Welcome to the Companion Site
Practical AI
for the Rest of Us.
This book is for non-technical adults who want to use AI practically, not build it, not study it, just use it well. Welcome. You're in the right place.
What Is This?
The companion site at practicalaibook.ai is free, requires no sign-up, and is updated regularly. As AI tools evolve and features change, these pages stay current. The principles in this book don't change. The details do. We've got you covered.
Meet the Characters
Dave Kowalski
Chapter 1 & 11
A plumber from Pennsylvania. Skeptical but curious. He opens and closes the book's narrative arc, showing that AI isn't just for tech people.
Rosa Gutierrez (68)
Chapters 2, 4, 10
A retired schoolteacher who discovers that AI works the way her brain works. She becomes an everyday power user.
Marcus Chen
Chapters 3, 7, 10
A landscaping business owner. Learns the PIE framework, then applies AI across his business. No-code automations save him hours.
The Ramirez Family
Chapter 4
A bilingual household navigating AI for home, health, and family life. Real-world multicultural experiences.
Priya
Chapters 5, 10
A marketing manager using AI to reclaim her workweek. Shows when AI makes you faster, and when it would make you dumber.
Jenna Washington & Tyler (14)
Chapter 6
A freelance designer parent and her teenager, navigating AI in education and the workforce.
Tomás Reyes
Chapter 6
A 7th-grade science teacher integrating AI in the classroom responsibly and thoughtfully.
Nadia Okafor
Chapter 8
A former English teacher turned aspiring novelist. AI becomes her creative collaborator, helping her finish her stuck novel.
Frank Medina
Chapter 9
A retired postal carrier. His 82-year-old mother nearly loses $5,000 to an AI voice-cloning scam. His journey becomes the roadmap for Chapter 9.
The PIE Framework
At the heart of this book is the PIE framework, a simple three-step method for getting dramatically better results from AI. It's introduced in Chapter 3 and shows up throughout the book in context after context.
Prompt
Write a clear opening with the 5-Part Formula: Role + Context + Task + Format + Constraints. Set the AI up to succeed before it types a word.
Iterate
Have a real conversation. Picture what done looks like, name the gap, close it with a specific instruction, then polish voice, facts, and format.
Execute
Put it to work in the real world. Send it, publish it, use it. Then notice what worked and feed that signal into your next cycle.
Chapter Quick Links
| Chapter | Title | Link |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What Is AI, Really? | Visit Chapter 1 |
| 2 | Your AI Starter Kit | Visit Chapter 2 |
| 3 | Talking to AI: The Art of the Prompt | Visit Chapter 3 |
| 4 | AI at Home | Visit Chapter 4 |
| 5 | AI at Work | Visit Chapter 5 |
| 6 | AI for Parents & Educators | Visit Chapter 6 |
| 7 | AI for Small Business Owners | Visit Chapter 7 |
| 8 | AI for Creative Projects | Visit Chapter 8 |
| 9 | Staying Safe and Smart | Visit Chapter 9 |
| 10 | Building Your AI Workflow | Visit Chapter 10 |
| 11 | What's Coming Next | Visit Chapter 11 |
How to Use This Site
Each chapter has its own companion page with all the real prompts from the book. Copy them, customize them for your life, and use them. No sign-up required. Everything is free.
Questions, feedback, or found something outdated? Reach us at hello@practicalaibook.ai or use the feedback form on any chapter page.
Ready to Begin?
Start with Chapter 1 if you're new to AI. Jump straight to the chapter that matches your situation if you already have some experience. Every chapter stands on its own.
Last verified: September 1, 2026