Resources to help you learn to use LLMs

Want to learn more about using large language models? Here are some excellent tips and resources.

Which LLM should you use?

There are so many options! If you want to become good at prompting I would suggest you use several models. If you can afford it, I’d recommend paid subscriptions to each of the following:

  • ChatGPT Plus: $20 USD / month. You’ll get 5x more prompts than the free version. The free version has access to GPT-4o mini. The paid version also gives you access to the new early versions of “strawberry”, o1-preview and o1-mini which are good for reasoning through tasks. The paid version allows for file uploads, data analysis and web browsing. You can also create GPT’s which are like little personal agents that are quite helpful.
  • Gemini Advanced: $20 USD / month. Gemini Advanced uses a more advanced AI model than the free version. You also get access to Gemini in Gmail and Google docs. However, you can get access to the most advanced version of Gemini for free by using Gemini in AI Studio. 
  • Grok (X / Twitter). $8 USD / month with a Premium X account. Grok is getting better and better and because it has access to real time data on X, it is good for learning about things that are happening in real time.

There are many other AI tools including Claude, Meta AI and Perplexity that are worth checking out as well.

What I use

My goal for using AI is twofold. I use the tools to help me, but also, I use them so I can get good at using them! This is why I use all 3. I think any of ChatGPT, Gemini and Grok have the potential to eventually become closely integrated with our lives. 

I use ChatGPT the most, followed by Gemini in AI studio. Grok is my current favourite for real time info and image generation.

If I had to pay for just one tool I’d likely choose ChatGPT.

How to get good at using LLMs

Learn to use LLMs

The best skill you can learn is to become good at prompting language models. I’ll list some courses you can take below, but really, you can learn by asking the models to teach you!

Try these prompts:

Create a tutorial to help me learn how to use [ChatGPT / Gemini / Grok]. Give me just one question at a time.
Teach me how to use [ChatGPT / Gemini / Grok] to learn a new topic or skill.
I’m new to [ChatGPT / Gemini / Grok]. What should I know?]
Provide a step by step guide on troubleshooting unsatisfactory responses from [ChatGPT / Gemini / Grok]

If you’re not happy with how the conversation is going, simply “talk” to it like a human. For example, “That’s not really the response I was looking for. Can you give me a more simple explanation?” If the conversation gets really frustrating, it can help to start over with a new one.

Free resources

OpenAI’s guide to prompt engineering

Google’s guide to prompt engineering

My book: Learn to use Bard

The prompts are written for Bard which is the early version of Gemini, but these can be used with any language model. Play pictionary, create recipes and more.

Learn to Use Bard: Prompts and Games to try to up your skills

Google prompting essentials

https://www.coursera.org/google-learn/prompting-essentials 

Cost: $66 via Coursera

Time: 9 hours

This beginner level course teaches you to design prompts and iterate on them to improve. It will help you learn how to work with data and create visualizations. You’ll also learn how to create AI agents.

This resource list is just getting started. I’ll post more to it as I find great resources.