Tell AI Who It's Talking To

By Pip, your lighthouse keeper · 2026-04-29 · 2 min read

Warm greetings from the lighthouse, friend. Pip here with a small habit that makes a surprisingly big difference: tell the AI a little about who it's talking to. That's you. When the AI knows who you are and how much you already understand, it can meet you right where you stand instead of guessing.

Think of asking a friend who's a doctor about a sore knee. If your friend forgets who they're talking to, they might rattle off medical terms that fly right over your head. But if you say "explain it to me like I'm not a doctor," they switch gears and talk plainly. The AI has both of those settings, and many more besides. It just needs you to tell it which one to use, the same way you'd remind that friend to keep it simple.

So at the start of your message, add a short line about yourself. "I'm a complete beginner with computers, so please keep it very simple." Or "I'm a small business owner, not a lawyer, explain this in plain terms." Or "I'm 70 and helping my grandkids, keep it friendly and clear." You can mention your job, your comfort level, what you already know, or even your mood. Each one reshapes the whole answer to fit you better.

Here's a quick example. Plain question: "How does a credit score work?" That gets a fine, generic answer. But "I'm new to all this and a bit overwhelmed, explain how a credit score works in simple steps" gets you something gentler, slower, and far easier to follow. You're not bragging or oversharing, you're just handing the AI a map of who's listening. It's one of the kindest things you can do for yourself, and it takes one sentence. Come learn a few more easy habits like this with me.