What is generative AI? A simple guide to AI that creates content
You don’t need to be technical to get started—just curious.
A few months ago, my husband and I decided we wanted to build a patio and deck in our backyard. Something simple to help us enjoy the great Queensland weather. We had a rough size in mind, so the next step was obvious: prepare a budget.
Since I enjoy research, I volunteered to work out the costs. How hard could it be?
As it turns out, very.
Within an hour of Googling, I was knee-deep in conflicting advice about materials, sleeper specifications, hidden screws, deck substructures, labour rates, and drainage requirements. Not only was I unsure what anything actually meant, I had no idea what I should include in a budget.
That’s when I had the thought: Could ChatGPT help with this?
Almost immediately, I second-guessed myself. Surely a chatbot couldn’t give me a reliable estimate for something this complex. Would it even know the materials? Would it understand what a Brisbane backyard build might cost?
But curiosity got the better of me. I asked a few basic questions, then gradually shared more context: the size, what we wanted to include, our location, and rough ideas about finishes.
Within minutes, ChatGPT responded with a full itemised list of materials, a time estimate for labour, and a ballpark cost breakdown that reflected current local rates. It even offered to build me a spreadsheet calculator and draft a quote request to send to tradies.
I was genuinely delighted.
And I realised something important: generative AI isn’t just for writing emails or coding apps. It’s for anyone who wants help thinking, planning, explaining or creating.
So… what is generative AI, really?
Generative AI refers to artificial intelligence that can generate original content in response to your instructions. Unlike traditional search engines or tools that retrieve fixed answers, generative AI models can compose new text, produce images, write code, compose music, and more—all based on natural language prompts.
If traditional software is a vending machine (choose an option, get a predictable output), generative AI is more like a helpful assistant. You give it a goal, and it tries to help in a flexible, humanlike way.
You’ve probably already met tools like:
ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini for writing, editing or summarising text
DALL·E or Canva Magic Media for image generation
Runway ML or Pika for video generation
Suno.ai for music
But you don’t need to know all of them. Just start with one.
What generative AI can help create
You might think of generative AI as something only techies or content creators use. But it’s already helping people do a wide variety of things more easily and creatively.
It can help you draft emails, rewrite documents, summarise reports, brainstorm ideas or generate social media posts. You can use it to create illustrations, design mockups, generate blog graphics or visualise concepts. It’s also possible to generate short videos, produce explainer content or even compose music, add sound effects or narrate your slide decks.
Want to try it? Start by using ChatGPT to help write something you’d usually procrastinate on. Or ask DALL·E to create an illustration for your next newsletter. Pick something light and low-risk.
You don’t have to learn everything. Just try one tool that makes something that interests you.
How people are already using it
A high school teacher I know recently started using Claude to tweak her lesson plans for students with different learning needs. She told me it helped her come up with clearer examples and simplified explanations in half the time it normally takes.
A friend who manages an online community uses ChatGPT like a writing buddy. She drafts her replies to difficult member messages, then uses AI to polish them so they sound firm but kind. It saves her heaps of time—and the emotional labour too.
An old colleague of mine used ChatGPT to rewrite her resume and selection criteria. She fed it rough drafts and asked for help refining them to match the job ad. Not only did she get an interview—she said it gave her the confidence to talk about her experience in a clearer way.
And a friend planning her daughter’s birthday used Canva to generate a gorgeous invitation image. It had cupcakes, balloons, and a magical forest all in one. She was thrilled to make something so unique, without fiddling with complicated design software.
None of these people are developers. They’re not AI experts. They’re just people finding small, smart ways to get a little help.
But what if I’m not a ‘tech person’?
Here’s the good news: you’ve learned new tech before.
Remember when you got your first smartphone? Or when you had to figure out Zoom during the pandemic? Or the time your workplace rolled out a confusing new system and you had to learn it on the fly?
Generative AI is just the next wave—and like every wave before it, you are more capable than you think.
Confidence doesn’t come first. Curiosity does.
Why now is the right time to explore
Generative AI isn’t going away. It’s becoming more embedded in tools we already use, from Gmail to Canva to PowerPoint. Learning how to work with AI now means you’ll be better prepared as it becomes more normal—and expected.
It’s also easier than ever to try. Many tools are free or built into software you already use. There are no rules about how you have to start.
You just have to start.
Take one small, curious step
Next time you feel stuck, open ChatGPT and ask it to help. That’s all it takes. You don’t need to craft the perfect prompt or worry if the first response isn’t amazing. Just explore and see what’s possible.
Start small. Stay curious. AI Sally’s here to cheer you on.