All articles
Nine short reads, in the order we suggest. Jump around if you like. Every article stands on its own.
Start with the basics
No background needed. Read these first.
What is AI?
A plain-English explanation of what artificial intelligence actually is, without the science fiction or the sales pitch.
Why AI?
Why should an ordinary person care about AI at all? Here is what it can actually do for you today, and why it is worth an hour of your attention.
What is an AI chatbot?
What an AI chatbot actually is, how it differs from the old customer-service bots, and how to have your first useful conversation with one.
Meet the tools
The three assistants you will hear about most.
What is ChatGPT?
The chatbot that made AI a household word. What it is, who makes it, what it costs, and what it is like to use.
What is Claude?
The AI assistant from Anthropic, known for careful answers and long documents. What it is, who makes it, and how it differs from ChatGPT.
What is Gemini?
Google's AI assistant, and the one most likely to show up inside things you already use. What it is, where it lives, and how it compares.
The big questions
Honest answers to the things people actually worry about.
Will AI take my job?
An honest look at which work AI changes, which it doesn't, what history suggests, and what you can actually do about it.
Will AI take over humanity?
Separating the science fiction from the serious debate. What today's AI can and cannot do, what experts actually disagree about, and what is worth worrying about now.
Will I need AI to get a job?
Whether "AI skills" are becoming a hiring requirement, what employers actually mean by them, and how to get them without a course.