I spent months confused by AI before I figured out what actually matters. Here's what I'd tell beginner-me:

1. ChatGPT (free tier) — Stop overthinking prompts. Start with "explain [topic] like I'm 12" and work from there. The free version handles 90% of what beginners need.

2. Perplexity — It's like Google but it actually answers your question with sources. I use it daily instead of searching for things.

3. NotebookLM — Upload any PDF, article, or notes and have a conversation with it. Game-changer for learning anything.

The biggest mistake beginners make? Trying to learn everything about AI at once. Pick one tool. Use it for one real task. Then expand.

That's exactly what we do inside Prompt Layer — one clear, jargon-free breakdown per week. If you're just getting started with AI, come hang.