Want to harness the power of AI but don’t know where to start? This ChatGPT tutorial will take you from complete beginner to confident user in under 20 minutes. Whether you’re looking to write better emails, brainstorm ideas, learn new skills, or automate tedious tasks, ChatGPT has become an indispensable tool for millions of people worldwide.
As of January 2026, ChatGPT has evolved dramatically from its 2022 launch, now featuring memory capabilities, scheduled tasks, web browsing agents, and deep research tools. This guide covers everything you need to know to get started and make the most of these powerful features.
What Is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is an AI-powered conversational assistant developed by OpenAI. Unlike traditional search engines that return links, ChatGPT generates human-like text responses to your questions and requests. Think of it as having a knowledgeable assistant available 24/7 who can:
- Write and edit text (emails, essays, code, creative content)
- Answer questions and explain complex topics
- Brainstorm ideas and solve problems
- Analyze documents and images
- Browse the web for current information
- Complete scheduled tasks automatically
The “GPT” stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer, which refers to the underlying AI technology. But you don’t need to understand the technical details to use it effectively.
How to Get Started with ChatGPT
Step 1: Create Your Account
Getting started is straightforward:
- Visit chat.openai.com
- Click “Sign up” (or “Log in” if you already have an account)
- Choose to sign up with email, Google, Microsoft, or Apple account
- Verify your email address
- You’re ready to chat!
The free tier gives you access to GPT-4o mini with limited usage, while ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) unlocks the full GPT-4o model, higher limits, and advanced features.
Step 2: Understanding the Interface
Once logged in, you’ll see a clean chat interface:
- Chat input box: Type your messages here
- New chat button: Start fresh conversations
- Sidebar: Access your chat history and settings
- Model selector: Choose between available AI models
- Attach button: Upload images, PDFs, or other files
The interface is intentionally simple because the real power lies in how you communicate with ChatGPT.
Writing Effective Prompts
The key to getting great results from ChatGPT lies in how you phrase your requests. This is called “prompt engineering,” but it’s simpler than it sounds.
The RICE Framework for Better Prompts
Use this framework to structure your prompts:
- Role: Tell ChatGPT what role to assume
- Instructions: Be specific about what you want
- Context: Provide relevant background information
- Examples: Show the format or style you expect
Basic prompt:
Write a marketing email.
RICE-improved prompt:
Act as an experienced email marketer (Role). Write a promotional email for our new productivity app launch (Instructions). Our target audience is busy professionals aged 25-45 who value time-saving tools (Context). Keep it under 200 words, use a friendly but professional tone, and include a clear call-to-action button text (Examples/Format).
The improved prompt will generate dramatically better results because ChatGPT understands exactly what you need.
Copy-Paste Prompt Templates
Here are battle-tested prompts you can use immediately:
For writing improvement:
Review the following text and suggest improvements for clarity, grammar, and engagement. Maintain my original voice and intent: [paste your text]
For learning new topics:
Explain [topic] as if I’m a complete beginner. Start with the fundamentals, use simple analogies, and build up to more complex concepts. Include 3 practical examples.
For brainstorming:
Generate 10 creative ideas for [your goal]. For each idea, include a brief description and one potential challenge to consider.
For summarizing content:
Summarize the following text in 3 bullet points, capturing the main argument, key evidence, and conclusion: [paste text]
Setting Up Custom Instructions
One of ChatGPT’s most powerful features is Custom Instructions. This lets you set persistent preferences so you don’t have to repeat yourself in every conversation.
How to Configure Custom Instructions
- Click your profile icon in the bottom-left corner
- Select “Custom Instructions” (or “Personalization” on newer versions)
- Fill in two sections:
- What would you like ChatGPT to know about you?
- How would you like ChatGPT to respond?
Example Custom Instructions Setup
About you:
I’m a small business owner running an e-commerce store selling handmade jewelry. I have intermediate technical skills. I prefer practical, actionable advice over theory. My business uses Shopify and Instagram for marketing.
Response preferences:
Keep responses concise and scannable with bullet points. Avoid corporate jargon. When suggesting tools or strategies, explain why they’re relevant to small businesses. If I ask about code, use JavaScript examples.
Now every conversation will be tailored to your specific situation without having to explain your context each time.
Using ChatGPT Memory (2026 Feature)
Memory is a game-changing feature introduced in 2024 and significantly improved in 2025-2026. ChatGPT now remembers information across all your conversations.
How Memory Works
- ChatGPT automatically remembers important details you share
- Memory persists across conversations (not just within a single chat)
- You can view, edit, or delete memories at any time
- Project-specific memory lets you organize information by context
Managing Your Memory
To view what ChatGPT remembers:
- Go to Settings > Personalization > Memory
- Review the list of saved memories
- Delete any you want removed
- Toggle memory on/off for specific projects
Pro tip: Tell ChatGPT explicitly what to remember:
Remember that I’m allergic to shellfish when suggesting recipes.
Or what to forget:
Forget that I mentioned working at [company name].
Deep Research Mode
When you need comprehensive information backed by sources, use ChatGPT’s Deep Research feature.
When to Use Deep Research
- Investigating complex topics requiring multiple sources
- Fact-checking and verification
- Academic or professional research
- Making informed purchasing decisions
How to Activate Deep Research
Simply ask ChatGPT to conduct deep research:
Conduct deep research on the current state of electric vehicle battery technology, including recent breakthroughs, leading companies, and projected developments through 2027.
ChatGPT will browse multiple sources, synthesize information, and provide citations for every claim. This process takes longer than regular responses but delivers thoroughly researched answers.
Scheduled Tasks and Automation
One of 2026’s most practical features is the ability to schedule ChatGPT tasks.
What You Can Schedule
- Daily briefings on topics you care about
- Weekly summaries of industry news
- Regular reminders with context-aware follow-ups
- Automated research on recurring topics
Setting Up Scheduled Tasks
Tell ChatGPT what you want and when:
Every Monday at 8 AM, send me a summary of the top AI news from the past week, focusing on practical applications for small businesses.
ChatGPT will confirm the schedule and deliver automated responses to your inbox or notification preferences.
Free vs. ChatGPT Plus: Which Should You Choose?
Free Tier Includes
- Access to GPT-4o mini model
- Basic chat functionality
- Limited message quotas
- Standard response speed
- Custom instructions
ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) Adds
- Full GPT-4o access (more capable and nuanced)
- Higher message limits (5x more)
- Priority access during peak times
- Deep research with more sources
- Advanced voice mode
- Image generation with DALL-E
- Early access to new features
My recommendation: Start with the free tier to learn the basics. Upgrade to Plus once you’re using ChatGPT daily and hitting the free tier limits.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Being Too Vague
Bad: “Help me with my business.” Better: “Suggest 5 ways to increase customer retention for my online jewelry store, focusing on strategies that cost under $100/month.”
Mistake 2: Not Iterating
Don’t accept the first response as final. Ask ChatGPT to:
- “Make it more concise”
- “Add more specific examples”
- “Adjust the tone to be more casual”
- “Focus more on [specific aspect]“
Mistake 3: Ignoring Context
Always provide relevant context. ChatGPT doesn’t know your situation unless you tell it. The more specific context you provide, the more relevant the response.
Mistake 4: Using It for Real-Time Information Without Web Browsing
ChatGPT’s training data has a cutoff date. For current information, explicitly ask it to search the web or use Deep Research mode.
Practical Use Cases to Try Today
For Work
- Email drafting: “Write a professional email declining a meeting invitation while maintaining the relationship”
- Meeting prep: “Create an agenda for a 30-minute project kickoff meeting”
- Data analysis: Upload a spreadsheet and ask “What trends do you see in this sales data?”
For Learning
- Skill building: “Create a 4-week learning plan to understand basic Python programming”
- Concept explanation: “Explain blockchain like I’m 12 years old”
- Practice problems: “Give me 5 practice problems for learning Excel VLOOKUP”
For Personal Projects
- Travel planning: “Plan a 7-day itinerary for Tokyo on a mid-range budget”
- Recipe creation: “Suggest a healthy dinner recipe using chicken, broccoli, and rice”
- Gift ideas: “Recommend 10 gift ideas under $50 for someone who loves gardening”
Conclusion
ChatGPT is a powerful tool that becomes more valuable the better you understand how to use it. Start with the basics covered in this tutorial:
- Create your account at chat.openai.com
- Set up Custom Instructions to personalize responses
- Use the RICE framework for better prompts
- Leverage Memory to build context over time
- Try Deep Research for thorough, sourced information
The key is to experiment. Try different prompts, iterate on responses, and discover how ChatGPT can fit into your daily workflow. The more you use it, the more natural it becomes.
What’s your favorite way to use ChatGPT? Share your best prompts and use cases in the comments below!
Comments