Hey there,
Welcome back. And a warm hello to anyone joining us for the first time.
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🍁 To review previous issues, visit theaieh.ca/articles |
Okay, first things first. It has been a while. Over a week, if we are being honest. I was in Las Vegas for a few days, and let me just say that Vegas is not exactly a place that makes you want to sit down and write a newsletter. I got home, I was tired, the food was genuinely exceptional and I am still recovering from it, and I am only now feeling like a functioning human again. Sorry for the gap. We are back.
And speaking of learning things, this issue is actually the one I promised you two issues ago. How AI can help you learn something new. Life got in the way, as it tends to do, but here we are.
Let's get into it.
You have been meaning to learn that thing for years
You know the one. Maybe it is French. Maybe it is how to read a financial statement. Maybe it is photography, or basic home repairs, or finally understanding how your RRSP actually works. It has been sitting on the list forever, but between work and family and the fact that registering for a course requires actual effort, it just keeps getting pushed.
AI does not fix the motivation problem. But it does remove a lot of the friction. There is no registration, no waiting for the next cohort to start, no feeling like the dumbest person in the room. You can open a tab at 10:30 on a Tuesday night, type out a question, and have someone walk you through it at exactly your level, at exactly your pace.
That is genuinely useful. And more people should know it.
What AI is actually good at when it comes to learning
AI is remarkably patient. You can ask it to explain the same thing five different ways and it will not sigh, check its phone, or make you feel bad for not getting it the first time. You can say "I still do not understand, can you try again with a simpler example?" and it will just do it.
It is also good at adjusting to your level. If you tell it you are a complete beginner with no background in something, it will meet you there. If you want it to go deeper once you have the basics, it can do that too. You are in control of the pace.
And it works across an enormous range of subjects. Languages, history, cooking techniques, basic investing concepts, how to write better, how to start a small garden, how to understand your kid's report card comments. If it is something a knowledgeable person could explain to you, AI can give it a shot.
But here is the catch. And it is an important one.
AI can be confidently wrong. This is sometimes called a hallucination, which is a bit of a polite word for what is really happening. The AI generates an answer that sounds completely plausible and presents it without any indication that it might be off. It does not always know what it does not know.
When you are learning something new, this is where you need to pay attention. The problem is not just that AI makes mistakes. It is that when you are a beginner, you do not have enough background to catch them. A nurse who has worked for twenty years would immediately notice if an AI gave a wrong medication dosage. Someone Googling symptoms for the first time would not.
Some subjects carry more risk than others. Using AI to practice your French or understand how photosynthesis works is pretty low stakes. Using it to get medical advice, legal guidance, or specific financial instructions is a different story. The stakes are higher and the cost of a confident wrong answer is real.
The rule of thumb I use: the more specific and high-stakes the information, the more important it is to verify it somewhere else before you act on it. AI is a great starting point and a great teacher. It is not a replacement for a professional when the stakes are real.
Four prompts to try this week
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Prompt 1: Start from zero This is the "I know absolutely nothing, please do not assume otherwise" prompt. The key is being upfront about your level and asking AI to go slow and use plain language. The more you tell it about where you are starting from, the better it can meet you there. Fill in the blank:
Ready to use example:
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Prompt 2: Test yourself Reading about something is one thing. Having someone quiz you on it is a whole different level of learning. Once you feel like you have the basics, try flipping it around and asking AI to test you. This works surprisingly well and you can do it at whatever level you are comfortable with. Fill in the blank:
Ready to use example:
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Prompt 3: Ask it to flag what it is not sure about This one is specifically for when the stakes are higher. If you are asking about something medical, legal, financial, or anything where being wrong matters, you can actually ask AI to be upfront about its uncertainty. It will not always volunteer that information on its own, but if you ask directly, it tends to be more careful about flagging gaps and recommending you verify with a professional. Fill in the blank:
Ready to use example:
A quick note on this one. AI can give you a solid starting point and help you understand the basics, but when it comes to anything financial, legal, or medical, please treat what it tells you as background knowledge and not advice you act on directly. If you are ever unsure, a qualified professional is always worth the conversation. An accountant, a lawyer, or a financial advisor exists for exactly this reason, and no AI should replace that relationship when the stakes are real. |
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Prompt 4: Ask AI to map out a learning path This one changes how you think about using AI to learn. Instead of asking it one question at a time, ask it to build you a realistic plan. A week-by-week roadmap that takes you from knowing nothing to having a real foundation. Language learning is a perfect example because it benefits from structure and a clear sense of where you are headed. You would not walk into a classroom and expect to be conversational by Friday. AI can help you set realistic expectations and give you a path that does not feel overwhelming. Fill in the blank:
Ready to use example:
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Your challenge this week
Pick that thing you have been meaning to learn. You know the one. Open ChatGPT, Claude, or whatever AI tool you have been using, and try Prompt 1 right now. Just get started. You do not need to finish learning the whole thing today. You just need to take the first step and see how it feels to have a patient, always-available tutor in your corner.
Coming up next issue
Next issue we are tackling the job search. Whether you are actively looking, thinking about a change, or just want to be prepared, AI can help you decode job postings, sharpen your resume, write a cover letter that actually sounds like you, and walk into an interview feeling more prepared. That one is up next and it is a practical one.
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AI assisted, Human led. Whatever AI produces for you, always read it, verify it, and make it sound like you. AI is an incredible first draft machine. Your judgment, your voice, and your values are always the final layer. |
As always, I read every reply personally. What is the thing you have been meaning to learn? Hit reply and tell me. I am genuinely curious.
If you found this useful, pass it along to someone who keeps saying they do not have time to learn something new. This one is for them.
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Talk soon,
Chris
Founder, AI, Eh?