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Everyday Tools

Practical ways AI can help, with simple steps. You do not have to use any of these. Try one thing when you feel ready.

Things change. Apps and websites update often, and free and paid options vary. If a button or menu looks different from what we describe, check the official help page for the tool.

Four well-known chatbots

ChatGPT: From OpenAI. Official site: chatgpt.com (opens in a new tab)
Gemini: From Google. Official site: gemini.google.com (opens in a new tab). Help: Gemini Help (opens in a new tab)
Copilot: From Microsoft. Official site: copilot.microsoft.com (opens in a new tab). Help: Microsoft Copilot support (opens in a new tab)
Grok: From xAI. Official site: grok.com (opens in a new tab). About Grok: x.ai/grok (opens in a new tab). Help: Grok help and FAQ (opens in a new tab). Our step-by-step guide to Grok is below.

They work in much the same way. Whether you need to sign in, and which features are free, can change. Check each official site. To be safe from fake copies, always type the address yourself or use the official app from your phone's app store.

How to start a chat (any chatbot)

Open the official website or app.
Find the box near the bottom or middle of the page that invites you to type a message.
Type your question or request in everyday words, as if you were asking a helpful neighbor.
Press the send button or the Enter key.
Read the answer. If it is not what you wanted, just type a follow-up such as "Please make that shorter" or "Explain it more simply."

Many chatbots also have a microphone button so you can speak instead of typing. Look for it in the app.

Getting started with Grok

Grok is a chatbot from xAI. You can use it in three places: on the website grok.com, in the Grok app on a phone or tablet, and inside X (the social platform that used to be called Twitter). Pick just one to start.

Good to know, from the company's own pages:

The company's official pages say Grok is free to try on the web and in the apps, and that paid plans (called SuperGrok) offer higher limits. What is free and what the limits are can change, so check grok.com (opens in a new tab) for the latest.
Some of the company's official pages now use the name SpaceXAI for the company behind Grok. It is the same Grok. Make sure you are on the official addresses on this page.
The official FAQ says you must be at least 13 to use Grok, and teens need a parent or guardian's permission.
Grok can search the web and public posts on X to help answer questions. Like every chatbot, it can make mistakes. The company says to check its answers before relying on them.
Grok can answer in different styles. The company's FAQ says some styles can give crude or offensive replies. If you want calm answers, you can type: Please answer politely and in plain words.

Safety note for Grok. As with any chatbot, do not type passwords, PINs, or one-time codes, and do not type bank, card, Social Security, or Medicare numbers. The company's own FAQ also asks users not to share personal or sensitive information in their questions to Grok.

Grok on X is different. X is a public social platform, and Grok on X is used under X's own terms and privacy policy. The Grok app and grok.com have their own settings. Grok on X follows X's own settings and policies. Do not post anything about yourself that you would not want strangers to read, and check your X privacy settings.

A. Use Grok on the website (grok.com)

Open the web browser on your computer. The company suggests Chrome for the best results on the web.
Click the address bar at the very top. Type grok.com yourself and press Enter. Do not use a link from an ad or an email.
If you are asked to sign in, follow the steps on the screen. The official site says you can sign in with an X account or an email account. You choose which one.
Click the message box in the middle of the page. It may say something like “What should we explore?”
Type a simple question, such as: Explain what a chatbot is in three short sentences.
Press Enter, or click the send button.
Read the answer. If you want it simpler, type a follow-up such as Please explain it more simply.
To look at old chats, look for the history icon in the top right corner (three lines and a magnifying glass). The company's help page describes it, but icons can change.

B. Use the Grok app on your phone or tablet

Open the app store on your device: the App Store on an iPhone or iPad, or Google Play on an Android phone or tablet.
Go to the official Grok page in the store. Use these links: Grok in the App Store (Apple) (opens in a new tab) or Grok in Google Play (Android) (opens in a new tab). If you search the store yourself, look for the app named Grok, and be careful: there are copies made by other people.
Tap Get (Apple) or Install (Android). You may be asked for your Apple or Google password. That is for the store, not for Grok.
Open the app and sign in when asked. The official pages say you can use an X or email account, and that your chats sync between the website and the apps when you use the same account.
Tap the message box and type a simple question.
Tap the send button, then read the answer.
To see your privacy choices, open the app's Settings and look for Data Controls. The company's FAQ says that is where you can turn off using your chats to improve its models, and where you can delete your chats.

The two store pages above both loaded when we checked. The Apple page lists X Corp. as the seller, and the Google Play page lists SpaceXAI LLC as the developer, so the company names you see may differ.

C. Use Grok on X

You need to be using X (the website x.com or the X app) to do this. If you do not already use X, the website or app above is a simpler way to start.

Open the X app, or go to x.com in your browser, and sign in to your X account.
Look for the Grok icon in the X menu. Its spot can change, so if you cannot find it, ask X using its Help Center at help.x.com (opens in a new tab).
Type a question in the box that opens, or tap one of the suggestions.
Read the answer. Do not copy a private question or answer into a public post unless you want everyone to see it.
Open Settings and privacy in X and look for Privacy and safety to review your choices. Menu names can change. Grok-related choices on X, such as how your data is used, are explained in X's Help Center, not on the Grok website.

The xAI FAQ says that if you use Grok on X, X's Help Center is the place to look for questions about deleting data, personalization, and turning off use of your data for training.

Useful official pages: Grok consumer FAQ (privacy and data controls) (opens in a new tab) and Grok help and FAQ (opens in a new tab).

A few privacy tools on grok.com and the app (as described in the company's FAQ). Private Chat (look for a ghost-shaped icon in the top right) is meant for chats you do not want saved to your history. The company says those chats are deleted from its systems within 30 days and, where Private Chat is available, are not used to train its models. The Share button makes a public link to a chat, so only use it if you mean to. Settings and icons can change, so check the official site.

Five easy things to try

1. Explain something in plain words

Copy a confusing paragraph from a letter or article. Remove names, account numbers, and addresses first.
Paste it into the chat.
Type:

Please explain this in simple words, in three short bullet points.

Then check anything important with the sender or an official source.

2. Write a polite note or email

Help me write a short, friendly email to my neighbor asking if they can bring in my mail while I'm away next week.

Read it, change anything you like, and send it yourself. You are in charge of what goes out.

3. Get dinner ideas

I have chicken, rice, and carrots. Give me three easy dinner ideas with simple steps. I have low-sodium needs.

If you follow a medical diet, check the ideas with your doctor or dietitian.

4. Plan a day out

Suggest a relaxed half-day itinerary for a visit to a small town with lots of places to sit and rest.

Opening hours and prices change. Always check them on the official website or by phone.

5. Practice or translate a phrase

How do I politely say 'Thank you, the meal was delicious' in Spanish? Write it out and show how to pronounce it.

Voice assistants (Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant)

If you have a smartphone or smart speaker, you may already have a voice assistant. Say its wake word, then speak your request.

Say the wake word. For many devices that is "Hey Siri," "Alexa," or "Hey Google." Setup differs by device, so check your device's instructions.
Pause a moment, then speak clearly: "What's the weather today?" or "Set a reminder for 3 p.m. to take out the trash."
Wait for the reply.

Things people commonly ask: weather, timers, reminders, calling a contact, playing music, and simple facts. Voice assistants can mishear, so check anything important.

Smart speakers listen for their wake word. If privacy is a concern, look in the device's app for microphone and history settings.

Good habits when using a chatbot

Do not share passwords, account numbers, or other private details. See Stay Safe.
Treat answers as a first draft, not the final word.
Do not use a chatbot as a replacement for your doctor, lawyer, or financial adviser.
Take breaks. Nothing here has to be learned in one sitting.

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