The 10-point self-check
Count how many of these are true for you today. Be strict: “sort of” is a no.
- I can say in one sentence what a chatbot does: it predicts likely text; it does not look facts up unless it is searching.
- When I ask AI for something, I give it context, a goal and the format I want back.
- I push back on a first answer instead of taking it as final.
- I check names, numbers, dates and quotes before I use them anywhere that matters.
- I know what never goes into a chatbot: passwords, card numbers, and other people's private details.
- I can choose between a chatbot, an AI search tool and the assistant built into an app I already use.
- I have used AI on a real task of my own in the past week.
- I know that a voice, photo or video can be faked, and I confirm surprising requests another way.
- I know my workplace's or school's rules on using AI.
- I could show someone else how I used AI on a piece of work, and what I changed.
What your count means
- 8 to 10, solid basics: That is a solid base. Go deeper on the tools you use for work, and keep checking what AI gives you.
- 4 to 7, getting there: You use AI but not yet with confidence. A few minutes of practice on real tasks most days closes the gap fastest.
- 0 to 3, just starting: Start with one chatbot and one real task today. Everyone who looks confident started here.
This is a rough self-check, not a test. For a real number, take the free AI Literacy Score: ten questions, about three minutes, no sign-up to start.
Good enough for what?
- Everyday life: you can use a chatbot to plan, write and look things up, and you double-check anything about health, money or the law.
- Work: you can hand AI a real task, judge the result, and explain what you changed. You know your employer's rules.
- Job hunting: you can describe one concrete thing you did faster or better with AI, in a sentence an interviewer will believe.
How to close the gap
Pick one chatbot, use it on one real task every day, and check what it gives you. The step-by-step guide to learning AI lays out the order.
Questions people ask
How do I know if I am AI literate?
If you can get a useful result from an AI tool on a real task, and you can tell when its answer is wrong, you have the core of it. The ten checks on this page cover the rest.
Is there a test for AI literacy?
AILE's free AI Literacy Score is ten questions and takes about three minutes, with no sign-up to start. It gives you a score and a short plan.
What AI skills matter most at work?
Asking clearly, checking the output, and knowing what you must not share. Tool tricks change every few months; those three habits do not.
How long does it take to get good enough?
There is no fixed timeline. A few minutes of hands-on practice on real tasks, most days, is what moves people from starting out to confident.