Tell AI Who to Be: Roles, Characters, and Pretend Mode, Part 1

Don't share personal information with AI — your full name, address, school, phone number, or photos of yourself.

AI saves what you say. The less personal info you share, the safer you stay.

Three safer things to share

• Your favorite color
• Your favorite animal
• What grade you are in (alone, without other info)

The big idea: AI doesn't need your personal info to help you. Don't share it.

You can ask AI to play a role — a teacher, a coach, a friend, a famous person. Often this gets better answers.

'Pretend you are a 4th grade math teacher. Help me with this problem.' AI then explains like a teacher would.

Three more fun roles to try

• A favorite character from a book
• A grandpa explaining things
• A wise old wizard

The big idea: Roles tell AI WHO to be — and that often makes answers better.

For fun, try asking AI to do something in a fancy way — like Shakespeare, like a pirate, like a robot.

'Tell me what I should have for dinner — but talk like a pirate.' AI does it.

Three more fun styles

• A wise wizard
• A British detective
• A really excited puppy

Here's why "Try Asking the Fancy Way" matters: The words you type to an AI are called a prompt. Better words = better answers! For fun, try asking AI to do something in a fancy way — like Shakespeare, like a pirate, like a robot. — and knowing how to apply this gives you a concrete advantage.

• Learn what "style" means and why it's important
• Learn what "tone" means and why it's important
• Learn what "persona" means and why it's important
• Learn what "voice" means and why it's important

1. 1Ask AI to explain your favourite animal like you're five
2. 2Ask AI to write a haiku about your school day
3. 3Ask AI for three ideas for a fun weekend activity

The big idea: Fancy styles are fun — and they show how flexible AI can be.

AI is good at pretending. If you give it a role, it will try to act like that kind of person. This is called role-play and it works really well.

Some examples

• 'Pretend you are a friendly science teacher. Explain how rain works.'
• 'Pretend you are a soccer coach. Tell me how to kick a ball harder.'
• 'Pretend you are a librarian. What is a great book for a 9-year-old who loves dogs?'
• 'Pretend you are a kind tour guide showing me Paris. Where should I go first?'

Try it!

Ask AI a question two ways. First normally. Then start with 'Pretend you are a really friendly explainer for a 9-year-old, and...' Notice how the second answer is more fun and easier to read.

If you tell AI 'pretend you're a science teacher', it changes how it answers. Giving AI a job title is one of the best tricks for getting helpful answers.

Some examples

• 'Act like a friendly chef and explain how bread rises.'
• 'Pretend you're a sports coach giving me tips for soccer practice.'
• 'Be a librarian and recommend a book for a 10-year-old.'
• 'Act as a tour guide and show me around ancient Egypt.'

Try it!

Try asking the same question two ways: once normally, and once with 'Pretend you're a kind teacher and...'. Notice how the second answer feels different.

AI can play pretend with you. You set the scene — like 'pretend you are a pirate' — and AI talks like that character. It's a fun way to learn and play.

Some examples

• Pretend you are a friendly alien visiting Earth.
• Pretend you are a tour guide on Mars.
• Pretend you are a chef from long ago.
• Pretend you are a librarian who only whispers.

Try it!

Pick a fun character. Tell AI to pretend, then chat with it for 3 messages. Stay in character!

Here's why "Tell AI: Let's Pretend" matters: The words you type to an AI are called a prompt. Better words = better answers! Set up a pretend game and AI will play along — and knowing how to apply this gives you a concrete advantage.

• Learn what "pretend" means and why it's important
• Learn what "roleplay" means and why it's important
• Learn what "imagination" means and why it's important

1. 1Ask AI to explain your favourite animal like you're five
2. 2Ask AI to write a haiku about your school day
3. 3Ask AI for three ideas for a fun weekend activity

You can ask AI to answer in a character's voice. Suddenly, your homework explanation sounds like a wizard, a robot, or a pirate. Same info — way more fun.

Some examples

• Explain math facts as a pirate.
• Tell me about ocean animals as a deep-sea diver.
• Explain weather as a friendly cloud.
• Teach me history as a time-traveling robot.

Try it!

Pick a school topic. Ask AI to teach it as a fun character. Listen — does the character help you remember?

Here's why "Add a Fun Character to AI's Answer" matters: The words you type to an AI are called a prompt. Better words = better answers! Make answers way more fun by adding a character voice — and knowing how to apply this gives you a concrete advantage.

• Learn what "character" means and why it's important
• Learn what "voice" means and why it's important
• Learn what "fun" means and why it's important

1. 1Ask AI to explain your favourite animal like you're five
2. 2Ask AI to write a haiku about your school day
3. 3Ask AI for three ideas for a fun weekend activity

When you tell AI a little about you (like your age or what you like), it gives answers that fit you better. You don't share private stuff — just helpful clues.

Some examples

• 'I'm 10 years old. Explain space to me.'
• 'I love soccer. Make a story for me.'
• 'I have a small dog. Help me name him.'
• Don't share your full name, address, or school.

Try it!

Add 'I am 10 and love dinosaurs' to your next AI prompt. See if the answer feels more 'you'.

Here's why "AI and Saying Who You Are: Telling AI About Yourself" matters: The words you type to an AI are called a prompt. Better words = better answers! Get better answers by telling AI a little about yourself first — and knowing how to apply this gives you a concrete advantage.

• Learn what "context" means and why it's important
• Learn what "you" means and why it's important
• Learn what "personalize" means and why it's important

1. 1Ask AI to explain your favourite animal like you're five
2. 2Ask AI to write a haiku about your school day
3. 3Ask AI for three ideas for a fun weekend activity