Keep this by your computer or chair. You can't break anything — have fun.
① Start in one minute (it's free)
Open your web browser and go to any one of these, or use an app you already have. Circle the one you use, so you remember next time.
- ChatGPT — chatgpt.com
- Gemini — gemini.google.com
- Copilot — copilot.microsoft.com
- Claude — claude.ai
Type your question in the box that says "Ask anything," and press send. Prefer talking? Tap the microphone 🎤.
② The five magic follow-ups
Don't love the answer? Just say:
- "No, that's not what I meant. I wanted…"
- "Make that shorter."
- "Explain it more simply."
- "Give me three options."
- "Use a friendlier tone."
That first one matters most. If it misunderstands you, you did not do it wrong — just say so and put it another way. Going back and forth is how this is supposed to work.
③ Ask for it your way
- "Give me something I can print out."
- "Make it a checklist."
- "Put it in a simple table."
- "Number the steps."
④ Ten things to try
- An easy dinner from what's in my fridge
- Help writing a friendly email or note
- Explain a confusing word or bill
- Step-by-step help with my phone
- Plan a trip or a weekly menu
- Teach me a craft, one step at a time
- Facts about the year I was born
- Recommend a book I'd like
- A clean, funny joke
- "Is this text a scam?"
⑤ Spot a scam
Got a suspicious text, email, or call? Paste it in and ask: "Is this a scam? Should I be worried?" Warning signs: urgency, the unexpected, requests for money/gift cards/passwords, odd web addresses. More on scams — and what is going around right now — at simplehelpers.com/safe/.
⑥ Stay safe
- Never share passwords, your Social Security number, or full bank/card numbers.
- Double-check anything important (health, legal, money) — it can be confidently wrong.
- It's not a person and it's not spying on you. A real AI will never ask you for money or passwords.
Getting back in later
- Everything from today: simplehelpers.com
- Scams & spoofing: simplehelpers.com/safe/
How I signed in — tick one: ☐ Continue with Google ☐ Continue with Apple ☐ Email & password
My email / username:
My password:
Someone I can ask:
Print it clearly — a capital I and a lowercase l look identical six months from now, and so do 0 and O. Then fold this sheet and keep it wherever you keep your important papers.