ChatGPT for seniors and beginners, in 30 minutes

ChatGPT is a program you can talk to in ordinary language. You type (or say) a question or a request, and it writes an answer back in a few seconds, like texting with a very well-read assistant.

What it's good at

• Writing: letters, emails, cards, messages, in any tone and length.
• Explaining: anything from "what is a mortgage offset?" to "how do bees survive winter?", as simply as you like.
• Organizing: turning a jumble of notes into a list, a plan, a timetable or a table.
• Brainstorming: gift ideas, dinner ideas, names, things to do on a rainy day.

What it gets wrong

ChatGPT predicts words based on huge amounts of text it learned from. It doesn't "know" things the way a person does, and it can state something false with total confidence. It can also be out of date. So it's a brilliant helper and a poor oracle: use it to draft, explain and organize, and check anything important such as dates, money, health or rules.

Is it the only one?

No. ChatGPT (made by OpenAI) is the best known, but Claude (Anthropic), Gemini (Google) and Microsoft Copilot work in a very similar way. Everything in this course works with all of them. We use ChatGPT for the examples because it's the one most people try first.

Step 1: Go to the real website or app

• On a computer: type chatgpt.com into your web browser's address bar. Type it yourself rather than clicking an ad.
• On a phone or tablet: open the App Store (iPhone, iPad) or Google Play (Android) and search for ChatGPT. Check that the developer is OpenAI before you install.

Step 2: Decide whether to sign in

You can try ChatGPT on the website without an account. Signing up (free) lets it keep your conversation history so you can come back to them, and it unlocks more features. You can sign up with an email address, or with an existing Google, Microsoft or Apple account.

Step 3: Know what's free

The free plan is plenty for everything in this course. It has daily usage limits; if you hit one, you can simply come back later. Paid plans add more use and newer features. When we checked in October 2026, OpenAI's standard paid plan in the US cost $20 a month, with cheaper and more expensive options too. Prices vary by country and change, so check the pricing on chatgpt.com before paying for anything.

Step 4: Find your way around

Illustration only. The real screen looks similar but changes with updates.

• The message box at the bottom is where you type. Press Enter, or tap the arrow, to send.
• New chat (often a pencil icon) starts a fresh conversation. Use a new chat for each new topic.
• The microphone lets you speak instead of typing, on most phones and computers.
• The menu or sidebar shows your past conversations if you're signed in.

The best way to learn is to try. Here are three starter prompts. Copy one into the message box, change the parts in [brackets] to fit you, and send it.

Starter 1: Ask it to explain something

Starter 2: Ask it to write something for you

Starter 3: Ask it to plan something

Reading the answer

• Read it like a first draft. Is it useful? Is anything wrong or missing?
• Notice the small print. ChatGPT shows a reminder that it can make mistakes. Take it seriously for anything important.
• You can't break it. If the answer is odd, just reply and say so. That's the next lesson.

The two-part recipe: situation + purpose

Most disappointing answers come from short, vague questions. Add just two things: your situation (one or two sentences of background) and a clear purpose (what you want done).

The second takes 20 seconds longer to type and gives you something you can actually cook tonight.

Five follow-ups that fix almost anything

The first answer isn't the end. Reply to it, in plain words:

1. "Shorter, please." When it writes too much.
2. "Simpler words." When it uses jargon.
3. "Give me 3 different versions." When you want choices.
4. "Ask me any questions you need first." When the answer feels generic.
5. "One step at a time. Wait until I say done." When you're following instructions, for example on your phone.

Our paid guide, The Everyday AI Prompt Playbook, teaches the full five-part SPARK method and twelve follow-up moves, with 150 ready-made prompts for everyday life.

Never type or paste these

• Passwords, PINs or the one-time codes sent to your phone
• Card numbers, bank account numbers or security answers
• Social Security, National Insurance, passport or other ID numbers
• Other people's private details without their permission

Want help with a confusing letter? Great idea. Just remove names, addresses and account numbers first. Replace them with "XXXX". The explanation will be just as good.

Turn on the privacy setting

If you've signed in, you can stop your conversations being used to train OpenAI's models: go to Settings → Data controls and switch off "Improve the model for everyone" (as of October 2026). Other assistants have similar settings under Privacy or Activity.

Check before you trust

Ask yourself three questions before relying on an answer:

1. Does it match what I already know?
2. What happens if it's wrong? (The higher the stakes, the more you check.)
3. Can I confirm it with a trusted source, such as an official website, the original document, a pharmacist or my bank?

Confidence comes from use. Try one of these each day this week. Copy the prompt, change the [brackets], and send.

1. Understand a letter.
   Explain this letter in plain English: what it's about, what they want from me, and by when. [Paste the letter with personal details removed.]
2. Plan tonight's dinner.
   I have [ingredients]. Suggest 3 dinners I can make in under 30 minutes.
3. Write a tricky message.
   Help me write a polite message to [person] about [issue]. Keep it friendly and short.
4. Get tech help.
   Give me step-by-step instructions to [make the text bigger] on my [phone model]. One step at a time, and wait for me to say done.
5. Learn something.
   Teach me about [topic] in 5 minutes, then ask me 3 questions to check I understood.
6. Check a suspicious message.
   Does this message look like a scam? List the warning signs. [Paste it, without your details.]
7. Plan a day out.
   Suggest a relaxed day out near [town] for [who], with lunch and not too much walking.
8. Write a card.
   Write 3 birthday card messages for my [relationship], who loves [things]. One funny, one warm, one short.
9. Make a decision.
   I'm deciding whether to [decision]. Ask me 3 questions, then make me a pros and cons table.
10. Save a memory.
    Interview me about [my first job / my childhood home]. Ask one question at a time. Don't invent anything.

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