AI Assistants

Understand how AI assistants write their answers: why they sound sure, what they can and can’t see, and where your words go. Brief one well, check what it gives you, and know when a question about your health, money or rights needs a person instead. This is about using assistants, not building them.

What this course covers

Covers: how assistants write answers and why they sound surewhat an assistant can see: memory, files and searchbriefing it and checking what it gives youwhere your words go and the settings that matterletting an assistant act for youasking about health, money and the law
Doesn’t cover: coding or building AI appstraining a model or the maths behind ithow the internet and home networks workspotting AI-generated images or voice-clone scamsmedical, financial or legal advice

Recommended orderLessons build on earlier ideas. Follow the numbers as you read.

Briefing the Brilliant Stranger
See why an AI assistant fills every gap with a plausible guess, and write a brief that carries your situation instead.
10 steps
How an AI Assistant Works
See how an assistant turns its training and your message into an answer, why it sounds sure when it’s wrong, and what “remembering you” really is.
10 stepsBuilds on Briefing the Brilliant Stranger
What the Assistant Can See
Know what is in front of an assistant when it answers (your words, your files, standing instructions and the chat so far) and how to put the right things there.
10 stepsBuilds on How an AI Assistant Works
Checking Its Work
Sort a draft into copied facts, worked-out numbers and additions with nothing behind them, and check each the right way before you send it.
11 stepsBuilds on How an AI Assistant Works, What the Assistant Can See
Choosing a Tool and Its Settings
Decide whether a job needs AI at all, what search, files and memory change, and where your words go once you press send.
11 stepsBuilds on What the Assistant Can See
From Chat to Agent
Understand what changes when an assistant can act for you: tools, permissions, hidden instructions, and why “done” is a claim to check.
10 stepsBuilds on Choosing a Tool and Its Settings
Asking About Health, Money and the Law
Use an assistant to understand and prepare for questions about your health, money or rights, and know when the answer has to come from a person.
11 stepsBuilds on How an AI Assistant Works, Checking Its Work, Choosing a Tool and Its Settings
Disputing a Deposit with an Assistant
Bring the course to one real problem: brief an assistant on a deposit dispute, check its draft, keep your details safe and know the route if the landlord says no.
8 stepsBuilds on Briefing the Brilliant Stranger, Checking Its Work, Choosing a Tool and Its Settings, Asking About Health, Money and the Law

No. 19

No. 198 lessons

AI Assistants

What this course covers

Covers: how assistants write answers and why they sound surewhat an assistant can see: memory, files and searchbriefing it and checking what it gives youwhere your words go and the settings that matterletting an assistant act for youasking about health, money and the law
Doesn’t cover: coding or building AI appstraining a model or the maths behind ithow the internet and home networks workspotting AI-generated images or voice-clone scamsmedical, financial or legal advice

Recommended orderLessons build on earlier ideas. Follow the numbers as you read.

Briefing the Brilliant Stranger
See why an AI assistant fills every gap with a plausible guess, and write a brief that carries your situation instead.
10 steps
How an AI Assistant Works
See how an assistant turns its training and your message into an answer, why it sounds sure when it’s wrong, and what “remembering you” really is.
10 stepsBuilds on Briefing the Brilliant Stranger
What the Assistant Can See
Know what is in front of an assistant when it answers (your words, your files, standing instructions and the chat so far) and how to put the right things there.
10 stepsBuilds on How an AI Assistant Works
Checking Its Work
Sort a draft into copied facts, worked-out numbers and additions with nothing behind them, and check each the right way before you send it.
11 stepsBuilds on How an AI Assistant Works, What the Assistant Can See
Choosing a Tool and Its Settings
Decide whether a job needs AI at all, what search, files and memory change, and where your words go once you press send.
11 stepsBuilds on What the Assistant Can See
From Chat to Agent
Understand what changes when an assistant can act for you: tools, permissions, hidden instructions, and why “done” is a claim to check.
10 stepsBuilds on Choosing a Tool and Its Settings
Asking About Health, Money and the Law
Use an assistant to understand and prepare for questions about your health, money or rights, and know when the answer has to come from a person.
11 stepsBuilds on How an AI Assistant Works, Checking Its Work, Choosing a Tool and Its Settings
Disputing a Deposit with an Assistant
Bring the course to one real problem: brief an assistant on a deposit dispute, check its draft, keep your details safe and know the route if the landlord says no.
8 stepsBuilds on Briefing the Brilliant Stranger, Checking Its Work, Choosing a Tool and Its Settings, Asking About Health, Money and the Law