Getting Started with Using Generative AI

To get started using Generative AI, you will have to access a Generative AI platform. These are available on the internet, and many are free to use. For the following demonstration, we will look at ChatGPT, which is probably the most common Generative AI platform. Other platforms will work very similarly.

Basic Walk-through of Using ChatGPT

  1. Accessing ChatGPT:
    • Open your preferred web browser.
    • Type chat.openai.com in the address bar.
    • Press Enter to navigate to the ChatGPT website.
  2. Signing In or Creating an Account:
    • Once on the ChatGPT page, you'll see options to either Log in or Sign up to create a new account.
    • If you're new, select Sign up and follow the prompts to set up your account. You'll likely need to provide an email address and create a password.
    • If you already have an account, simply choose Log In and enter your credentials.

  1. Starting a New Conversation:
    • After signing in, you'll be directed to the main ChatGPT interface.
    • Look for a text box typically located at the bottom of the page with a placeholder text that says "Message ChatGPT..." 

A screenshot of ChatGPT interface

  • This is where you'll type your questions or prompts.
  1. Entering Your Query:
    • Click on the text box and start typing your question or prompt. This could be anything from asking for information, requesting help with a topic, or even asking for a joke.
    • Feel free to make your query as simple or complex as you like.
  2. Sending Your Query:
    • Once you've typed your question or prompt, look for the Send button near the text box.

Message box in ChatGPT highlighting Send button

  • Click Send to submit your query to ChatGPT.
  1. Receiving and Reading ChatGPT's Response:
    • After a short wait, you'll see ChatGPT's response appear on the screen as a conversation bubble.

ChatGPT text responses

  • ChatGPT might ask follow-up questions to clarify your query. Feel free to continue the conversation by responding in the text box.
  1. Ending or Continuing the Conversation:
    • You can end the conversation at any point by simply leaving the website or closing the browser tab.
    • If you wish to ask another question or start a new topic, just type in the text box again and repeat the process.

Example

Let's say you're working on a project about healthy eating habits. Instead of prompting with "Tell me about healthy eating," you could use:

  • Specific Prompt: "Provide five tips for maintaining healthy eating habits for college students on a budget, including suggestions for simple, nutritious meals."

This prompt guides the AI to focus on practical advice suitable for college students, emphasizing affordability and simplicity.