💬 Having a Conversation

The Art of a Good Prompt

A 'prompt' is what you type to the AI. Good prompts are specific, give context, and say what format you want the answer in. Think of it like briefing a very capable new assistant who knows nothing about your situation.

• Weak: 'Write me a letter.' Strong: 'Write a polite letter to my bank asking them to waive an overdraft fee. I am 68, retired, and this was a one-off error.'
• Adding your context changes the answer dramatically.
• You can always refine: 'Make that more formal' or 'Cut it down to 3 sentences.'

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Asking Follow-Up Questions

AI conversations are cumulative — you don't have to start again each time. If you don't like an answer, say 'try again' or 'explain that differently'. If you want more detail, just ask.

• 'That's too long, can you make it shorter?' works perfectly well.
• 'I don't understand that — explain it as if I'm new to this' is a valid request.
• 'Give me three different versions of that opening paragraph' is fine to ask.

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Asking AI to Explain Things

One of AI's most valuable uses is explanation. Medical jargon, legal small print, financial documents — ask AI to 'explain this in plain English'. Paste the text directly in and ask your question.

• Paste a confusing letter from your council and ask: 'What is this asking me to do?'
• Paste a doctor's letter and ask: 'What does this mean in plain language?'
• AI is available 24 hours a day — ask at 2am if that's when you need it.

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Getting AI to Write for You

AI can draft any written communication: complaint letters, thank-you notes, formal requests, emails to companies, messages to neighbours. Give it the situation and the tone, and it will produce a working first draft in seconds.

• Tone instruction: 'Write this formally' or 'Make this warm and friendly'.
• 'On behalf of myself, aged 67' can help AI calibrate the register.
• Always read the draft carefully before sending — check it sounds like you.

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Using AI to Research

AI can explain almost any topic at whatever depth you want. Ask it to start simple, then go deeper. It can provide historical context, compare options, and suggest further questions to ask your doctor, solicitor, or accountant.

• 'Explain the pros and cons of downsizing my home at this stage of life'
• 'What questions should I ask my cardiologist about this medication?'
• Always note: AI research is a starting point, not a substitute for professional advice.

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What Not to Share with AI

Do not share passwords, bank account numbers, NHS numbers, or national insurance numbers with AI chatbots. These details are not needed for any legitimate AI task and could create risk if the data is stored or mishandled.

• AI assistants do not need your passwords to help you write a letter.
• Financial details: describe the situation ('I have a Barclays ISA') without sharing account numbers.
• Check each tool's privacy policy — most major tools (Claude, ChatGPT) don't train on your conversations by default.

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When AI Gets It Wrong

AI will sometimes give you wrong information, miss the point, or produce something that isn't quite right. This is normal. Treat it as a first draft, not a final answer. For anything important, verify from an authoritative source.

• If AI seems certain about something surprising, double-check it.
• Ask: 'How confident are you in that? Is there a chance you're wrong?'
• For medical, legal, or financial matters: AI is a useful starting point, not a final authority.

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Keeping a Record of Useful Prompts

When you find a prompt that works well — the right wording to get a useful answer — note it down. A simple notebook of 'prompts that work' is a personal AI cheat sheet that saves time in future.

• Example: 'Explain [topic] in simple terms for a non-specialist aged over 60.'
• Example: 'Write a polite but firm letter to [company] about [issue].'
• Sharing your best prompts with family is a great way to help them get started too.