How to Use ChatGPT: A Beginner's Guide

In today’s world of rapidly evolving technology, artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming more accessible to everyone, from tech enthusiasts to everyday users. One of the most exciting advancements in AI is ChatGPT, a tool that has taken the world by storm. But what exactly is ChatGPT? How can you use it in your daily life? And, more importantly, how can you use ChatGPT for free? This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how to use ChatGPT, so let’s dive in!

Table of Contents:

1. What Is ChatGPT?
2. Why Is ChatGPT Increasingly Popular?
3. How ChatGPT Has Evolved From Traditional AI
4. Use Cases Of ChatGPT For Daily Living
5. Step-By-Step Guide On How To Use ChatGPT
6. Cautions & Tips To Use ChatGPT Safely
7. How To Use ChatGPT: FAQs

What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is a powerful AI language tool developed by OpenAI that can understand and generate human-like responses based on what you ask. You can think of it as an intelligent chat partner capable of answering questions, offering advice, helping with tasks, and more. By training on a large amount of text from books, websites, and other sources, ChatGPT is able to respond in a conversational and contextual way, making it feel like you’re talking to a human.

Why Is ChatGPT Increasingly Popular?

The popularity of ChatGPT has skyrocketed, and for good reason. First and foremost, its ease of use makes it accessible to a wide audience. You don’t need to be a computer expert to figure out how to use ChatGPT—just type in a question, and the model responds quickly. Moreover, its versatility means that people can use it for a wide range of applications, from business to personal projects.

Another reason why ChatGPT is gaining traction is its ability to learn from massive amounts of data. This means that the responses it provides are often nuanced, detailed, and relevant. Plus, with continuous updates and improvements, it keeps getting better over time. The rise of ChatGPT can also be attributed to its accessibility—you can easily learn how to use ChatGPT for free, which we’ll get into later in the article.

How ChatGPT Has Evolved From Traditional AI

In the past, traditional AI systems were limited by their reliance on rigid rules and pre-programmed responses. If you asked an older AI system a question, its answer was often generic or irrelevant because it lacked an understanding of context.

ChatGPT represents a leap forward from these traditional systems. Unlike its predecessors, ChatGPT is based on a deep learning model that enables it to learn from vast amounts of text data. By training on billions of pieces of content—ranging from books to websites—it understands complex language patterns, slang, and even humour. This contextual awareness sets it apart from the rule-based systems of the past.

Moreover, ChatGPT continuously improves through feedback. Each time it interacts with users, it learns from those conversations to better serve future queries. This self-improving capability is what makes ChatGPT not just a tool, but a learning companion that grows smarter over time.

Use Cases Of ChatGPT For Daily Living

So, how exactly can ChatGPT help you in your daily life? The possibilities are nearly endless! Here are some popular use cases:

Personal Assistant

ChatGPT can act as a personal assistant, helping you with everyday tasks. Need to schedule an appointment, set a reminder, or write a to-do list? Just ask ChatGPT. It can organize your day, help you manage tasks, and even offer advice on time management.

Educational Aid

If you’re a student or lifelong learner, ChatGPT can be a fantastic study buddy. You can ask it to explain complex concepts in simple terms, provide examples, or even generate quizzes to test your knowledge. No more struggling to figure out difficult topics on your own!

Entertainment

Looking for a joke, trivia, or an interesting fact to brighten your day? ChatGPT can deliver! Whether you want to have a light conversation or explore fun facts about your favourite hobby, this AI can provide an entertaining and informative chat.

Language Learning

Trying to learn a new language? ChatGPT can help you practise. It’s capable of generating conversations in multiple languages, so you can chat with it to improve your language skills.

Travel Planning

Need help planning a trip? ChatGPT can provide travel advice, suggest places to visit, and even give restaurant recommendations. It’s like having your own personal travel advisor.

Step-by-Step Guide On How To Use ChatGPT

Now that you know what ChatGPT can do, let’s walk through how to use ChatGPT step by step. Whether you’re using it for the first time or want to maximize your experience, this guide has you covered.

Create Your OpenAI Account

To get started, simply go to chatgpt.com to access ChatGPT.

Source: https://chatgpt.com

Type in chatgpt.com in the search engine bar and you will land on this page. Click ‘Sign up’ to register for an account for free or click ‘Log in’ if you already have an account.

You don’t need to create an account just to log in and start using ChatGPT, which makes getting started even easier! However, if you want to unlock some of the more advanced features—like accessing GPT-4, viewing past conversations, generating images, or uploading files—you'll need to create a free account. Plus, if you're interested in using ChatGPT Plus for enhanced capabilities, you'll still need to log in as well.

If you already have an OpenAI account? Click Log in to start chatting.

Familiarise Yourself with the Interface

Once you’ve opened ChatGPT, it’s helpful to understand how to navigate the interface. Here’s a quick guide to the main features you’ll see:

a) Close Sidebar and New Chat Buttons: On the left side of the screen, you’ll find a button to close the sidebar and a New chat button. Clicking "New chat" starts a fresh conversation. ChatGPT remembers the context of your ongoing conversation, but starting a new chat will reset the conversation (although some details may be remembered if you’re logged in).

b) Chat History: The left sidebar keeps track of your past conversations. You can easily revisit, rename, or delete individual chats here. You can also choose to turn off chat history or clear your entire chat log. This section also stores the GPT models you’ve used previously.

Look for chat history on the left side of the screen after opening the side panel.

c) Account Information: If you're logged in, click on your name at the bottom left of the screen to access your account settings, log out, or customize your ChatGPT experience. If you're on the free version, you'll also see an Upgrade plan button here to subscribe to ChatGPT Plus. Note: ChatGPT Plus comes at a cost to upgrade to. Visit chatgpt.com to get updated price details.

d) ChatGPT Model Dropdown: At the top of the chat window, you can select which version of ChatGPT to use. Options include ChatGPT Plus (with a subscription), the free GPT-4o model, and Temporary Chat, which doesn't store history or contribute to model training. Free users will be switched to GPT-4o mini once they hit their usage limit. For starters, you can use the free GPT-4o model first, and switch to the GPT-4o mini once you hit the usage limit, or upgrade to ChatGPT Plus if you feel you need the premium model after trying the free version.

e) Your Questions/Prompts: The prompts or questions you send appear in the middle of the chat window, with your initials or account photo next to them.

f) ChatGPT's Responses: ChatGPT's responses will display directly below your prompts. Under each response, you’ll see options to Read Aloud, Copy, Regenerate, or give feedback with Thumbs Down.

g) Text Area: This is where you type your prompts and questions.

h) ChatGPT Disclaimer: Below the text input area, you'll see a disclaimer reminding users that "ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info."

With these key features in mind, you’ll be navigating ChatGPT like a pro in no time!

Choose a Topic or Task

Once you’ve accessed ChatGPT, think about what you need help with. Whether it’s writing an email, generating a recipe, or explaining a scientific concept, ChatGPT is flexible and can respond to a wide variety of requests.

You can ask ChatGPT almost anything. Those include keyboard shortcuts, Excel formulas for specified scenarios, and more.

Ask ChatGPT a Question

Now, it’s time to interact with ChatGPT! There are a few ways you can ask a question:

• Type your question in the message bar on the homepage and press Enter or click the send icon (an up arrow).
• Use your voice by pressing the headphones icon next to the message field (this only happens in the mobile app or in certain versions of the ChatGPT interface that support speech-to-text and text-to-speech.).
• Upload an image by clicking the paperclip icon, then add a prompt to explain what you want ChatGPT to do with the image.

The key to getting useful answers from ChatGPT is to provide clear, specific prompts. For example, instead of typing “recipe,” ask, “Can you give me a simple recipe for chocolate chip cookies?” The more specific you are in giving instructions, the more tailored and helpful the response will be.

Type in a clear prompt on using the cat photo to create a poster for a missing cat. You can also further specify things like a contact number to reach out to after finding the missing cat, or a reward amount to further customise and get a more accurate result.

Review the Response

After you submit your prompt, ChatGPT will process it and generate a response in seconds. Review the answer to see if it meets your needs. If it’s not quite right, feel free to ask follow-up questions or clarify your original request.

Here are some ways to get different responses to your questions:

• Edit your original prompt: If the first response wasn’t quite right, you can hover over your prompt and click the pencil icon to edit it. After making changes, click Send.
• Ask a follow-up question: You can continue the conversation by typing a new question or request. ChatGPT "remembers" your conversation, so it can build on what you've already discussed. You can even ask ChatGPT to modify its response, such as providing further explanation or shortening a lengthy explanation.

But what happens if you do not receive the information you need?

If the answer wasn’t helpful or accurate, you can give feedback by clicking the Dislike (thumbs down) icon. Note: This feature is available with a ChatGPT Plus subscription.

Continue the Conversation

Unlike traditional search engines, ChatGPT allows for back-and-forth conversations. You can keep refining your query, ask for more details, or move on to a different topic—all within the same chat session. ChatGPT "remembers" your conversation, so it can build on what you've already discussed.

For example, if you ask, "Who is Stamford Raffles?" and later follow up with, "Is Stamford Raffles the founder of Singapore?" ChatGPT will understand who you’re referring to without needing more information.

Save, Copy or Share the Information

Once you’ve received the information you need, you can easily copy the text or save it for future reference.

• If you want to save or share the response, click the Copy icon below the reply. It’ll turn into a checkmark once copied.
• If you want to share the entire conversation, click the Share chat icon (an upward arrow) to get a unique URL that you can send to others.

And that's it! With just these simple steps, you're all set to use ChatGPT to its fullest potential.

While ChatGPT can help us with so many things in our daily life, we need to be mindful that Generative AI tools can make mistakes too.

Caution & Tips To Use ChatGPT Safely

When using ChatGPT or any AI, it's important to keep a few safety tips in mind:

1. Avoid Personal Information: Don’t share sensitive information such as your full name, address, phone number, or financial details.
2. Always Double-Check Advice: AI can provide useful information, but it's not infallible. Always double-check important advice, especially in areas like health, finance, or legal matters.
3. Understand Context Limitations: The AI may not have up-to-date information or specific knowledge about current events. Use it as a starting point, not the final word.
4. Use for Support, Not Replacement: While AI can offer support or brainstorming help, it shouldn’t replace professional advice from verified and credible sources.
5. Educate Yourself: Familiarize yourself with the capabilities and limitations of AI to make informed decisions about its use.

Conclusion

ChatGPT is a game-changing AI tool that’s reshaping how we interact with technology. Whether you need help writing, learning, organizing, or just having fun, ChatGPT is there to assist. Learning how to use ChatGPT is easy, even for beginners, and the best part is, you can access ChatGPT for free through a variety of platforms. Now that you know what ChatGPT is and how to use it, the possibilities are endless. Give it a try and see how it can make your life easier and more productive!

If you would like to have a visual understanding of ChatGPT, you can watch a video of ChatGPT Explained in 3 minutes!