responds best when it understands your experience level and your specific goal. By naming both, you get advice that's actually tailored to where you are right now, not where AI assumes you might be.
This prompt eliminates the paralysis that comes from not knowing where to begin. Instead of endless research or feeling overwhelmed by all the possibilities, you get one clear, manageable action. And once you take that step, you can come back and ask for the next one. Progress builds naturally this way.
Prompt 3: Draft This For Me
Use this when:
Your brain feels tired.
The Prompt Template
Help me draft [what you need]. The tone should be [tone]. Keep it short and clear.
Filled-In Example
Help me draft a short email to a client. The tone should be calm and professional. Keep it short and clear.

Why this works: You're not guessing. You're directing. By specifying what you need, the tone you want, and how long it should be, you guide AI toward exactly what will actually be useful to you.
This is the prompt you'll probably use most often once you get comfortable. It handles all those small writing tasks that drain your energy but still need to get done—emails, messages, quick replies, short updates. AI gives you a solid first draft, and you tweak it to make it yours. Five minutes instead of thirty.
The Beginner Mistake (Important)
Most beginners make the same mistake when they start using AI: they don't save their prompts. They type something, get a result, use it, and then move on. The next time they need something similar, they start from scratch all over again.
This approach makes AI feel harder than it actually is. You end up reinventing the wheel every single time, which wastes energy and makes the whole experience feel inefficient.
Here's the truth: prompts are not throwaway text. They're reusable tools. Think of them like recipes. Once you find a recipe that works, you save it and use it again whenever you need that dish. You don't rewrite the recipe from memory every time you cook.
Simple Solution
Create a document or note where you save prompts that worked well. Label them clearly so you remember what each one does.
Once you save what works, AI becomes dramatically easier and faster. You'll have a growing library of tools you can reach for whenever you need them.
Gentle Next Step
If this guide helped you feel more confident about AI, there's a natural next step available. I've created a small prompt toolkit designed specifically for beginners who want to save time and stop starting over every time they use AI.
The toolkit includes ready-to-use prompts for common tasks—writing emails, organizing ideas, getting unstuck, simplifying complex information, and more. Each prompt is clearly labeled and explained so you know exactly when and how to use it.
There's no pressure to move forward right now. This guide stands on its own. But if you're thinking, "Okay, I'm ready to actually use this," the toolkit is the logical next step. It takes everything you just learned and gives you practical tools you can use immediately.
I’m currently building this toolkit, and you’ll have the option to join the priority list after you sign up
People on the list will get first access and an early-supporter price.
Created by Precious Davis
Founder, AI Alchemy Digital
CPDP-Certified Prompt Design Professional
This guide was created to help curious adults feel confident learning AI without the jargon, pressure, or overwhelm. If it helped you, please share it with someone else who might need it.