Confident with AI

Training

A self-study course for blind and partially sighted people, created by Charli-Jo Tyrer in association with the Technology Association of Visually Impaired People (TAVIP).

This practical guide is about using generative AI confidently, critically and safely. No previous knowledge is required, and free tools are sufficient.

Last reviewed: 11 August 2026.

How to use this course

• New to AI? Begin with Start Here: Your First Five Minutes with AI, then follow the modules in order.
• Looking for a particular task? Use the I want to… menu.

Every module is a self-contained page with a learning outcome, activity and checkpoint. Each ends with previous, contents and next links.

What the course assumes

You need an internet connection and access to a general AI assistant for the practical activities. The course is device-neutral: it does not assume Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, JAWS, NVDA or VoiceOver. It describes goals and interactions rather than platform-specific keystrokes.

If a service does not work with your device or access method, choose another service. The durable lessons do not depend on one product.

Start here

1. Start Here: Your First Five Minutes with AI

Open an AI assistant and get your first useful result.

Estimated time: 5 minutes.

Part One: Begin Using AI

2. Choose an AI Assistant

Choose an accessible, affordable place to begin.

Estimated time: 10 minutes.

3. Have Your First Useful Conversation

Improve an answer by adding purpose, context and the form you need.

Estimated time: 10 minutes.

4. Everyday Things AI Can Help You Do

Use AI to explain, summarise, draft, compare, plan and brainstorm.

Estimated time: 10 minutes.

Part Two: Judge What AI Gives You

5. Know What You Are Holding

Recognise a useful AI response without mistaking polish or confidence for proof.

Estimated time: 10 minutes.

6. What Happens If It Is Wrong?

Use green, amber and red risk bands to decide how much checking is proportionate.

Estimated time: 10 minutes.

7. Check an Answer Without Becoming an Expert

Check the source, date, exact wording, numbers and claim that carry the most weight.

Estimated time: 10 minutes.

Part Three: Understand Images and Visual Information

8. Choose the Right Kind of Image Tool

Match description, recognition, comparison, private processing or human help to the job.

Estimated time: 10 minutes.

9. Ask for the Description You Need

Request an overview, literal facts, text, layout, uncertainty or atmosphere according to purpose.

Estimated time: 10 minutes.

10. Judge and Verify an Image Description

Classify claims as visible, contextual, inferred or unsupported, then verify important details proportionately.

Estimated time: 15 minutes.

11. Read Documents, Forms and Screenshots

Recover exact text, reading order and structure without hiding uncertainty.

Estimated time: 10 minutes.

12. Understand Tables, Charts and Slides

Recover structure, labels, order and values before asking for interpretation.

Estimated time: 10 minutes.

Part Four: Create Visual Media

13. Create Your First Image

Write a brief, generate an image, describe it back and make one deliberate revision.

Estimated time: 10 minutes.

14. Keep Creative Control Without Sight

Use intention, hierarchy and proportionate review to remain the author.

Estimated time: 10 minutes.

15. Create a Comic or Visual Story

Plan story beats, panels, dialogue and continuity, then check reading order.

Estimated time: 10 minutes.

16. Create Animation and Video

Plan movement, dialogue, music and sound as one accessible time-based sequence.

Estimated time: 10 minutes.

17. Check and Publish Visual Work Accessibly

Define finished, check proportionately and publish an equivalent accessible experience.

Estimated time: 10 minutes.

Optional Further Study

Models, Open Weights and the Changing Frontier

Optional reading that distinguishes assistants from models and explores closed, open-weight and specialist systems.

Estimated time: 15 minutes.

Philosophy: Knowledge, Testimony and Answer-Shaped Objects

Optional reading about uncertainty, epistemic opacity and warranted reliance.

Estimated time: 15 minutes.

I want to…

• Choose an AI assistant
• Get a better answer
• Find something useful AI can do
• Understand what kind of answer AI gives me
• Decide whether an answer is safe to use
• Check a factual answer
• Choose the right kind of image tool
• Describe a photograph
• Judge and verify an image description
• Read text in an image
• Understand a table, chart or presentation
• Create an image
• Check visual work without sight
• Create a comic
• Make a video
• Publish visual work accessibly
• Understand AI models
• Explore the philosophy of AI answers

Tool Cards

Tool Cards contain dated product information. They can be updated or retired without rewriting the durable lessons.

General AI Assistants

Conversation, explanation, writing, research and general assistance.

Estimated time: 10 minutes. Last reviewed: 5 August 2026.

Conversational Image Describers

Quick, natural descriptions of photographs, objects and scenes.

Estimated time: 10 minutes. Last reviewed: 5 August 2026.

Text and Document Recognition

Reading text, forms, documents, tables and structured information.

Estimated time: 10 minutes. Last reviewed: 5 August 2026.

Multiple-Model Comparison

Methods for comparing independent descriptions or answers.

Estimated time: 10 minutes. Last reviewed: 5 August 2026.

Private and On-Device Tools

Local processing, offline access and greater control over information.

Estimated time: 10 minutes. Last reviewed: 5 August 2026.

Human Visual-Assistance Services

Human verification when accuracy or judgement matters.

Estimated time: 10 minutes. Last reviewed: 5 August 2026.

Image Generators

Creating and revising still images.

Estimated time: 10 minutes. Last reviewed: 5 August 2026.

Video and Animation Generators

Creating movement, animation, dialogue, music and video.

Estimated time: 10 minutes. Last reviewed: 5 August 2026.

About this course

Confident with AI was created by Charli-Jo Tyrer in association with TAVIP. It responds to questions and priorities identified through TAVIP’s 2026 Technology Survey.

The course is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.