“What’s the Federal Reserve?” I Googled it. Read three paragraphs of jargon. Understood nothing. Gave up.
Sound familiar?
Most explanations online are written by experts who forgot what it’s like to not understand something. They use ten jargon words in one sentence and expect you to keep up.
Now I do something different. I ask AI: “Explain this in two sentences.” When that clicks, I ask for more. Then more. It’s like zooming in on a map, starting with the whole country and drilling down only when I’m ready.
Using AI to explain complex topics gives you a patient tutor who never makes you feel dumb, adjusts to your level automatically, and lets you say “wait, back up” as many times as you need.
The quick answer: Ask ChatGPT or Claude to “explain [topic] like I’m in high school” or “give me a two-sentence summary, then I’ll ask follow-ups.” The key is controlling the depth. Start simple, then zoom in on what interests you. This works for finance, medical info, legal documents, technology, anything.
This is Part 16 of our 20-part series on how AI can improve your life in 2026. See all parts →
Why Complex Topics Feel So Hard to Learn
The problem usually isn’t your intelligence. It’s the explanation. Most educational content is written by experts who have the “curse of knowledge.” They’ve understood the topic for so long that they can’t remember what it’s like to not understand it. Their explanations skip steps that seem obvious to them but aren’t obvious to you.
Technical jargon makes this worse. Every field develops specialized vocabulary that acts as shorthand for insiders. When someone uses five jargon words in a single sentence, you’re not learning anymore. You’re just lost.
Then there’s cognitive overload. If an explanation throws ten new concepts at you at once, your working memory can’t process them all. You need concepts introduced one at a time, with each one building on the last. Most explanations don’t do this well.
How AI Can Explain Complex Topics Simply
AI language models are trained on billions of examples of text at every level of complexity. They’ve seen how experts explain things to other experts, and how teachers explain things to beginners. This means they can translate between levels.
When you ask AI to explain something simply, it does several things:
Replaces jargon with everyday words. Instead of “distributed ledger,” it might say “a shared record that many people can see and verify.”
Breaks concepts into smaller pieces. Rather than explaining everything at once, it introduces ideas step by step.
Uses analogies and examples. Comparing unfamiliar concepts to familiar ones helps your brain make connections. “It’s like a Google Doc that nobody can secretly edit” is easier to grasp than a technical definition.
Answers follow-up questions without judgment. You can ask “but what does that actually mean?” as many times as you need without feeling embarrassed.
5 Prompts to Get AI to Explain Complex Topics Clearly
The key to getting good explanations from AI is telling it exactly what level you want. Here are prompts you can copy and adapt:
The “Explain Like I’m Five” Prompt
Prompt: “Explain [topic] like I’m five years old. Use simple words and comparisons to things kids would know.”
Example: “Explain how the stock market works like I’m five years old.”
This gives you the most basic possible explanation. It’s great for getting the core concept before diving into details.
The “High School Level” Prompt
Prompt: “Explain [topic] at a high school level. Assume I have no specialized knowledge in this field but can understand general concepts.”
Example: “Explain how mRNA vaccines work at a high school level.”
This is often the sweet spot. Simple enough to understand, detailed enough to be useful.
The “Analogy” Prompt
Prompt: “Explain [topic] using an analogy. Compare it to something from everyday life that most people would understand.”
Example: “Explain machine learning using an analogy to something I’d encounter in daily life.”
Analogies help your brain attach new knowledge to things you already understand. They make abstract concepts concrete.
The “Summary Then Expand” Prompt
Prompt: “Give me a two-sentence summary of [topic]. Then I’ll ask you to expand on the parts I want to understand better.”
Example: “Give me a two-sentence summary of how inflation works. Then I’ll ask follow-up questions.”
This is my personal favorite. Start small, then zoom in on what interests you or confuses you.
The “No Jargon” Prompt
Prompt: “Explain [topic] without using any technical terms. If you must use a specialized word, define it immediately in parentheses.”
Example: “Explain how HTTPS keeps my banking information safe, without using any technical jargon.”
This forces the AI to translate everything into plain language.
Real Topics AI Can Explain Simply
Here are some areas where people commonly use AI to explain complex topics in simpler terms:
Personal finance. How compound interest actually works. What a 401(k) match means. Why refinancing a mortgage might (or might not) save you money. The difference between a Roth and traditional IRA.
Medical information. What your blood test results actually mean. How a medication works in your body. What to expect from a procedure your doctor recommended. (Always follow up with your doctor, but AI helps you ask better questions.)
Legal documents. What the fine print in your lease actually says. What you’re agreeing to in a terms of service. How a contract clause might affect you.
Technology concepts. How VPNs protect your privacy. What the cloud actually is. How algorithms decide what you see on social media. What AI itself is and isn’t capable of.
News and current events. What a government policy actually does (beyond the political spin). How an economic trend affects you personally. The background you need to understand a complex story.
What AI Gets Wrong When Explaining Complex Topics
AI explanations aren’t perfect. Here’s what to watch for:
Oversimplification. In making things simple, AI might leave out important nuances. This is fine for initial understanding but dangerous if you act on incomplete information. Always dig deeper for decisions that matter.
Confident but wrong. AI can state incorrect information with the same confident tone as correct information. For factual claims, especially about medicine, law, or finance, verify with authoritative sources.
Outdated information. AI’s knowledge has a cutoff date. For fast-moving fields like technology, medicine, or current events, the information might be months or years old.
Missing context. AI doesn’t know your specific situation. An explanation of tax rules might not apply to your particular circumstances. A medical explanation isn’t personalized to your health history.
Common Questions About Using AI to Explain Complex Topics
Is AI better than Google when you need complex topics explained?
For getting explanations at your level, yes. Google gives you links to existing content, which may or may not match what you need. AI gives you a custom explanation tailored to exactly what you asked. For fact-checking and verifying claims, Google (with good sources) is more reliable.
Can I trust AI to explain complex topics for important decisions?
Use AI to understand concepts, but verify specifics from authoritative sources before making important decisions. Think of AI as a study partner, not an expert witness. It helps you learn faster, but it shouldn’t be your only source for medical, legal, or financial decisions.
Which AI tool is best for explaining complex topics?
ChatGPT and Claude are both excellent for explanations. Claude tends to give more nuanced, careful answers. ChatGPT is more widely available with a free tier. Perplexity is great when you need explanations backed by current sources. For most learning purposes, any of these work well.
How do I know if the AI explanation of a complex topic is accurate?
Cross-reference with trusted sources, especially for factual claims. Look for consistency when you ask the same question in different ways. Be extra skeptical of specific numbers, dates, or claims that seem surprising. When in doubt, verify.
Getting Started This Week
Here’s a simple plan to start using AI to explain complex topics:
Day 1: Pick a topic you’ve always been confused by. Ask ChatGPT or Claude to explain it like you’re in high school. See if it finally clicks.
Day 2-3: Try the “summary then expand” approach. Start with a two-sentence overview, then ask follow-up questions on the parts that interest you.
Day 4-5: Use AI to understand something practical: a news story, a financial concept, or a health topic. Notice how much faster you learn when explanations match your level.
Day 6-7: Experiment with different prompts. Try asking for analogies, try specifying “no jargon,” try requesting step-by-step breakdowns. Find what works best for how your brain learns.
The goal isn’t to replace deep study. It’s to remove the barriers that stop you from even starting. Once you understand the basics, you can go deeper with traditional resources if you want.
Related Reading
Continue exploring AI for learning and productivity:
- Part 15: Practice Languages with AI Conversation Partners
- AI Content Summarizers: How to Read More in Less Time
- AI Writing Assistant for Beginners
- New to AI? Start Here
← Part 15: AI Language Practice | All Parts | Part 17: AI Investment Optimization →
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