How to use an AI helper for the first time
Never used AI before? That's fine. You don't need to be good with computers. An AI helper is a program you chat with by typing, and it writes back. It can draft, explain and plan things for you. Here's how to get good answers, and how to stay safe.
1. Talk to it like a helpful person
You don't need special words or commands. Type what you need in your own words, in the language you're comfortable with, as if you were asking a patient friend.
2. Say what you want, and who it's for
The more it knows about what you're after, the better the answer. Say who will read it, how long it should be and what tone you want.
INSTEAD OF“Write a letter.”
TRY“Write a short, polite letter to my landlord. The boiler has been broken for 5 days and I want a repair date.”
3. Ask for the answer in a shape you can use
Ask for a checklist, a ready-to-send message, a shopping list or three short options. You can say "in plain words" or "step by step".
INSTEAD OF“Tell me about budgeting.”
TRY“Help me make a simple monthly budget as a short list. I earn about £1,600 and rent is £700.”
4. Keep the conversation going
It's a chat, not a search box. If the answer isn't right, say so: "shorter please", "friendlier", "explain the second step", "I meant for a child". It remembers what you said earlier in the same chat.
5. Check anything important
AI can sound sure and still be wrong. For money, law, health or anything you'll act on, check with the official source or a real person before you rely on it.
Never share
- • Passwords, PINs or one-time codes: nobody genuine will ever need these.
- • Bank, card or account numbers, or whole bills and statements. Describe what you need help with instead.
- • Anything you'd be upset to see in the wrong hands. With Alice your chats stay on your device, but it's a good habit with any AI.
Good for
- Writing and tidying up messages, emails, letters and CVs
- Explaining things simply, step by step
- Planning meals, budgets, trips and to-do lists
- Spotting the warning signs in a message that might be a scam
- Practising for a job interview
- Ideas when you're stuck
Not for
- Medical advice or a diagnosis. Talk to a doctor, pharmacist or your local health service, and in an emergency call your local emergency number.
- Legal or financial decisions on its own: use it to understand the options, then check with an official or free advice service.
- Anything where being wrong would really hurt you, without checking first.
Try it now, free
You can ask Alice one question on the home page without signing up. A free account gives you 20 messages a day, no card needed, and your chats stay on your own device. Prefer Pidgin? Alice Pidgin answers in Naija Pidgin.
Alice is an AI, not a person. Its answers can be wrong, so check anything important.