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Understand AI and how to use it

This is a free, nine-part guide to using AI well, written for people who are not technical. You do not need to code. You only need to be curious and willing to try things. Each part starts with a short summary, then goes deeper. Read Part 0 first. The rest can be read in any order.

  1. Part 0

    The AI Landscape: Models vs. Harnesses

    Every AI product has two parts: a model, which does the thinking, and a harness, which is everything built around it so you can use it.

    8 min read

  2. Part 1

    Using AI for Research and Data

    AI is a fast research assistant and a patient data helper, but it is not a source. Use it to find, sort, and explain information, then check what matters yourself.

    6 min read

  3. Part 2

    Using AI for Everyday Work

    AI is best at the first draft and the tenth edit. You stay responsible for what gets sent, so treat every draft as a starting point.

    6 min read

  4. Part 3

    Where AI Goes Wrong

    AI keeps improving, but it can still be wrong in a dangerous way: it sounds just as sure when it is wrong as when it is right. Knowing its five common failures lets you catch most mistakes.

    5 min read

  5. Part 4

    Building Your Own Custom Assistant

    A custom assistant is a saved AI setup that already knows your job, your files, and your rules, so you stop re-explaining yourself every chat. Every major AI app has one, and you can build it without any code.

    3 min read

  6. Part 5

    Step by Step: Build a Family Meal Planner

    In about 30 minutes you will build an assistant that plans a week of dinners from your family's own recipes, tastes, and budget. The same steps work for any assistant you want to build later.

    4 min read

  7. Part 6

    Prompting, Retrieval, or Fine-Tuning?

    There are three ways to make an AI work the way you want. Most people only ever need the first two. Fine-tuning sounds impressive, but it is the right tool far less often than people think.

    3 min read

  8. Part 7

    Building an AI That Sounds Like You

    You can build an AI that writes in your voice and knows your background, using the same tools from Parts 4 to 6. It cannot think for you, and it should never pretend to be you without people knowing.

    6 min read

  9. Part 8

    Pointing AI at Something

    Knowing how to use AI is only half the battle. A tool with nothing to work on just sits there. This part ties the series together: how to find something worth pointing AI at, something you care about, know well, and that directly benefits you.

    5 min read