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Plain-English Explainer

Get a clear, current, jargon-free explanation of anything complex — news stories, technical concepts, industry trends.

Best for Breaking news, complex topics, technical subjects, policy changes, anything you've been meaning to understand
When to use When you encounter something you feel like you should understand but don't — and don't have time to read five articles about it
learningnewsexplainerresearchcurrent-events

AI is exceptionally good at distilling complexity into plain language — especially when you give it an audience to write for. The secret is telling it exactly what level to pitch at and what angle matters most to you.

The Recipe

Explain [topic or current situation] to me.

Audience: [who you are — e.g. "a smart non-specialist", "a 12-year-old", 
"someone who knows the basics of X but not Y"]

Focus on: [what matters to you — the business angle / the policy implications / 
the technical basics / why this is a big deal right now]

Format:
- Start with a 2-sentence bottom line up front
- Then explain the background I need
- Then explain what's actually happening now
- End with: what happens next / what I should watch for

No jargon without definitions. If you use an acronym, spell it out first.

For current events specifically

Use a model with live web access (Perplexity, Gemini, ChatGPT with Search):

Explain what's happening with [topic] right now.

Give me:
1. The 30-second version — what is this and why does it matter today?
2. The context — how did we get here? (Keep it to 3–4 key events)
3. The different positions — who wants what, and why?
4. What's unresolved — what are we actually waiting to find out?

Use up-to-date information. If developments from this week are relevant, include them.
Explain like I'm smart but not a specialist in this area.

For technical topics

Explain [technical concept] to me.

My background: [what you already know — helps the model pitch correctly]

I want to understand:
- What it actually is (not the marketing version)
- Why it exists / what problem it solves
- How it works at a level that's accurate but doesn't require a PhD
- Where most explanations get it wrong or oversimplify

Use a concrete analogy. Then tell me where the analogy breaks down.

Audience calibration

The level you ask for dramatically changes the response quality:

Audience framingWhat it does
”Explain like I’m 12”Strips all jargon, uses simple analogies
”Explain to a smart non-specialist”Assumes intelligence, not prior knowledge
”Explain to someone who knows X but not Y”Fills exactly the gap you have
”Explain to a [professional in adjacent field]“Uses their vocabulary as an anchor

🔁 Leftover Remixes

🌶️ Spicy: “Now give me the counter-argument — why do smart people who follow this closely disagree with the mainstream take? What are they seeing that the headlines miss?”

🧊 Mild: “Give me the one sentence I’d say at a dinner party to show I understand this topic, and one follow-up question I could ask to seem like I’ve been following it.”

💰 Budget: “What are the 3 things most people get wrong about [topic]? Correct each one in plain English.”

Prompt concept via Amanda Caswell / Tom’s Guide. Adapted and expanded for The Prompt Kitchen.

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