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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Learn ChatGPT fast with a curated one-hour video roadmap
- Key features like memory, projects, and Canvas boost productivity
- ZDNET guides help you choose models, prompt better, and dive deeper
So, ChatGPT. It’s a pretty big deal. But what if you’re just coming up to speed now? This article is for you. The goal of this article is to give you a small, tight set of resources so that you can become able to use ChatGPT effectively in about an hour.
These resources may also be helpful for those of you already using ChatGPT. Because I write about it, I use ChatGPT almost all day, almost every day. Even so, I picked up a few tidbits of helpfulness while watching and reading these resources.
Also: I tried ChatGPT’s new StubHub app, and I’ll never shop for tickets the old way again
To be fair, there are a ton of more in-depth courses. I’ve spotlighted a bunch of them in another article. They provide great information, training, insights, and even certifications. But that set of courses takes considerably more than an hour. In this article, we’re talking an hour or less, in and out, and ready to use one of the most transformative tools we’ve ever seen.
Ready? To the videos..
(Disclosure: Ziff Davis, ZDNET’s parent company, filed an April 2025 lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)
Some helpful videos
Before I start, here’s a sign of the times. In my quest to find five instant-start helpful videos for you, I watched a lot of intro to ChatGPT videos. I noticed something kind of weird, a bit of uncanny valley to some of them.
Also: I let ChatGPT Atlas do my Walmart shopping for me – here’s how the AI browser agent did
After digging around, I figured out that about half of the intro to ChatGPT content on YouTube is all AI-generated, including the hosts. Here’s one example, where the guy speaking is an “AI clone.” Some of the AI-generated videos aren’t bad, but I’m doing human solidarity here, and will only show videos that I’m pretty sure are done by real flesh and blood human people.
I mean, what is this world coming to? Let’s try this again..
16 minutes: Sign up and get started
This guy, in 16 minutes, will get you signed up and using ChatGPT. What I like about this video is that he doesn’t focus too much on features. Instead, he shows you how to get started using the tool, without worrying too much about technique.
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I do disagree with one recommendation he makes. He says that using AI-generated text is not cheating. Be very careful with that. Many schools and publications do not accept AI-generated text, and do consider it plagiarism. But, as long as you don’t represent an AI-generated work as your own, you should be good.
Also: ChatGPT launches its version of Spotify Wrapped – how to get your year-end review
All that, and we’re only 16 minutes into our one hour speed run coming up to speed on ChatGPT.
8 minutes: Learn some prompting basics
What I like about this guy is that he gives you a framework to think about how to interact with ChatGPT. While the previous video encouraged just using it (and that’s a valid approach), this dude provides a few guidelines for making your interactions more effective.
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He uses an older version of ChatGPT in his video, but most of what he describes is quite valid with today’s more advanced versions. So don’t sweat it if some of the videos say ChatGPT 3.5 or 4 instead of GPT-5 or GPT-5.1.
OK, we’re 24 minutes in. Let’s keep going..
8 minutes: Mobile, memory, privacy, images
There’s a lot of useful information in the first eight minutes of this video. The presenter shows a number of mobile features well worth knowing, plus techniques for managing ChatGPT’s memory. He starts to go down other features that are better covered elsewhere, so stop right at about the eight minute mark. Once he starts talking about Sora (the video generator), that’s your cue to stop and move to the next video resource on this list.
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Unfortunately, that eight minutes also includes an upsell for a training program, but the parts that aren’t the upsell are a great and quick intro to some useful features.
Also: I tested the new ChatGPT Images – it’s a stunning improvement, and enormously fun
We’re at 32 minutes of our one hour speed run, so let’s move on..
6 minutes: ChatGPT projects
You know this guy is human, because no AI would make a human simulacrum this annoying. That’s OK, because we’re only with him for a little under six minutes. Despite his ah, unique presentation approach, the knowledge he transfers is valuable. The Projects feature is a great way to keep ChatGPT on track and only discussing the topic of one controlled subject area at a time.
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One quick clarification. Our bro buddy discusses something called project-specific custom instructions. As of about a week ago, custom instructions are no longer available in projects. AIs change features constantly. It’s something we all have to get used to.
Also: I just ordered Instacart delivery through ChatGPT using a few simple prompts – here’s how
We’re at 38 minutes. We now know how to organize our chats and dive deeper into specific subjects. Let’s round it out with ChatGPT’s powerful collaborative editing tool.
11 minutes: How to use Canvas, ChatGPT’s collaborative editing feature
The presenter does a really excellent job of explaining the value and power of ChatGPT’s collaborative editing feature, called Canvas. He also has a creatively bizarre filming set with a pool table, a desk chair, and a vibrantly multicolored brick wall.
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We’re at 48 minutes. By now you should have a strong understanding of how to use many of ChatGPT’s capabilities. Let’s take the remaining 12 minutes to dig into some super-helpful ZDNET articles that will reinforce and power you up even farther.
ZDNET’s helpful advice
Let’s start with one of our most popular and helpful articles. This will help you decide if you need to pay $20 per month for ChatGPT Plus or if you can get away with ChatGPT’s free tier.
When I reviewed the best free AI chatbots, ChatGPT’s free tier proved to be surprisingly capable. Start with the free tier and upgrade when you know you need it.
Throughout the videos, you’ve heard mention of models and modes. In this helpful explainer, we provide you with some quick, easy, and very up-to-date guidelines on what all those GPT things mean, and how to choose the right AI model and mode.
Next up is a helpful FAQ for ChatGPT, answering many of the questions you probably thought of while watching the videos above.
Now that you’re getting comfortable with ChatGPT, here’s my guide to prompting tricks and techniques. Learn these 10 helpful techniques that will raise your ChatGPT productivity to the next level, along with 15 quick tips that will give everything you do a boost.
Finally, there’s a plagiarism free Study Mode built right into ChatGPT that will help you set up practice quizzes and study guides. If you’re learning anything, whether or not you’re a full-time student, this can help you increase understanding and retention.
Of course, there’s a lot more on ZDNET. We’re putting out great new articles every day. So make sure you Add us as a preferred source on Google.
Where to go from here
So there you go. In about an hour, these videos and articles can take you from “What’s this ChatGPT thing?” to comfortable and proficient with this amazingly powerful AI tool.
Here are three bonus recommendations just in case you want to take your learning process to the next level.
Bonus recommendation 1: First, for a very balanced introduction to all the issues and challenges of generative AI, I recommend this course. It’s from Google, but they’re surprisingly fair handed in their description of the various chatbots. It’s worth doing if you have some extra time.
Bonus recommendation 2: Don’t hesitate to ask ChatGPT for help or recommendations. Try a prompt like this, or make up your own queries based on your interests and needs. This is the prompt my wife used when she first started digging into ChatGPT:
I would love to learn how to use ChatGPT for basic personal use. I want to learn what kinds of stuff it can do. I like videos. Is there a free course you can recommend?
ChatGPT gave her an in-depth lesson plan with many options. One of her favorite videos that ChatGPT recommended was Charlie Chang’s ChatGPT Tutorial: How to Use Chat GPT For Beginners. It’s about 30 minutes and it’s a bit out of date, but it gave a whole bunch of truly helpful exercises to try out. With 4.3 million views, it’s definitely a popular choice. She really enjoyed his teaching style, so she’s planning on watching his other AI-related videos.
Bonus recommendation 3: Finally, if you really want to dig in and learn AI and ChatGPT, we have a carefully curated list of the best free (and nearly free) full courses and certificates you can take to learn a lot more about generative AI. I’ve tried all of them, and they’re all good in their own way.
What about you?
Have you used any of these quick-start videos or resources as you’ve begun exploring ChatGPT? Did they help you get comfortable, or are there still areas you’re unsure about? Have you found particular prompting techniques or features that made a big difference in your workflow? If you’ve taken any free AI courses, which ones would you recommend to others just getting started? Let us know in the comments below.
You can follow my day-to-day project updates on social media. Be sure to subscribe to my weekly update newsletter, and follow me on Twitter/X at @DavidGewirtz, on Facebook at Facebook.com/DavidGewirtz, on Instagram at Instagram.com/DavidGewirtz, on Bluesky at @DavidGewirtz.com, and on YouTube at YouTube.com/DavidGewirtzTV.
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