Using Artificial Intelligence Absolute Beginner’s Guide

Michael Miller has written more than 200 books over the past four decades, including many in the Absolute Beginner’s Guide series and almost two dozen books with AARP. His books have collectively sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide. He has a particular interest in new and evolving technologies, so writing about AI is right up his alley. His readers say he has a knack for explaining complex technologies in easy-to-understand terms, and he has no reason to argue with that. He is an older gentleman, which means he’s been around long enough to experience many different “new” technologies. (He has been writing for four decades; he wrote one of the first books about the Internet when it was new!) He lives with his wife and random daily combinations of four stepchildren and eight grandchildren in a suburb of the Twin Cities in the often-frozen land of Minnesota. In his spare time, he plays drums, entertains (and is entertained by) his grandchildren, and writes about music from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s in his Classic Song of the Day blog (www.classicsongoftheday.com). You can find out more about Mike on his website, www.millerwriter.com.

Introduction
Chapter 1 AI: What It Is and How It Works
What Generative AI Is ...
…and What It Isn’t
Understanding Predictive AI
Understanding Generative AI
Comparing Predictive and Generative AI
A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence Is an Ancient Concept
The Birth of Modern AI
The First AI Boom—and the First AI Bust
AI in the Twenty-First Century
How Does Generative AI Work?
Understanding the AI Process
What’s Necessary to Make Generative AI Work
How to Use Today’s AI Generators
How You Can Use Generative AI In Your Daily Life
AI in Art
AI in Business
AI in Finance and Banking
AI in Gaming
AI in Healthcare
AI in Writing
AI for Learning
AI in Marketing and Advertising
AI in Music
AI in Programming and Software Development
AI in Transportation and Travel
AI Everywhere
Summary
Chapter 2 The Benefits and Risks of AI
Understanding the Potential Benefits of AI
Automating Boring Manual Processes
Improving Business Productivity
Reducing Risk
Making More Things Available 24/7
Personalizing the User Experience
Enabling Better Recommendations
Improving Digital Assistants
Managing Messages
Improving Healthcare
Enhancing Learning
Augmenting Creativity
Making Your Life Easier
Understanding the Potential Risks of AI
AI Can Spread Misinformation
AI Can Be Biased
AI Can Invade Your Privacy
AI Will Replace Some Jobs
AI Will Make Mistakes
AI Uses Significant Resources
How to Spot AI in the Wild
How to Identify AI-Written Text
How to Identify AI-Generated Photos and Images
How to Identify AI-Generated Videos
How to Identify AI-Generated Music
How to Identify AI-Generated Propaganda
Debating the Ethics of AI-Created Content
Sharing AI-Generated Content
Using AI for Schoolwork
Handling Plagiarism
Using AI Content for Malicious Purposes
Dealing with Built-In Bias
Dealing with Inaccurate Content
Protecting Privacy
AI and Copyright Law
Does Using Copyrighted Material to Train AI Violate Copyright Laws?
Is AI-Created Content Copyrightable?
Can AI Violate Copyright Laws with Content It Creates?
Summary
Chapter 3 Getting Started with All-Purpose AI Tools
What Is an All-Purpose AI Tool—and What Can You Do With It?
How to Use a Generative AI Tool
Getting to Know Publicly Available AI Tools
Freestanding AI Tools
Embedded AI Tools
Using the Most Popular AI Generators
Using ChatGPT
Using Claude
Using Google Gemini
Using Meta AI
Using Microsoft Copilot
Using Perplexity
Using Pi
Using Poe
Which Generative AI Tool Is the Best for You?
How to Construct the Perfect Prompt
Using AI-Generated Results—with Caution
Summary
Chapter 4 Using AI to Find the Right Words
When and How You Should (and Shouldn’t) Use AI for Writing
Using AI for Different Types of Writing
Writing a Short Note to Family or Friends
Writing a Longer Letter to Family and Friends
Writing an Email Message
Writing a Thank-You Note
Writing a Business Letter
Writing a Social Media Post
Writing a Memoir
Writing a Short Story
Writing a Poem
Using AI to Improve Your Writing
Using AI to Suggest Topics
Using AI to Outline Content
Using AI to Write—and Rewrite—Content
Using AI to Edit Content
Examining Popular AI Tools for Writing and Editing
Grammarly
Hemingway Editor
HyperWrite
ProWritingAid
QuillBot
Sudowrite
Wordtune
Summary
Chapter 5 Using AI to Find Information
How AI Differs from Traditional Web Search
Why AI Is a Useful Search and Research Tool
Things to Be Careful of When Using AI for Search and Research
Evaluating Popular AI Tools for Information and Research
Using All-Purpose AI Tools for Search and Research
Using Research-Specific AI Tools
How to Focus AI to Get the Information You Want
Crafting the Perfect Prompt for Research
Examples of Using AI for Research
Fine-Tuning AI Results
Using AI to Summarize and Understand Information
Summary
Chapter 6 Using AI to Connect with People and Pursue Interests
Using AI to Keep Up with Friends and Family
Ways to Use AI to Connect with Your Friends and Family
Using AI to Share Memories
Using AI to Better Understand People
Use AI to Find and Pursue Hobbies and Interests
Finding New Hobbies
Pursuing Existing Hobbies
Finding Online Communities
Using AI to Improve Your Social Media Interactions
Conversing with AI by Text or Voice
Talking with AI via Text
Talking with AI via Voice
Summary
Chapter 7 Using AI to Create Art and Images
How AI Generates Images
How to Use an AI Image Generator
What Kinds of Images Can You Generate with AI?
Cartoons and Comic Book Art
Collages
Fantasy
Fine Art
Greeting Cards
Manufactured Reality
Portraits
How to Ethically Use AI Image Generators
Comparing Popular AI Tools for Creating Images
Adobe Firefly
DALL-E in ChatGPT
DeepAI AI Image Generator
Deep Dream Generator
DreamStudio by Stability AI
Google Gemini
Hotpot AI Art Generator
Image Creator from Microsoft Designer
Midjourney
NightCafe
OpenArt
Crafting the Perfect Prompt to Generate Perfect Images
Summary
Chapter 8 Using AI to Get a Job
Using AI to Help Find the Job You Want
Identifying the Types of Jobs That Suit You
Researching Potential Employers
Using AI to Write a Resume
Writing a Resume with an All-Purpose AI Tool
Writing and Fine-Tuning a Resume with a Resume-Writing Tool
Using AI to Write Cover Letters
Using AI to Prepare for Interviews
Summary
Chapter 9 Using AI at Work
Using AI to Improve Productivity
Generating Content
Managing Projects
Communicating and Collaborating
Creating Presentations
Using AI to Make Meetings More Manageable
Scheduling Meetings
Taking Notes and Summarizing Meetings
Summary
Chapter 10 Using AI for Travel and Transportation
Using AI to Create Travel Plans
Making Personalized Travel Recommendations
Booking Flights and Accommodations
Creating an Itinerary
Functioning as a Virtual Travel Assistant
Using Popular AI-Powered Travel Planning Tools
GuideGeek
Layla
Roam Around
Trip Planner AI
Wonderplan
Using AI to Prepare for a Trip
Researching Documentation Needs
Learning Local Languages
Getting Packing Assistance
Predicting the Weather
Enhancing Your Personal Security
Using AI During a Trip
Getting Personalized Recommendations
Providing Cultural Insights
Navigating Your Route
Translating on the Fly
Keeping You Safe While Traveling
Using AI in Local Transportation
Getting Where You Want to Go
Optimizing Ride Sharing and Carpooling
Finding Parking
Optimizing the Use of Public Transportation
Summary
Chapter 11 Using AI for Health and Wellness
Using AI to Create Personal Fitness and Nutrition Plans
Creating a Fitness Plan
Creating Nutrition and Meal Plans
Using AI-Powered Fitness and Nutrition Tools
Using AI for Your Mental Health
Providing Information and Resources
Encouraging Journal Writing
Guiding Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Exercises
Guiding Relaxation Exercises
Using Chatbots for Automated “Therapy”
Using Purpose-Built AI for Mental Health
Using AI to Understand Health and Wellness Information
Researching Medical Conditions and Diagnoses
Researching Medications
Interpreting Medical Results
Communicating with Healthcare Providers
Summary
Chapter 12 Using AI to Help Caregivers
Using AI to Help Caregivers with Health Tasks
Getting Smarter about Medical Information
Working with Doctors
Providing Personalized Care Plans
Monitoring Health Conditions and Identifying Trends and Issues
Improving Nutrition
Using AI to Help Caregivers with Financial and Legal Matters
Managing the Financial Waters
Understanding Legal Issues
Receiving Useful Tips and Personalized Advice
Discovering Other Resources
Using AI for Emotional Support for Caregivers
Using AI to Provide Virtual Companionship and Assistance
Examining Other AI Tools for Caregivers
Summary
Chapter 13 The Future of AI
What’s Next for AI?
AI Gets Smarter, Faster, and Less Expensive
From Artificial Intelligence to Artificial Superintelligence
AI Gets Embedded in Other Devices
AI Merges with Other Technologies and Services
AI Gets Personalized
How Will AI Impact Your Life in the Future?
AI and You at Home
AI and You at Work
AI and You at Play
AI and You All Day, Every Day
What Risks Lie Ahead?
We Lose Oversight and Control
We Let AI Become Weaponized
The Ultimate AI Risk: Achieving the Singularity
Summary

9780135356050 TOC 10/16/2024