What Is AI, Really?
AI (artificial intelligence) sounds complicated, but using it is simple. Think of AI as a very knowledgeable assistant that can answer almost any question.
You type or speak a question, and AI responds with an answer. That's it. No complicated technology to understand—just ask questions like you'd ask a helpful friend.
Modern AI can help with recipes, explain things, give advice, answer trivia, help you write, and much more.
Your First AI Conversation
Ready to try? Here's how simple it is:
Step 1: Look at the text box above that says "Your first question..."
Step 2: Type a question you're genuinely curious about. For example:
• "What's a good recipe for banana bread?"
• "Who was the first person to walk on the moon?"
• "How do I get a stain out of a white shirt?"
Step 3: Press the "Ask" button or hit Enter
Step 4: Read or listen to the answer!
That's all there is to it. You just used AI.
Tips for Good Questions
AI understands natural language, so ask questions the way you normally would. A few tips:
Be specific when you can:
• Instead of "recipe" → "What's a simple recipe for chicken soup?"
• Instead of "weather" → "What's the weather like in Chicago today?"
Ask follow-up questions:
• "Can you explain that more simply?"
• "What does that word mean?"
• "Can you give me an example?"
Don't worry about perfect wording:
AI is good at understanding what you mean, even if your question isn't perfectly phrased.
What Can You Ask AI?
Almost anything! Here are some ideas:
Recipes and Cooking
"How do I make apple pie?" • "What can I substitute for buttermilk?" • "How long do I cook a turkey?"
General Knowledge
"What year did World War II end?" • "How far is the moon?" • "Who invented the telephone?"
How-To Help
"How do I remove coffee stains?" • "How do I tie a Windsor knot?" • "How do I hard boil an egg?"
Technology Questions
"How do I make text bigger on my iPhone?" • "How do I send a photo in a text message?"
Writing Help
"Help me write a thank you note" • "What's another word for happy?"
Common Beginner Concerns
"Will I break something?"
No. You can't break anything by asking questions. The worst that can happen is you get an unhelpful answer—just ask differently.
"What if I ask something dumb?"
There are no dumb questions. AI treats every question respectfully and never judges.
"Is this free?"
Ask Etta gives you 5 free questions every day with no account needed. That's enough for most people to try it out.
"Is it private?"
Tools like Ask Etta don't require personal information and don't store your conversations long-term. Your questions stay private.