Lesson 4 of 5 · Tools
Every connection is a trade
On its own, an AI chat tool can only write. Connect it to your email, calendar or files and it can act for you, and see that data. Before you switch one on, list what it would see.
Try this today
Pick one connection you're curious about and write down what it could see and do. If that list feels comfortable, try it on something low-stakes first, like a recipe list or a playlist, not your work email.
Read the full lesson
What it is
A connector links an AI chat tool to another app, like your calendar, email, files, music or the web, so it can look things up or do things there. Without one, it only works with what you type in.
Why it matters
Each connection is a trade: more help for more access. Connect your email and it can read your inbox. Some tools also remember past chats, which is handy but means more about you stays stored over time. You decide each trade.
Key points
- A connection is like handing someone a key. Useful, and now they can open that door.
- Common connections: web search, calendar, email, documents and spreadsheets, music.
- Start low-risk. Try a playlist or a recipe list before anything with money, health or work in it.
- Memory: some tools can remember earlier chats, and some let you see and edit what's remembered or chat without saving to memory. More convenience, more stored about you.
- Different jobs, different tools: some are built for research, some for writing, some for pictures or code. Once you know the job, pick the tool made for it.
- Before switching a connector on, ask: what am I comfortable sharing?
Words to know
- AI chat tool
- A program you type or talk to that writes back in everyday language.
- connector
- A link that lets an AI chat tool see or use another app.
- memory
- A setting that lets an AI tool remember things from earlier chats.
Sources
- Some AI tools can remember earlier chats, with controls to view and edit what is remembered and an incognito chat that doesn't save to memory. Bringing memory to teams (Anthropic) (opens in a new tab)
- Some AI tools can search the web and show direct citations for what they found. Claude web search now available globally on all plans (Anthropic) (opens in a new tab)
Prefer to talk it through?
JdAI is our voice guide. Talk or type your way through this lesson, at your own pace.
Try it with JdAI