✅ Using AI Well

Verifying AI Information

The golden rule: always verify AI's output for anything important. AI can sound authoritative while being completely wrong. Cross-reference medical, legal, financial, or historical claims with official sources.

• NHS.uk for health information. Gov.uk for legal and benefits information.
• Wikipedia for general knowledge verification (check the references at the bottom).
• If in doubt, ask a professional — AI helps you prepare for that conversation.

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AI as a Second Opinion

AI is excellent as a 'second opinion' before important conversations: preparing questions for your GP, checking whether a contractor's quote is reasonable, or understanding a contract before you sign it.

• Before a GP appointment: 'I have these symptoms, what questions should I ask my doctor?'
• Before a tradesperson visit: 'Is £800 a typical quote for a boiler service in the UK?'
• Before signing: paste the contract and ask 'What does this commit me to and are there any unusual clauses?'

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AI for Learning New Things

If you've always wanted to understand history, science, art, or any other subject, AI is the most patient teacher imaginable. Ask it to explain at whatever pace suits you. There are no silly questions.

• 'Explain the causes of World War One as if I know nothing about it'
• 'I understand that last part now. Can you continue to the next part?'
• 'Give me a 5-question quiz to check I understood that chapter'

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Avoiding Over-Reliance

AI is a useful tool, not an authority. Relying on it entirely for important decisions would be unwise — just as you wouldn't rely entirely on a very enthusiastic but sometimes mistaken friend.

• Good use: AI drafts the letter, you read it carefully before sending.
• Unwise use: following AI medical advice without consulting a doctor.
• Healthy use: AI prepares you for conversations with professionals, not replaces them.

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Developing Your Critical Eye

The most important AI skill is critical reading of its output. Does this sound right? Is this consistent with what I already know? Would this letter embarrass me if I sent it? Your experience and judgement are irreplaceable.

• Your decades of life experience are an advantage — you can spot when something rings false.
• Read AI output aloud to catch awkward phrasing before sending.
• The final judgment is always yours — AI assists, you decide.

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Teaching Others

One of the most valuable things you can do after becoming comfortable with AI is to share what you've learned. Helping a friend try their first AI conversation multiplies the benefit. Your patience and clarity are gifts.

• Walk someone through their first prompt the same way someone patient helped you.
• Share your prompt notebook — specific examples are far more useful than general advice.
• A gentle 'try it for writing that difficult email' is often the best gateway.

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AI Etiquette

While AI has no feelings, developing clear communication habits with AI makes you a better communicator generally. Being specific, polite, and clear in your AI prompts translates to being specific, polite, and clear in your emails and letters too.

• Saying 'please' and 'thank you' to AI is harmless and maintains good habits.
• Clarity to AI: 'I need this in under 100 words, formal tone, for a 70-year-old reader'.
• Feedback to AI: 'That's too formal. Make it warmer.' Improves the result immediately.

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Making AI a Daily Habit

The people who get the most from AI use it habitually: one question in the morning, one draft in the afternoon, one explanation in the evening. Small regular use builds confidence faster than occasional intensive sessions.

• Daily AI habit: ask it one thing you've wondered about while having your morning coffee.
• Weekly habit: use AI for one piece of writing you'd have found difficult or tedious.
• Monthly: explore one new capability — image creation, translation, document summarisation.