How to start using AI online — from any phone, tablet or computer

If you've heard people talking about AI and thought "that sounds interesting, but I wouldn't know where to begin" — this post is for you. Because the good news is that getting started is genuinely straightforward. You don't need to download anything, install anything, or know anything technical. All you need is a device with a browser — and the chances are, you're already reading this on one.

What are we actually talking about?

When people say "AI" these days, they usually mean a conversational AI tool — something you type a question or request to, and it replies in plain English. Think of it as a remarkably knowledgeable, endlessly patient assistant who is available twenty-four hours a day and never makes you feel silly for asking.

There are two tools worth knowing about. The first is Claude (made by a company called Anthropic), which you'll find at claude.ai. The second is ChatGPT (made by a company called OpenAI), which lives at chatgpt.com. Both are free to start with, both are excellent, and both work in exactly the same way — you type something, it replies. Which one you prefer is simply a matter of personal taste, and there's nothing to stop you trying both.

What device do you have?

Here's one of the things I love telling people: it doesn't matter. Whether you're sitting at a desktop computer, using a laptop at the kitchen table, picking up your tablet from the sofa, or glancing at your phone — the process is identical. You open your internet browser, type in the address, and you're there. That's genuinely all there is to it.

Your browser is the app you already use to look at websites — it's the one with the little compass icon, or the colourful circle, or the blue "e". On an iPhone it's called Safari. On most Android phones and tablets it's Chrome. On a laptop or desktop you might use Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari. Any of them will work perfectly.

Step one: open your browser

Find your browser and tap or click to open it — the same way you would if you were about to look something up online or check the news. You'll see an address bar at the top of the screen. That's where you type the web address.

Step two: go to claude.ai or chatgpt.com

Tap or click in the address bar and type one of the following:

claude.ai — for Claude
chatgpt.com — for ChatGPT

Then press Enter (or Go, or the return key on your phone's keyboard). The page will load and you'll be greeted with a clean, simple screen. Don't be alarmed if it asks you to create a free account — both tools require this, and it only takes a couple of minutes. All you need is an email address and a password you'll remember.

Step three: type something — anything

Once you're in, you'll see a box at the bottom of the screen where you can type. This is where the magic happens. Click or tap on it and type whatever you like. You might start with something simple, like:

"Can you explain what you are and what you can help me with?"

Or dive straight in with something real:

"I need to write a birthday message for my sister who is turning 70. She loves gardening and walking."

Then press Enter or tap the send button (it usually looks like an arrow). Within a few seconds, a reply will appear. And that, quite honestly, is how it begins.

A few things that might put your mind at rest

People often worry about getting something wrong, or breaking something, or not knowing what to say. So here are a few reassuring facts. You cannot break it — there is nothing to break. Whatever you type, it will simply reply. If it misunderstands you, you can clarify. If the answer isn't quite right, you can say so and it will try again. It's an enormously forgiving tool.

You also don't need to use formal language or perfect spelling. Write to it the way you'd write a text to a friend. It will understand you perfectly well.

And while both tools offer paid upgrades, the free versions are genuinely useful. There is no pressure whatsoever to spend any money, especially when you're just starting out.

One thing I always say at my library talks

The single best way to get started is to bring AI a real problem — something you actually need help with today. Not a test, not a "let me see what it does" — a genuine task. A letter you've been putting off. A recipe from ingredients you have in the fridge. Something you've been wondering about. The moment you try it with something real, everything clicks into place.

That first conversation tends to be the one that changes everything. People sit down a little uncertain, type something in — and within thirty seconds they're smiling. I see it happen at every single library session. I'd love for it to happen for you, wherever you are and whatever device you're holding.

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