1.5 – Get Started With ChatGPT Lesson

Lesson Overview

Understanding how to get started with ChatGPT involves more than just creating an account—you need to choose the right plan, be aware of available models, and know how to use important settings. This lesson helps clarify these options so you can pick the best starting point for your needs and avoid common frustrations with limits or missing tools.

After signing up with a free account, you’ll get access to GPT-3.5 and some limited use of ChatGPT’s most advanced model, GPT-4o. For users who need more—such as greater usage limits, custom GPT creation, or DALL-E image generation—paid plans like Plus, Teams, and Enterprise are on offer, each tailored to different situations and groups.

You’ll explore not only how to select models and switch between them, but also how to personalize ChatGPT with account-level instructions, adjust important privacy settings, and discover features that increase productivity (like uploading files for analysis, accessing voice features, or sharing conversations). Whether you’re curious about how to control your AI data or want to share a chat with a colleague, this lesson provides a solid entry point into ChatGPT’s ecosystem. Having a grasp on these basics sets you up for later lessons, where you’ll learn to craft better prompts and unlock new creative uses.

Who This Is For

If you are new to ChatGPT or want a clear understanding of its core plans, key settings, and interface, this lesson is designed for you. It’s especially relevant if you:

• Are just starting out with AI tools and want simple, reliable guidance
• Need to decide between free or paid ChatGPT for personal or team use
• Want to ensure privacy and account settings are set up correctly
• Plan to use ChatGPT for writing, research, brainstorming, or productivity
• Manage teams or are considering ChatGPT for business or shared projects
• Are an educator, content creator, solo entrepreneur, or small business owner exploring AI

Where This Fits in a Workflow

Setting up and familiarizing yourself with ChatGPT comes at the very start of any AI-powered workflow. Whether your goal is to write marketing content, summarize research, analyze documents, or collaborate with others, a properly configured ChatGPT account is your launchpad.

For example, before you craft effective prompts, you first need to know which model you’re using and what features are unlocked with your plan. Additionally, setting privacy controls and personal instructions saves time and ensures consistency throughout your projects. If you’re working in a team, selecting the right plan (such as Teams) is crucial before sharing access or collaborating through shared chats and files.

By establishing your ChatGPT account, choosing a suitable plan, and exploring the interface and settings upfront, you’ll streamline every later step—making the rest of the course and your work much more efficient.

Technical & Workflow Benefits

Previously, exploring generative AI tools meant juggling different platforms or dealing with feature limitations that slowed down productivity. With ChatGPT’s clear plans and integrated settings, you avoid time-consuming workarounds and can focus on generating results.

For instance, free users now have easy entry with access to both GPT-3.5 and a limited use of GPT-4o, letting you test advanced capabilities before upgrading. Paid tiers like Plus and Teams greatly expand limits and unlock specialized options like custom GPT creation or enhanced privacy. By adjusting settings like data controls upfront, you reduce worries about data sharing and can personalize responses without repetitive setup.

Two specific workflow benefits:

• You can quickly switch models and harness unique strengths (e.g., GPT-4o for nuanced tasks) as your needs change, all without leaving the ChatGPT environment.
• The combination of memory, custom instructions, file uploads, and conversation sharing brings everything into one user-friendly tool—eliminating the need for multiple apps, saving time, and increasing the quality and consistency of your results.

Practice Exercise

1. Choose a scenario that matches your work (e.g., writing an email, researching a topic, or planning a lesson). Then:
2. Sign in or create a free ChatGPT account if you haven’t already.
3. Open the settings menu and:
   1. Set your privacy/data sharing preference.
   2. Enter a brief custom instruction (for example, “Always respond in a concise, professional tone”)
4. Start a new chat and pick a starter prompt from the suggestions.

Reflection: How does adjusting the settings and using custom instructions affect the responses you get? Compare your experience to previous attempts (if any) using ChatGPT without personalization.

Course Context Recap

This lesson has walked through the essential first steps of using ChatGPT, from understanding plans and settings to making your first customizations. You now have the context you need to make informed choices and prepare for more advanced skills.

Previously, you set up your ChatGPT account and explored the basic interface. Next, you’ll begin working with actual prompts and see how to craft questions and requests that guide ChatGPT to produce better, more relevant outputs. Continue through the course for hands-on prompting strategies and deeper insights into using generative AI for powerful results.