How to Talk to AI (Even If You Don’t Know What to Ask)

Here’s the thing…

Talking to AI isn’t some complicated tech skill. It’s not coding. It’s not programming. It’s not even particularly new anymore. You already do it—when you Google something, ask Siri for the weather, or use autocorrect, you’re interacting with AI.

The difference now is that tools like ChatGPT or other AI assistants can respond like an actual conversation. And I get it—that part feels weird at first. But once you realize it’s just about asking clear, human questions, everything changes.

You don’t need to be techy. You don’t need to be exact. You just have to be curious.

Don’t Overthink It—Just Start Talking

When people ask me how to use AI, my answer is always the same:

Just talk to it.

Talking to AI is just about familiarity. It takes practice to become comfortable

You can type, speak, or even use pictures depending on the platform. Voice is my go-to, honestly. I use it while making coffee or walking around the house. It’s easier than typing—and it feels more natural.

Think of AI like a helpful assistant or friend who’s really good at finding information, organizing stuff, and making suggestions. That’s it. You’re not giving commands to a robot overlord—you’re asking a question to something that’s designed to help.

Here’s a Simple Way to Structure Your Prompts

Now, if you want better answers, it helps to know how to “ask better.” But this doesn’t mean fancy formatting or tech speak. It’s just about being a little more intentional. Try this structure:

• Do this: Start with what you want.“Help me…” or “Can you explain…” or “Give me ideas for…”

  
  
  
  

• Think about this: Add a bit of context.Budget, timeframe, your style, where you are in the process, etc.

• Try this: Give it a role.“Act like a personal trainer…” or “Be my travel agent…”

• Then: Ask follow-up questions.AI keeps track of the conversation, so don’t start over every time.

This isn’t a test. You’re not getting graded. You’re just having a back-and-forth with something that can respond in useful ways.

Try These Starter Prompts

These are the kind of questions I’ve seen people use to get real value right away:

• “What are some dinner ideas with chicken, rice, and zucchini?”

• “Can you help me write a nice message to my neighbour about their barking dog?”

• “Act like a yoga instructor—what’s a beginner routine I can do at home in 20 minutes?”

• “Explain mortgage renewal in Canada like I’m 12 years old.”

• “Give me three tips for calming travel anxiety before a flight.”

It’s that easy. You don’t need a perfect prompt—you just need to start.

Tips for Getting Better Answers (Without Making It Hard)

• Be specific-ish. You don’t have to give your life story, but more info helps.Instead of “help me with finances,” try “create a budget for a single person making $3,500 a month in Toronto.”

• Correct it if it’s off. Literally just say:“No, that’s not what I meant. Try again but keep it simpler.”

• Use natural language. Talk like yourself. It understands casual tone, slang, and conversational phrasing just fine.

• Don’t treat it like a search bar. You don’t need “keywords.” You need questions and ideas. That’s it.

  
  

Common Fears (And Why You Can Let Them Go)

Let me be honest: I had some of these fears too when I first got back into tech after a long break.

• “I’m not tech-savvy.”You don’t need to be. If you can use a smartphone, you can do this.

• “What if I say something wrong?”You won’t. And even if you do? You just rephrase and keep going.

• “I don’t want to break it.”You literally can’t. Worst case? You refresh the chat and try again.

• “I don’t want to sound dumb.”You won’t. This thing isn’t judging you. It’s just trying to be helpful.

  
  

The Tool Gets Better Because You Do

The longer you use AI, the more confident you get—not because it’s learning you, but because you’re learning how to use it.

It’s like learning how to use a coffee machine, or a slow cooker, or even Google back when it first showed up. At first, you fumble around a bit. Then it clicks.

And once it does, AI becomes the best little assistant you didn’t know you had—helping you write, plan, brainstorm, troubleshoot, or just save time.

Final Thought: Just Ask One Question

If you’re curious, overwhelmed, or just wondering what all the fuss is about, try this today:

“Can you help me with…?”

That’s it. Start there.

You’ll be surprised what comes back.

If this helped make AI feel a little less intimidating, I’ve got more coming your way.Or if you’d rather hear me talk it through, hit play on the YouTube version—I’ll show you exactly how I do it, one question at a time.

Would you like me to generate a matching graphic set and CTA image for this one like we did for the travel post? Or would you prefer to move on to the next blog idea while this one's fresh?