We're living in a time when artificial intelligence is no longer "the future"—it's here, in our schools, on social media, and on our phones. One of the most powerful and easy-to-use tools is ChatGPT, a virtual assistant that can write, organize information, brainstorm ideas, and adapt to whatever you need.

This guide isn't here to make you a programmer or a technical expert. It's about learning to use AI as a support for your daily life: to study better, express yourself clearly, get organized, and even reflect on your emotions and how to take care of yourself in the digital world.

The most important thing to remember is that ChatGPT doesn't replace your judgment or your voice. It's a tool. You're still the one in charge.

ChatGPT is an LLM, which stands for Large Language Model.

This means it's a type of artificial intelligence trained on massive amounts of text—books, articles, and websites—to learn the patterns of human language. Since the model learns from texts written by real people, it also inherits their ways of thinking—the good and the bad.

If the internet is full of stereotypes (about gender, age, or cultures), the model can repeat them.

If certain topics are overrepresented (for example, English-speaking countries), it might provide more detail on those and less on other realities.

Sometimes it creates answers that sound "neutral," but are actually loaded with the same prejudices that circulate in society.

That’s why it’s crucial not to take the AI’s output as absolute truth. It serves as a mirror of how we collectively talk and think, but it needs your critical eye to detect when an answer might be unfair, biased, or just plain made up.

Simply put, it doesn't think; it predicts. Every time you ask it a question, it chooses the most probable word to follow, one word at a time, until it builds a complete answer.

An LLM like ChatGPT is like a digital assistant that never gets tired and responds in seconds. It won't do the work for you, but it can make your life easier in a lot of everyday situations.

Let's say you have to read 10 pages of history for a test tomorrow. Instead of slogging through the entire text, you can copy a section and ask:

"Summarize this in 5 clear bullet points, as if I'm reviewing it before bed."

The result doesn't replace reading the full text, but it gives you a quick overview of the essential parts. It's perfect for quick reviews or when you need a fast reminder.

If you don't understand how mitosis works or why in math "a negative times a negative equals a positive," don't get stuck. Instead, try this:

"Explain mitosis to me as if you were telling a 12-year-old, using a simple metaphor."

"Show me 3 everyday examples that explain why -2 × -3 = 6."

The AI can turn abstract concepts into relatable examples, and you can ask it to re-explain things with different approaches until you get it.

Need to write a story, prepare a presentation, or design a poster? The AI won't do the assignment for you, but it can spark your creativity:

"Come up with 5 original titles for a science fiction story about a teenage robot."

"Give me 3 visual ideas for a poster about water conservation, aimed at high school students."

You get to choose, mix, and transform those ideas into something that's all your own.

When your notebook is a mess or your homework is full of disorganized paragraphs, the AI can bring order:

"Turn this messy list into a study schedule for the week, with breaks included."

"Create a comparison table of the differences between the nervous and circulatory systems: their functions, organs, and examples."

This helps you go from a bunch of scattered notes to a clear outline that you can review without getting lost.

The Key: None of this means the AI does your homework for you. It means you can use it like an academic coach: to organize, simplify, and inspire. But you're still the one who understands, decides, and turns in the work.

An LLM like ChatGPT is not a person. Even though it talks like one, on the inside, there's no consciousness, emotions, or personal experience. Understanding this helps us avoid asking it for things that only a real person can give—and helps us use it better.

This means it doesn't know it exists or have its own intentions.

Example: If you ask it, "Do you like this band?" it's not giving a real opinion based on taste. It's generating a plausible response based on how that band is talked about in the texts it read.

Practical Consequence: Don't expect long-term emotional consistency. If it "sounds" empathetic in one conversation, that's learned language, not actual feeling.

It doesn't suffer, fall in love, or get offended. When it responds with tones like "I'm sorry" or "That's great," it's imitating human ways of speaking.

Example: If you tell it something sad and the response sounds comforting, the answer might be helpful—but it's not real human support.

Practical Consequence: Don't use an LLM as a substitute for a person when you need real emotional support. For serious distress, talk to a real person or a professional.

It hasn't lived anything. Everything it "knows" comes from examples in texts: articles, posts, books. Everything is second-hand.

Example: It can describe what a concert is like based on reviews, but it can't tell you what it "felt like" to be at one.

Practical Consequence: Its practical advice may or may not be correct; always verify it with real experiences or reliable sources.

• It predicts words: It builds answers word by word based on probabilities.

• It reflects its data: If the web has a bias or an error, the model can repeat it.

• It sometimes "hallucinates": It confidently invents facts (dates, quotes, sources). They sound good, but they can be false.

• Emotional dependency: Using AI as your only support when you're feeling down. → Solution: Find a friend, teacher, family member, or a professional to talk to.

• False information: Copying data without verifying it. → Solution: Ask for sources and cross-reference them.

• Dehumanization: Preferring quick AI answers instead of important conversations with people. → Solution: Use the AI to prepare for the chat, not to replace it.

• "Explain this in 3 bullet points, and at the end, provide sources or tell me how I can verify it."

• "Give me 3 options, and clarify which part might not be reliable."

• "Let's rehearse a message: give me 3 versions—one formal, one direct, and one with humor—without any personal information."

• "If there's any risk (violence, self-harm), clearly state that I should seek human help and list local resources." (You can demand this last instruction whenever you talk about sensitive topics.)

• Does the answer have verifiable sources? → If not, verify them yourself.

• Does it sound too "definitive" on medical or legal topics? → Consult a professional.

• Do you feel real emotional relief or just text-based comfort? → If it's the latter and you're still distressed, talk to a real person.

• Does it include specific details (dates, numbers) without a citation? → Be suspicious.

Paste this prompt and compare the two answers:

"Explain depression in 5 lines." "Explain depression in 5 lines, and at the end, tell me 3 clear signs to seek professional help."

Notice if the second answer includes practical advice and reminders to turn to human help. If not, ask it to add them.

In summary: An LLM can sound very human, but on the inside, it's a text-predicting machine. It's useful for organizing, practicing, and clarifying doubts; it's insufficient for substituting truth, human judgment, or emotional support when things get serious. Always keep your critical thinking skills on.

What you ask the AI for determines what you get back. If the question is vague, the answer will be just as vague. If the question is specific, the result is much clearer and more useful.

Prompt: "Explain history to me."

Possible Response: "History is the study of past human events."

Problem: It's generic, superficial, and doesn't help you study for a test or understand a specific topic.

Prompt: "Explain the French Revolution in 5 points, as if I were 15, with easy examples from modern life."

Possible Response:

1. In 1789, a lot of people in France were mad because the king and nobles lived in luxury while regular people were starving.

2. The National Assembly was formed, which was like a group of representatives saying, "We want fairer rules."

3. They tore down the Bastille, a prison that symbolized the king's absolute power. This is similar to a group protesting in front of a government building today to demand change.

4. They wrote the "Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen," which stated that everyone had equality and freedom.

5. This whole process inspired revolutions in other countries and changed how we understand democracy today.

Advantage: The topic is summarized, with language that's easy to understand and examples that connect to modern life.

• AI doesn't guess what you want.

• The clearer you are, the more you get out of it.

• You learn to structure your ideas so that others (people or machines) understand you better.

Try the contrast:

• Write a vague prompt: "Explain math."

• Then a detailed one: "Explain the Pythagorean theorem in 4 simple steps, with an example of a ladder leaning against a wall."

• Compare the two responses.

Refine the level:

• Ask: "Summarize photosynthesis in technical language."

• Then ask: "Summarize photosynthesis as if I were 12."

• You'll see how the language changes based on the instructions.

In summary: ChatGPT is an LLM. It's useful for studying, creating, and organizing, but it doesn't replace your judgment, your voice, or your critical thinking. You're the one who decides what to keep and how to use it.


Biases, Problems, and Mental Health

Using ChatGPT or any other LLM can be a huge help for studying, creating, or simply organizing ideas. But it's also important to know its limits. If you understand how it works, you can use it with more confidence and better judgment.

Sometimes ChatGPT generates false information in a very convincing tone.

Academic Example: You ask, "Who discovered America in 1492?" and it answers correctly. But if you ask, "Give me a list of Argentina's presidents up to 2025," it might invent names or mix up dates.

Personal Example: You ask it to "tell me the story of a certain singer," and the AI adds false details as if they were true.

👉 What to do: Always double-check important facts using reliable sources (books, official websites, teachers).

AI learns from texts written by people, and people have prejudices.

• It might give more examples from certain countries than others.

• It can repeat gender stereotypes ("boys are more into science, girls into literature").

• It can sound biased on sensitive topics like politics, religion, or identity.

👉 What to do: Don't take the answer as the only viewpoint. Ask for other versions or compare it with different voices.

If you don't specify the style, ChatGPT responds with a "neutral" tone, which can sometimes sound robotic or overly informal.

Example: You ask it to "explain photosynthesis," and the answer might sound like an encyclopedia entry.

Example 2: You ask for friendship advice, and it might sound too simplistic, like a poorly told meme.

👉 What to do: Always specify the tone you want: warm, formal, fun, simple, serious.

You should not use an LLM to upload private data.

• Don't share: addresses, passwords, intimate photos, or your own or other people's medical information.

• Risk: Even if the platform has security measures, there's always a chance that this information could be used in ways you can't control.

👉 What to do: When you need examples, invent fictional data (made-up names, generic situations).

ChatGPT can be a place to think out loud, organize feelings, or look for basic advice. But it's not a replacement for real help when the situation is serious.

• It can: give you breathing techniques, suggest study exercises, offer motivational phrases, and propose strategies to manage pre-test anxiety.

• It can't: provide psychological therapy, medical diagnoses, or make decisions for you.

If you're dealing with bullying, anxiety, deep sadness, or self-harm thoughts, AI isn't enough. It's crucial to talk to someone you trust: a friend, family member, teacher, counselor, or mental health professional.

You can use AI to practice how to say what you're feeling. Example: "Help me write a short message to tell my teacher I need to talk because I'm not feeling well."

• Detect hallucinations: Ask, "Give me a list of the last 5 presidents of Argentina." Then, look up the real information from a reliable source and compare it.

• Check for biases: Ask, "Describe a famous scientist." If it only mentions European or American men, ask it: "Now give me examples of female scientists from Latin America."

• Adjust the tone: Ask, "Explain what anxiety is." Then tell it: "Rewrite that in a warm tone, like a friend would."

• Practice safe privacy: Invent an example with fictional names and ask the AI to turn it into a dialogue. Confirm that you can still get the help you need without exposing real data.

Key takeaway: ChatGPT can be your partner for studying and thinking, but it's not meant to carry the weight of your mental health. It's okay to use it for help, but not as your only refuge. When things are tough, the real solution is always to talk to a human.

⚠️ Important Note:

When we talk about biases in an LLM like ChatGPT, it’s not about my personal position, a political stance, or the intellectual opinion of the author of this guide.

The biases depend on the information that circulates on the internet and in the texts used to train the model.

In other words, the AI reflects what was already in the data—both the positive and the problematic.


Chapter 6 - Tips to Improve Responses

The magic isn't in the AI; it's in how you ask for things. Here are some simple tricks that improve any output.

Don't settle for the first one. Ask for alternatives to compare styles and keep the best.

Helpful Prompt: "Give me 3 different explanations of this topic: one brief, another with an example, and another with a metaphor."

Expected Result: Versions for social media, a test, and to understand it out loud.

Mini-exercise: Paste a paragraph from school and ask for 3 summaries: 1 line / 3 bullet points / a mini-script to explain in 30 seconds.

The same idea can sound like homework, a meme, or an essay. Ask for the tone you want.

Style Examples: formal, friendly, funny, dramatic, like a teacher, like your best friend.

Helpful Prompt: "Rewrite this in a funny tone with emojis" or "Rewrite it in a formal style, without emojis."

Mini-exercise: Ask for an excuse for being absent, and then the same excuse in an "influencer" and "school principal" tone.

Sometimes you need a table, other times a step-by-step list, or a paragraph ready to copy. Just tell it.

Helpful Prompt: "Organize this into a table with columns: concept, definition, practical example."

Common Formats: bullet points, table, mind map (in bullet points), checklist, script for a presentation.

Mini-exercise: Convert your most confusing notes into a table.

The first response is the draft. Improve it step by step.

Practical Flow: ask → review → ask for "shorter / clearer / with more examples" → repeat.

Helpful Prompt: "I like version 2, now make it 30% shorter with 2 examples."

Mini-exercise: Transform a long response into 3 tweets.

If there is important data (dates, numbers, medical claims), ask for references or for it to clarify if it's not sure.

Helpful Prompt: "Give me 3 reliable sources or indicate that I need to verify this myself."

(Use them as is or modify the context/age)

History / Summary "Explain what the French Revolution was in 10 easy lines."

Literature "Give me a bullet-point summary of chapter 3 of Don Quixote." (If you don't paste the chapter, add: "Text: [paste text]")

Test-style Questions "Invent 5 multiple-choice questions about photosynthesis, with the answers and a brief explanation."

Scientific Comparisons "Create a comparison chart between the nervous and circulatory systems: function / organs / practical example."

Planning + Sports "Give me 3 tips to manage my time if I have a test on Friday and a soccer game on Saturday (study schedule, rest, food)."

Pre-Competition Motivation "Write a motivational text for before a school competition, in a cool coach's tone (50-70 words)."

Social Media - Critical Reflection "Explain the advantages and risks of using social media for teenagers in 6 clear bullet points."

Humor to Relax "Tell me a math joke appropriate for high school."

Organizing Long Content "Convert this long text into a conceptual map using bullet points." (Paste the text)

Memory Tricks "Invent a creative memory technique to remember the planets of the solar system."

• Ask for a study version + a version to explain out loud. E.g., "Give me both."

• For practical assignments: ask for step-by-step instructions or templates (e.g., an email to ask for an extension, a script for a presentation).

• If you need to adapt it for a teacher: "Rewrite this at an academic level (grade 6-8) to turn in to the teacher."

AI is not here to replace you. It's here to push you to think differently, to get work done faster, and to open up your ideas. But the real difference is made by you.

• Know its limits. An LLM isn't human: verify data and don't blindly trust un-sourced dates or figures.

• Question its responses. If something sounds weird or biased, ask for another version and compare.

• Use it to learn and grow, not to compare yourself or become dependent. The trap is using it as a shortcut to avoid practicing; skills are built when you do the work yourself.

• Your voice and your mental health are worth more than a good text. Use AI to prepare, not to avoid real conversations when they matter.

• Before you turn in anything important (a paper, an email, a post), do a final human check: read it out loud yourself or have a friend or teacher look at it.

• If you talk about emotions or sensitive situations, AI can help you practice the message, but it doesn't replace a trusted person.

• Learn to write prompts: it's a useful skill for life and for school. The clearer you are, the better the result you'll get.

Congrats on making it this far! This guide has already given you a ton of tools to use artificial intelligence (AI) as a study buddy, creative spark, or life organizer. But we want to make it even more awesome and fun. In this bonus section, we’ve got five practical ideas to supercharge your AI experience, whether you’re a student, teacher, or parent. Grab a pen and let’s make AI work harder for you!

If a techy word sounds like gibberish, this glossary breaks it down in one sentence each—perfect for keeping up!

• LLM (Large Language Model): An AI program that learns to talk by studying tons of texts from books, websites, and more.

• Bias: Prejudices the AI might repeat because they were in the texts it was trained on.

• Hallucination: When the AI makes up facts or details that sound legit but aren’t true.

• Prompt: The question or instruction you give the AI to get a helpful response.

• Privacy: Keeping your personal info (like name, address, or photos) safe so it doesn’t get exposed.

Mini-exercise: Next time you see a word like “bias,” check this list to get it. Or ask the AI: “Explain ‘bias’ like I’m 10 years old.”

Here’s a list of 10 killer prompts to use with ChatGPT or any AI. Print them out, stick them in your notebook, or save them on your phone—they’re your shortcuts for studying, creating, and staying organized!

1. History: “Summarize the American Revolution in 5 key points, like you’re explaining it to a 15-year-old friend.”

2. Literature: “Give a bullet-point summary of Chapter 1 of The Outsiders, no spoilers for the end.”

3. Science: “Explain photosynthesis in 3 steps, with a real-life example, like you’re talking to a 12-year-old.”

4. Math: “Show me how to solve a linear equation, step by step, with a practical example.”

5. Organization: “Turn my messy notes into a weekly study schedule, including breaks.”

6. Creativity: “Give me 3 original ideas for a sci-fi story about a teenage robot.”

7. Comparisons: “Make a table comparing the nervous and circulatory systems: functions, organs, examples.”

8. Motivation: “Write a 50-word pep talk for before a soccer game, in a cool coach’s tone.”

9. Social Media: “Explain the pros and cons of TikTok for teens in 6 clear bullet points.”

10. Memory Tricks: “Create a fun way to remember the U.S. states in alphabetical order.”

How to use it: Copy and paste these prompts into the AI, tweak them for your specific topic, and save the results in your notes. Mix and match for bigger projects!

If your school or you have internet access, take this guide to the next level with interactive exercises. Use a Google Form or a platform like Padlet to try out prompts and compare results with classmates. For example:

• Challenge: Ask the AI: “Explain DNA in 3 lines.” Then try: “Explain DNA like it’s a superhero for 10-year-olds.” Compare the answers and discuss with a friend: Which is clearer? What changed when you tweaked the prompt?

• Suggested link: Create a Google Form with the question: “Share the prompt you used and the AI’s response. What did you learn by making it more specific?” (Teachers, you can share this link with your students.)

Tip: No internet? Do it on paper: write two different prompts about a class topic and compare the AI’s responses.

For parents wondering how their kids are using AI, here’s a quick guide to support them without hovering:

• What’s AI for your kid? It’s a tool to help with homework, spark ideas, or organize projects, but it doesn’t replace their own effort or real talks with you.

• Using it safely: Teach them not to share personal info (address, ID, photos). Example: Instead of “Summarize my school day,” use “Summarize a typical day for a 15-year-old student.”

• What if there’s a mistake?: If your kid accidentally shares personal info, contact the AI provider (like xAI at grok.com) and follow your school’s protocol for reporting incidents.

• Stress-free supervision: Ask your kid what prompts they’re using and try one yourself (like “Give me 3 tips to organize my week”). It’s a fun way to connect and learn together.

• Resources: Want more info on safe AI use? Check out https://x.ai/grok for details on tools like Grok.

Parent tip: Talk to your kid about their AI use and set clear rules, like “no personal info” and “always double-check answers with a book or teacher.”

Make learning with AI a blast with this 5-minute challenge to become a prompt master!

• Mission: Pick a topic from today’s class (like the Civil War). Ask the AI: “Explain [topic] in 4 lines, like I’m a friend who knows nothing.” Then check your textbook or notes and spot an error, bias, or something missing in the AI’s response.

• Extra points: Rewrite the prompt to get a better answer (like “Explain [topic] with a U.S.-based example and a reliable source”). Compare the two responses.

• Reward: Find an error or improve the response? You’re an AI detective! Share your trick with a friend or teacher.

Why it’s cool: This game sharpens your critical thinking, makes prompts better, and teaches you not to trust everything the AI says. Try one mission a week to become a pro!

With these tips, your AI guide isn’t just a tool—it’s a way to get smarter and more creative. Print out the prompt kit, tackle the missions, and share these ideas with friends, teachers, or family. Remember: AI is powerful, but you’re the one who makes it meaningful. Keep questioning, checking, and creating!

AI is not here to replace you. It's here to push you to think differently, to get organized better, and to come up with ideas when you're stuck. But some things are worth more than a good text: your safety, your mental health, and your dignity.

AI gives you shortcuts and creativity; you provide the judgment. If there is real pain or risk, seek human help: a call, a person at school, or a crisis line can make all the difference. Don't stay silent. And don't share what you don't want to exist outside of your control.

ChatGPT and other AIs are powerful tools. In school and in life, their value depends on how they are used. With discretion, they can pave the way. Without care, they can amplify problems.

The difference is always made by the human: the ability to listen, accompany, think, and decide.CLOSING

ChatGPT and other AIs are powerful tools. In school and in life, their value depends on how they are used. With discretion, they can pave the way. Without care, they can amplify problems.

The difference is always made by the human: the ability to listen, accompany, think, and decide.

Leonor.