Getting Started With AI for the Absolute Beginner

From what you hear online, you would think that getting started using an AI chatbot was complicated**,** with tons of jargon and arcane commands. However, getting started is as simple as asking a question. If you look carefully at the Google Gemini entry field, you will see that the instructions for the chatbot are simple: 'Ask Gemini.' Here are three steps to getting started. I am using Google Gemini because it is probably the AI chatbot that you will have the most access to.

Step One: If you already have a Google account, you're ready to start. But if you do not have a Google account, you will need to sign into Google. You may already have a Google account if you have Gmail, Chrome, or any other Google product. 

Step two is also fairly simple. Search for and open Gemini. You should see a screen that looks like this. 

Step three: Ask a question. 

 At this point, I have some suggestions for your first questions.

1. How do I ask you questions?
2. How do I design prompts?

The difference between a question and a prompt is:

• A question asks for some information.
• A prompt gives Gemini directions to do something.

The whole key to learning about AI involves continuing to ask questions and give prompts. If you are using or considering using AI for genealogical research, simply continue to ask questions about how to do genealogical research with Gemini. If you read any articles or hear from one of your friends, neighbors, or relatives about how they are using AI, simply take their suggestion and ask Gemini whether it is a good idea or not. It's that simple. Don't try to make things more complicated. 

 If you want a lot of help really fast, you can click on the tools link in the chat box and select "Guided Learning." Then, the question would be a prompt: "Teach me how to use AI." 

 Currently, Google has three levels of Gemini:

1. You get it when you sign in
2. Gemini Pro, which costs $20/month (which, of course, may change) 
3. For businesses and costs $250/month

You do not need the third level unless you are a programmer or a business. If you have any questions, the answer is still simple: Ask Gemini! 

Just a note. As of February 2026, the Gemini ecosystem is headlined by the Gemini 3 series, featuring the flagship Gemini 3 Pro for complex reasoning and the lightning-fast Gemini 3 Flash, both of which now include a dedicated "Thinking" mode for advanced agentic workflows and "vibe coding." While Gemini 3 Flash has become the default model for most users due to its near-pro-level intelligence at a lower latency, Gemini 3 Pro remains the top choice for sophisticated math, coding, and deep research tasks. Additionally, Google continues to support the Gemini 2.5 family (Pro, Flash, and Flash-Lite) for high-volume enterprise tasks, though older Gemini 2.0 models are scheduled for retirement by March 2026. This lineup is rounded out by specialized tools like Nano Banana Pro for high-fidelity image editing and the Veo 3.1 model for state-of-the-art video generation.