AI in everyday life

Open a chat service such as ChatGPT in your browser. Already using another AI chat service? You can try these questions there too. You do not need to install extra tools for these examples.

1. Choose one example below and press Copy.
2. Paste the question into your AI chat service. Replace text in [square brackets] with your own words.
3. Send the question and read the answer. Does it make sense, and is it useful?
4. Give feedback: “Make it shorter”, “Use ordinary words”, or “Give me a different example”.

Copy a question to the AI service you choose. This guide does not automatically send your questions. You can also print the guide or save it as a PDF through the print dialog.

You are reading a letter or an article and wondering what it actually means. Ask for an explanation of a short passage. Use only the part you need and remove personal details.

Explain this text in plain English. What is the main message? Do I need to do anything, and does the text mention a deadline? Separate what the text actually says from your explanation. Do not fill in missing information.

[Paste a short passage without personal details here.]

You want to thank someone, decline an invitation, or change an appointment. You know what you mean, but finding the words can be difficult.

Help me write a short, friendly message. This is what I want to say:

[Describe your message without names or other personal details.]

Use ordinary words and do not make it too formal. Give me two versions to choose from.

You have potatoes, leeks, and eggs left. What could you make? AI can suggest ideas when you are short on time or want to keep things simple.

Suggest a simple meal for two people using potatoes, leeks, and eggs. I want to spend no more than half an hour cooking. Give me quantities and steps. List any extra ingredients and suggest alternatives if I do not have them.

The grandchildren are visiting, it is raining, and you want something fun to do without going shopping first. Tell AI their ages and what you have at home.

My grandchildren, aged five and eight, are visiting for an afternoon. It is raining, so we are staying indoors. I have paper, coloured pencils, and a pack of playing cards. Suggest three activities we can do together. Explain each one briefly and make them suitable for both ages.

Tell AI what you enjoy, how much you want to walk, and the area you want to visit. A town or region is usually enough; you do not need to give your exact address.

Suggest three ideas for an afternoon out in [town or region]. There are two of us, we enjoy museums, and we want to walk no more than about a kilometre. Briefly explain why each idea fits. Find current information if you can and give source links. Say what you cannot verify.

You are going to Spain and want to practise ordering at a café. Take your time, make mistakes, and try again. You can choose another language too.

Practise a simple conversation in Spanish with me. I am a beginner and want to order something at a café. You are the waiter. Ask one short question at a time and wait for my answer. Correct my mistakes kindly and explain in English what I could say instead.

You leave an appointment and suddenly remember the question you meant to ask. A short list can help. Ask AI for general preparation without sharing your medical details.

I have an appointment with my doctor soon. Help me make a short preparation checklist: what can I write down privately beforehand, and what general questions could I ask? Focus on preparing for the conversation. Do not give a diagnosis or advice about medication.

You would like to keep stories from the past, perhaps for your children or grandchildren. AI can ask questions and help turn your own answers into a story.

Help me write down memories of my childhood. Ask one question at a time and wait for my answer. Start by asking what an ordinary day at home was like. When I ask, turn my answers into a short story. Do not invent memories or add anything I have not told you.

AI can sound very confident while saying something wrong. A polished answer or a list of sources does not make the content reliable. You can usually judge a birthday message yourself. With health, money, and important letters, check the information.

1. Ask where the information came from.
2. Open the original source. Does it exist, is it current, and does it actually support the AI’s answer?
3. Check important facts with the relevant organisation or an appropriate professional.

Asking the same AI “Are you sure?” is not an independent check. Adding “do not invent anything” to a question does not prevent every mistake.

Want to know why this happens? Read my explanation of why AI sometimes makes things up.

Do not enter passwords, PINs, DigiD login details, banking security codes, or your citizen service number. Avoid sharing a copy of your identity document or your complete medical records with a general AI chatbot.

Use only the passage you need explained. Remove names, addresses, customer numbers, and other identifying details. Consider other people’s data too. Removing a name alone does not always make a text anonymous.

A conversation may feel personal, but you are using a service run by a company. How your data is handled depends on the service and its settings. A general or fictional example is often enough to get useful help.

Read more about protecting your login details at DigiD.

Do not use a general chatbot to decide what illness you have or whether you need medical care. It cannot examine you and does not have a complete picture of your health.

Worried about symptoms? Contact your doctor. In the Netherlands, call the out-of-hours GP service for urgent medical help outside regular hours. In a life-threatening situation, call 112. Do not let a conversation with AI delay that contact. If you are elsewhere, use your local care services and emergency number.

For information in Dutch about preparing for an appointment, visit Thuisarts.nl.

For decisions about pensions, tax, or legal matters, AI can help you formulate questions. Have an appropriate professional assess what applies to your situation.

You can discuss a hobby with AI, do a quiz, or practise a language. A conversation may feel pleasant, and you do not have to dismiss that feeling. At the same time, AI does not have feelings of its own, and the conversation is not a mutual human relationship.

Look at what it adds to your life. Does it help you try an activity or write to someone? That can be useful. If you notice that you are seeing fewer people because you mostly talk to AI, discuss that with someone you trust.

You do not need to work through the whole guide. Choose something useful today. If the answer does not help, say so. Asking follow-up questions is part of the process.

Looking for more example questions? Browse my prompts and pick one that fits.

Want to learn together and ask questions? In The Future Community you can talk to me and other members. It is a paid membership; this guide remains free to use.