Your first ChatGPT chat
A ten-minute walkthrough. No tech words, nothing to break.
ChatGPT is a free chatbot. You type a message in ordinary words and it writes back. That is the whole idea. Follow the steps below and by the end you will have had a real, useful conversation.
Step by step
- Open the website. Type chatgpt.com into your browser, or open the official ChatGPT app from your phone's app store. Make sure the address is spelt exactly like that. Lookalike sites exist.
- Start without paying. You can use the free version. You may be asked to log in or create an account with your email address. You never need to pay to follow this guide.
- Find the message box. It is the wide box at the bottom of the screen, often with the words "Message ChatGPT" or "Ask anything".
- Type your first message. Copy one of the prompts below, or write your own in plain words.
- Send it. Press Enter on a computer, or tap the arrow on a phone. Wait a few seconds while the reply appears.
- Reply, like in a normal chat. If the answer is too long, type "Shorter, please." If it is not what you meant, say so: "I meant for two people, not four."
- Check what matters. Chatbots can be wrong. Double-check dates, prices, health facts and opening times elsewhere.
Three rules to keep you safe
- Never type passwords, card numbers or bank details.
- Do not share things you would not say to a stranger, such as your full address or medical records.
- Treat the answer as a helpful first draft, not as the final word.
Ten prompts to copy
Tap Copy, then paste into ChatGPT. Change the details to match your life.
1. Say hello and set the scene
Hello! I have never used a chatbot before. Please talk to me in short, simple sentences and no jargon. What can you help me with?
2. A thank-you note
Write a short, warm thank-you note to my neighbour Anna, who watered my plants while I was away. Keep it under 50 words.
3. Dinner from what you have
I have chicken thighs, rice, an onion and half a bag of frozen peas. Suggest one simple dinner for two and give me the steps.
4. Explain a confusing word
Explain what "inflation" means as if I am twelve. Use one everyday example.
5. Make a message politer
Make this message sound polite but firm: "My parcel still has not arrived and nobody has replied to me."
6. Plan a day
Plan a relaxed Saturday for me in a small town: a morning walk, lunch, and one indoor activity in case it rains.
7. A shopping list
Turn this into a tidy shopping list sorted by supermarket aisle: milk, bananas, pasta, tomato sauce, bread, cheese, apples, washing-up liquid.
8. Shorten something
Shorten the following to three sentences and keep the meaning: [paste your text here]
9. Help with a decision
I am choosing between a smartphone with a bigger screen and one with a longer battery. Give me three questions to ask myself to decide.
10. Learn something small
Teach me five useful phrases in Spanish for ordering coffee, with how to say them in plain English letters.
If something goes wrong
- The answer is too long or too fancy. Ask: "Explain that in three short sentences."
- It does not understand. Give more detail: who it is for, how long, what tone.
- It says it is busy. Wait a minute and try again.
- You want to start over. Look for "New chat". Your old chat stays in the list.
Where next?
If you enjoyed this, our course AI for Absolute Beginners walks through emails, recipes, planning and safety in 12 short lessons. Lesson 1 is free to read.