Start here · Beginner course

AI Prompts That Actually Work

You write prompts that get a usable answer more often, fix the answers that miss, and keep a library of your own.

Included with every course. Founding price $97 until Nov 28, 2026. Then $497. One charge. No subscription, nothing renews. Every course, now and every one we add, for as long as AI PhD runs. Full refund within 30 days, in one click.

AI PromptsThat WorkSTART HEREAI PromptsThat WorkSTART HERE
Level
Beginner
No experience needed
Time
1.3 hours
Our estimate, not yet timed
Lessons
10
In 4 modules
Taught live
By an AI instructor
Labeled AI on every message

Steps checked on Oct 21, 2026 for ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Claude Code. Pick your AI to see what was checked for it.

What you'll learn

  • Spot why an answer went wrong before you try again.
  • Write a prompt with context, an example and the format you want.
  • Fix a bad answer by saying exactly what to change.
  • Check any fact, number or quote before you use it.
  • Keep a library of your own prompts that worked, ready to reuse.

Skills you'll practice

Giving contextExamples and formatFixing a bad answerYour prompt library

Syllabus

4 modules, 10 live lessons, 1 hours 16 minutes in all. Minutes are our estimates from the lesson plan, not timed runs. They are measured once learners finish each lesson, and the page shows the measured time after that.

Module 1Why answers go wrong2 lessons · 15 min
Why a short question gets a vague answerLesson 1, taught live8 min
What the AI cannot know unless you tell itLesson 2, taught live7 min
Module 2Context, examples, format3 lessons · 23 min
Give context: who it is for and whyLesson 3, taught live8 min
Show an example of what good looks likeLesson 4, taught live8 min
Ask for the format you needLesson 5, taught live7 min
Module 3Fixing a bad answer3 lessons · 23 min
Say what is wrong, instead of just trying againLesson 6, taught live8 min
Check facts before you use themLesson 7, taught live8 min
When to start over with a fresh questionLesson 8, taught live7 min
Module 4Your prompt library2 lessons · 15 min
Save the prompts that workedLesson 9, taught live7 min
Turn a good prompt into a template you reuseLesson 10, taught live8 min

Who it's for

The four learners we test every course with: a nontechnical adult, someone good with tech who is new to AI, someone who has only used Copilot at work, and a parent. Each entry says which one it is for and what they get.

A nontechnical adult

You have tried AI and got answers that missed the point.

A simple way to ask so the first answer is more often usable.

Good with tech, new to AI

You are good with tech and want to get good at AI fast.

The few moves that change answers the most, practiced on your own tasks.

Uses Copilot at work

You use Copilot or another AI at work and want less back and forth.

Prompts for your own recurring work, saved in a library you keep.

A parent

You are a parent who wants to show your family how to ask AI well.

Clear habits you can explain at home, practiced on made-up examples.

Before you start

  • None.
  • Never used an AI? Start with AI for Beginners, if you like.
  • Nothing to install. Every lesson runs on this site.
  • If you use an AI already, you can try each prompt there too.

What the AI may do in this course

Sol, an AI, teaches every lesson. It says so when you first meet it, and the label beside its name says so on every message. Here is exactly what it is allowed to do.

It may

Draft only

Drafts from what you type or paste. Nothing is connected.

Connected accounts are taught in other courses.

What this course won't do

  • Paste other people's private details into an AI, or your company's confidential work.
  • Sell you a list of magic prompts. You write your own, for your own work.
  • Give legal, tax, investment or medical advice. A qualified professional decides those.
  • Ask for a password, a card number, an ID, or a code a site texts or emails you, here or in any AI.
  • Promise what an AI will say. AIs answer differently from one try to the next, so every lesson says what to look for instead.

How this course is kept current

AI tools change often. When a maker changes something this course teaches, we say so here, quote their own page, and fix the lesson in the next monthly drop.

What we checked, per AI

AICheckedWhat that means
ChatGPTOct 21, 2026Checked against the maker's help pages. Lesson 1's steps quote OpenAI's help page. Not yet run in ChatGPT. Lessons 2 to 10 need no clicks in any AI.
ClaudeOct 21, 2026Checked against the maker's help pages. Lesson 1's steps quote the Claude Help Center. Not yet run in Claude. Lessons 2 to 10 need no clicks in any AI.
GeminiOct 23, 2026Checked against the maker's help pages. Lesson 1's steps quote Gemini Apps Help for personal accounts, and Google Workspace Admin Help for work or school accounts. Not yet run in Gemini. Lessons 2 to 10 need no clicks in any AI.
Microsoft CopilotOct 21, 2026Checked against the maker's help pages. Lesson 1's steps quote Microsoft Support, for Microsoft 365 Copilot. The personal Copilot app is not checked yet. Lessons 2 to 10 need no clicks in any AI.
Claude CodeOct 21, 2026Checked against the maker's help pages. Lesson 1's steps quote the Claude Code docs. Not yet run in Claude Code. Lessons 2 to 10 need no clicks in any AI.
No AI yetOct 22, 2026Runs on this site. Every lesson runs on this site.

Finish it and get a certificate you can share, cancelled only if you take a refund.

Every lesson done and every quick check passed, with a public page anyone can check. Not a university. Not accredited.