Explaining It To Mom
Free: the AI starter kit

Clear answers before technology turns into a problem.

Short, practical guides for people who want to understand AI, privacy, scams, and tech decisions without becoming tech people.

Plain EnglishFree, printable PDFsNo hype

Try it right now

Got a weird call, text, or email?

Answer five quick questions and get a plain-English read on whether it smells like a scam — and what to do next. Nothing is recorded; it all stays on your screen.

Worth bookmarking for the next weird message: explainingittomom.com/scam-check

Question 1 of 5

Does it ask for money, a gift card, a code, or personal information?

What you can figure out here

Is this AI tool safe?

What to check before uploading documents, photos, work files, or private information.

Is this message a scam?

Simple red flags for voice cloning, fake invoices, urgent texts, and too-good offers.

What should I tell my family?

Short explanations you can forward without sounding condescending or alarmist.

Latest explainer

How To Read A Health Headline

Why health news swings from miracle to menace, and the calm questions that sort headlines from evidence.

6 min read

The Mom Test

One study is one witness, and a headline is a sketch of that witness. Before I worry, I ask three things. Was it people or mice, does it say linked or caused, and doubled from what to what?

Latest explainers

Clear answers to the questions people are actually asking.

See all explainers
Privacy and DataPractical

Is My Phone Listening To Me?

Why ads feel like eavesdropping, what is actually happening, and which settings are worth checking.

5 min read
Artificial IntelligenceBeginner

What AI Actually Is

A calm, useful explanation of artificial intelligence and why it feels smarter than older software.

5 min read
Artificial IntelligencePractical

What Is a Prompt?

The plain meaning of prompts, why they matter, and how to write one that gets a better answer.

4 min read
Artificial IntelligenceBig Picture

Generative AI vs Regular AI

The difference between AI that creates things and AI that sorts, predicts, or recommends things.

5 min read
Artificial IntelligenceSafety

Deepfakes Explained Without the Panic

What deepfakes are, why they are getting easier to make, and how to respond without spiraling.

6 min read
Scams and SafetySafety

How to Spot AI Scams

Practical warning signs for AI-powered scams, from fake voices to urgent messages.

7 min read
Privacy and DataPractical

What People Mean by "Your Data"

A plain explanation of the information companies collect and why the phrase can mean more than you think.

6 min read

Newsletter

One clear explanation when something confusing starts trending.

No jargon, no panic, no spam. Just the useful version.

The newsletter is still warming up. Until it is ready, email us and a real person will add you to the list by hand.

Email support@explainingittomom.com

No jargon, no panic, no spam. Just the useful version.