Getting started with AI in the UK · AI course

Load it with the full picture (vague in, vague out)

Most disappointing AI answers come from thin prompts. Learn what to paste in so it answers as your business, not a generic one.

Beginner10 minWorks with ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini

What you’ll do

  1. Pick a task you tried with AI that fell flat.
  2. Add who you are, who it's for, and what you're trying to achieve.
  3. Re-run it and compare.
Try this prompt
I run [business] and I'm writing this for [audience]. The goal is [goal]. Here's the background: [paste]. Now help me with [task].
The payoff: Answers that sound like they came from inside your business.

Common questions

Is it safe to paste business information into ChatGPT or Claude?

You're in control of what you share. A good rule: don't paste anything you wouldn't want a stranger to read. Avoid confidential client details, passwords or financial account numbers. General business info — your services, tone, audience — is fine.

Won't a long prompt confuse it?

No — relevant context almost always helps. The lesson shows you exactly what's worth including and what to leave out, so your prompt is full without being cluttered.

Why did I get such a generic answer when I tried AI before?

Almost certainly because the prompt didn't say who you are, who the answer is for, or what you're trying to achieve. AI can only work with what you give it — thin prompt, thin answer.

How is adding context different from just Googling?

Google returns pages others have written for everyone. With AI, you describe your specific situation and it responds directly to that — no sifting through results hoping one fits.

Do I need to rewrite my context every time?

No — once you've written a good context block for your business, you can paste it in at the start of any session. A later lesson shows how to save it as a standing instruction.

Keep going