What’s a skill you consider basic, that most people don’t actually know how to do?
People often think using AI chatbots is a skill meant only for experts. I disagree. I believe it’s becoming a basic skill that everyone should learn.
When I first heard about ChatGPT, I simply started typing questions in English. I read the answers, experimented with different prompts, and was fascinated. Later, I tried Meta AI, DeepSeek, Copilot, Gemini, and recently Claude. Then I began using them in my mother tongue, Tamil. I was amazed that they could even help me write poems, stories, articles, good morning messages, and birthday wishes.
If I have a health concern, I can get first-hand information before visiting a doctor. Of course, I always remember that chatbots can make mistakes, so I verify important information with another chatbot, reliable sources, or my own reasoning.
I’m 66 years old, and I find AI to be a wonderful companion for learning. Only later did I discover that what I had been doing was called “prompt engineering.” I learned it simply by experimenting—without any formal training.
A friend of mine in the US, who works for a large company, told me that these days you don’t need special training to get started. If you can clearly express your question or problem in plain English—or even in your own language—you can use AI effectively.
So my message is this: don’t think AI is only for highly educated or technical people. Choose one chatbot, ask your first question, and explore. You may be surprised by how much you can learn. Once you start, it’s hard to stop. It’s like having a huge encyclopedia and a patient learning companion available anytime.
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