Guides
AI from zero: your first hour with AI
Never worked with an AI program before? You're in good company – and in exactly the right place. This guide takes you from zero to your first task that actually saves you time, in one hour.
By Marvin Pirner · Last updated: September 2026 · Reading time approx. 4 min.
- All you need is a computer or phone and an email address.
- You can try most AI programs for free.
- Write to the AI the way you'd explain a task to a new employee.
- Customer data stays out of it.
What actually is an AI program?
An AI program like ChatGPT, Claude or Microsoft Copilot is essentially a very well-read assistant you write to like in a chat. You ask a question or give it a task, and it replies in full sentences. It can draft, summarize, rephrase, explain and generate ideas. What it can't do: know what's going on in your business – you have to tell it. And it can get things wrong. So the rule always holds: the AI makes the draft, you decide.
Step 1: choose a program and create an account (10 minutes)
- Start with one of the well-known programs, for example ChatGPT, Claude or Microsoft Copilot. For getting started they're fairly similar; which one suits you long term becomes clear as you work with it.
- Download the app to your phone from the official app store, or open the provider's website on your computer. Make sure you use the real provider – there are imitations.
- Create an account with your email address. The free version is enough to try it out.
Step 2: two settings before you start (5 minutes)
- Look in the settings for the data protection or data section. In many programs you can turn off having your inputs used to improve the AI. Turn that off.
- Remember one rule: names, addresses, phone numbers, health data and business secrets don't belong in the AI. Write "Customer A" or "[address]" instead. More on this in the article ChatGPT and data protection.
Step 3: your first task (20 minutes)
Pick a real task that's been bothering you this week. For example, a reply to a customer enquiry. Write to the AI the way you'd explain it to a new employee: what, for whom, how long, in what tone.
Write a friendly reply to a customer asking about an appointment. We have next Tuesday and Thursday morning free. Informal tone, maximum five sentences.
Not quite happy with the answer? Just say so: "Shorter and a bit warmer." That's the single most important trick: ask it to refine, rather than starting over.
Step 4: three tasks to practice with (20 minutes)
Improve a text
Paste in a text of your own, with no names.
Improve this text: clearer, friendlier, no mistakes. Don't change the content: [text]
Summarize
Summarize this text in five bullet points, understandable for someone with no prior knowledge: [text]
Gather ideas
I run a [type of business] in [location]. Give me ten ideas for delighting regular customers this autumn.
The five most common beginner mistakes
- Tasks that are too vague. "Write an email" isn't enough. Say who it's to, what it's about and how long it should be.
- Believing everything. The AI sounds convincing even when it's wrong. Always check numbers, facts and anything legal.
- Giving up after the first try. Asking it to refine the answer is normal.
- Entering real customer data. Use placeholders.
- Wanting too much at once. Start with one task that comes up every week.
What next?
Pick a task that comes up every week and do it with AI for two weeks. Save the task descriptions that work well as templates. That's how trying it out becomes a habit.
If you'd rather do this together: in AI Starter, we set everything up on your device and work through your first tasks together. → To AI Starter
Frequently asked questions
Does this cost anything?
Not to try it out. Paid versions are available as monthly subscriptions and usually only pay off once you use AI regularly.
Do I need English?
No. The well-known programs understand and write German too.
Can I break something?
No. At worst, an answer isn't usable, and then you just ask again.
Prefer to start together?
In the free consultation, we'll look at where to start in your business.