EASY STEPS

This course breaks AI down into small, manageable steps that build confidence lesson by lesson. Each lesson focuses on one clear idea, with plain-language explanations and examples you can immediately understand. There’s no rushing, no jargon, and no assumption that you already know how this works.

SMART PROMPTS

You’ll learn how to talk to AI in a way that makes sense. You'll be giving AI clear roles, context, and preferences. Instead of guessing what to type, you’ll use simple prompt structures that help AI give better, more relevant answers tailored to you.

BETTER RESULTS

When you understand how to guide AI, the results change. You’ll see how AI can actually save time, reduce mental effort, and support everyday tasks like writing emails, planning, learning new topics, and organizing your thoughts.

About the Course

From Zero to Useful is a practical, non-technical introduction to using AI with confidence. Designed for those who feel curious but uncertain about AI. This course removes the fear, hype, and confusion, and replaces it with clarity and real-world usefulness. No technical background is required. Join us to gain practical knowledge and feel confident about using AI in your daily life.

What people are saying

Join the satisfied customers who believe this training is helpful in day-to-day life!

”
As a 57-year-old retiree who is not tech ignorant but also doesn't engage in the latest and greatest tech trends, I wondered if learning AI was necessary for me. After taking From Zero to Useful: A Beginner's Guide to AI, my opinion has shifted. This course has taught me how to us AI in my everyday life and has also sparked ideas in the various activities that I am involved in during retirement. An immediate benefit, using AI has helped me compare and contrast different HVAC systems for my home and narrow down the best options beyond price.
Rob P.

St. Peter, MN

”
I finished the Zero to Useful AI course, and it truly lived up to its name. Before taking it, I was overcomplicating my prompts and making AI harder than it needed to be, but this course helped me simplify my approach and get much better results. I really liked your clear, practical teaching style, and as a busy retiree, I appreciated that I could fit it into my schedule. It was well worth it — I now feel confident using AI in a way that’s actually useful.
Diane A.

Spicer, MN

About the Teacher

Hi, I’m Chris. I’ve spent most of my career helping adults understand complex topics in a way that actually makes sense, in plain language. Before teaching AI, I spent years working in enterprise technology, problem-solving, and systems thinking, while also teaching, mentoring, and guiding people who didn’t consider themselves “technical.” What makes this course different is that I’m not coming at AI as a trend, a shortcut, or a replacement for human thinking. I approach it the same way I’ve approached personal finance, technology, and learning throughout my life, as a tool that should serve you, not overwhelm you. I also understand what it feels like to learn new tools that we are unfamiliar with. Curiosity mixed with hesitation. Interest mixed with, “Am I already behind?” That’s exactly why this course is designed the way it is: calm, practical, and focused on usefulness rather than speed or complexity. In From Zero to Useful, I don’t assume prior knowledge. I don’t rush. I don’t talk down to you. I walk alongside you while we learn how AI works, how to ask better questions, how to use it safely, and how to make it genuinely helpful in everyday life.

Curriculum

10 Chapters · 81 Lessons

  1. 1

    Welcome To This Course!

    1. Welcome! I'm glad you're here. Free preview
  2. 2

    Chapter 00 - Welcome to A Beginner's Guide to AI

    1. Lesson 01 - From Zero to Useful: A Beginner's Guide to AI Free preview
    2. Lesson 02 - Course Syllabus Free preview
    3. Lesson 03 - How To Use This Course Free preview
    4. Course Syllabus Document Free preview
  3. 3

    Chapter 01 - What is AI?

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 04 - What to Expect

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      Lesson 05 - What is AI

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      Lesson 06 - What AI IS NOT

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      Lesson 07 - Why AI Can Feel Intimidating

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      Lesson 08 - You’ve Been Using AI for Years

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      Lesson 09 - Chapter 01 Review

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      Chapter 01 - Activity

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      Chapter 01 - Quiz

  4. 4

    Chapter 02 - How to Talk to AI: Prompting Basics

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      Lesson 10 - Why How You Ask Matters

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      Lesson 11 - A Simple Way to Structure Prompts

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      Lesson 12 - Using Roles to Improve Answers

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      Lesson 13 - Asking AI to Ask You Questions

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      Lesson 14 - Putting It All Together

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      Lesson 15 - The RCPT Cheatsheet

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      Chapter 02 - Demonstration

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      Chapter 02 - Activity

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      Chapter 02 - Quiz

  5. 5

    Chapter 03 - Your Personal Operating Manual

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      Lesson 16 - The Personal Operating Manual

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      Lesson 17 - What a POM Is and Is Not

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      Lesson 18 - The Core Sections of a POM

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      Lesson 19 - Why the POM Works

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      Lesson 20 - Building Your Own POM

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      Lesson 21 - Common Concerns

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      Lesson 22 - Chapter 03 Review

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      Chapter 03 - Demonstration

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      Chapter 03 - Activity

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      Chapter 03 - Quiz

  6. 6

    Chapter 04 - How AI Is Trained, Data & Privacy

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      Lesson 23 - How AI Is Trained

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      Lesson 24 - Does AI Remember?

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      Lesson 25 - How Data Is Used

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      Lesson 26 - What You Should NOT Share

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      Lesson 27 - Understanding Limits

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      Lesson 28 - Privacy

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      Lesson 29 - Chapter 04 Review

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      Chapter 04 - Demonstration

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      Chapter 04 - Activity

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      Chapter 04 - Quiz

  7. 7

    Chapter 05 - Everyday Uses

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      Lesson 30 - AI For Writing & Communication

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      Lesson 31 - AI For Planning & Organizing

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      Lesson 32 - AI For Learning & Understanding

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      Lesson 33 - AI For Thinking

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      Lesson 34 - Overusing AI

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      Lesson 35 - Building the Habit

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      Lesson 36 - Chapter 05 Review

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      Chapter 05 - Demonstration

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      Chapter 05 - Activity

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      Chapter 05 - Quiz

  8. 8

    Chapter 06 - Improving Results

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      Lesson 37 - The First Answer Is a Starting Point

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      Lesson 38 - Corrections are Expected

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      Lesson 39 - Refining Your Prompts

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      Lesson 40 - Follow-Up

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      Lesson 41 - Start Over

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      Lesson 42 - Fix the Frustrations

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      Lesson 43 - Chapter Review

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      Chapter 06 - Demonstration

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      Chapter 06 - Activity

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      Chapter 06 - Quiz

  9. 9

    Chapter 07 - Use Cases

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      Lesson 44 - One Tool is Enough

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      Lesson 45 - Exploring Out of Curiosity

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      Lesson 46 - How to Evaluate an AI Tool

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      Lesson 47 - Staying Grounded

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      Lesson 48 - Expanding Use Cases

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      Lesson 49 - Build Confidence

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      Lesson 50 - Chapter Review

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      Chapter 07 - Demonstration

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      Chapter 07 - Activity

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      Chapter 07 - Quiz

  10. 10

    Chapter 08 - Making AI Stick

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 51 - You know How to Guide AI

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      Lesson 52 - Revisiting Personal Operating Manual

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      Lesson 53 - Long-Term Confidence

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      Lesson 54 - Try to Avoid Comparison

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      Lesson 55 - What To Do When We're Stuck

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      Lesson 56 - Your Relationship With AI

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      Lesson 57 - You’re in Control! Go Make AI STICK!

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      Chapter 08 - Activity

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter 08 - Quiz

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