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Your first 5 minutes with AI
Never used AI before? Perfect. In five minutes you will have a free account, your first useful answer, and the one trick that makes every answer better. No tech skills needed.
Minute 1
Pick one assistant. Just one.
There is no wrong choice. All three are good for everyday tasks and have a free plan. Pick one and stick with it for a week.
Claude used in our tips
Calm, clear writing and good with long documents. All our tips use Claude, so the screens match.
Go to claude.ai
ChatGPT
The best known one. Good all-rounder, and it can also make images.
Go to chatgpt.com
Gemini
Made by Google. Handy if you already live in Gmail and Google Docs.
Go to gemini.google.com
Not sure? Read which AI to use for what.
Minute 2
Make a free account
- Open the website of the assistant you picked.
- Click Sign up, or Continue with Google if you have a Gmail address. That is the fastest way.
- Using your email instead? You get a code or a link by email. Open it to confirm.
- Some assistants ask for your phone number, to check you are a real person. That is normal.
- When you see an empty message box, you are in.
Only sign up on the official website. Ignore ads and apps that use the same name.
Minute 3
Ask your first question
Do not start with a test like "what is 2 plus 2". Let the AI find out how it can help you. Copy this, paste it in the message box, and press Enter.
I'm completely new to AI. Help me find out what you can do for me. Ask me 3 short questions about my daily life and my work, one question at a time. Then suggest 3 concrete ways you could save me time this week. For each one, show me exactly what I would type. Use simple words, no technical terms.
Answer its questions like you would answer a colleague. Short answers are fine.
Minute 4
The one trick: say who, what and how
Most bad answers come from vague questions. Give three things and the answer gets much better.
Who you are, or who it is for.
What you need, with the facts that matter.
How it should look: length, tone, format.
Minute 5
Keep talking, do not start over
The first answer is a draft. Reply in the same chat to shape it, like you would with a colleague. For example:
Start a New chat when you switch to a different topic. That keeps the answers focused.
What not to share
Passwords and codes. Never type a password, PIN or verification code in a chat.
ID and bank numbers. Leave out your national number, card numbers and bank details, also in photos.
Work data without permission. Check your employer's rules before you paste anything from work.
Check what matters. For health, money and legal questions, use the answer to understand, then check with a professional.
That's it. You're using AI.
Now try it on a real task. Each tip takes about two minutes and shows every click.
Questions
Is it really free?
All three assistants on this page have a free plan that is enough to start and to follow our tips. Paid plans give you more use per day and extra features. The limits change often, so check the assistant's own site.
Do I need to install anything?
No. It works in your web browser. There are also free apps for your phone if you prefer that.
Does it understand Dutch or French?
Yes. You can write in your own language and it answers in the same language. You can also ask it to translate.
Can the AI be wrong?
Yes. It can sound very sure and still be wrong, especially about recent news, numbers and laws. For anything important, check it with a second source.
Will it remember what I tell it?
Within one chat, yes. Some assistants can also remember things across chats. You can check and change this in the settings of your account.
Am I going to break something?
No. The worst that can happen is a bad answer. Click "New chat" and try again with different words.