Step-by-step guide
🔵 Cohere
Cohere
📘 Step-by-step guide 📘 Cohere · Coherebeginner 💼 Business

Getting started with Cohere: a beginner's guide

Learn what Cohere’s AI tools are and how to use them in your work without needing any tech background.

5 min read·5 steps·25 June 2026

Hook: By the end of this guide, you’ll understand what Cohere’s AI tools are and how to use them in your work—even if you’ve never used AI before. You’ll be ready to try a simple task in under five minutes.

✅ Before you start
  • A free Cohere account (sign up at cohere.com)
  • A web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari)
  • Five minutes of quiet time
1

Sign up and open the dashboard

Cohere gives you a simple online space to talk to AI. Think of it like a chat window where you type your questions and the AI writes back.

  1. Go to cohere.com and click “Sign up” in the top-right corner.
  2. Fill in your email, create a password, and confirm your account.
  3. After you log in, you’ll land on the dashboard. Look for a button like “Start chatting” or “Go to chat” and click it.
💬 Try typing thisIf you see a box that says “Ask anything” or “Type your message here,” you’re in the right place.➤
2

Send your first message

Now you’re ready to talk to the AI. The AI understands plain English, so you can ask it anything you’d normally ask a colleague.

  1. In the chat box, type: “Write a short welcome email for new customers.”
  2. Press Enter or click the send arrow.
  3. Wait a few seconds. The AI will reply with a short email draft.
💬 Try typing thisYou can copy and paste this exact prompt:➤
Write a short welcome email for new customers. Keep it friendly and under 100 words.
3

Edit the AI’s answer

The AI gives you a starting point, but you can change it to match your brand voice.

  1. Read the AI’s reply.
  2. If you want to shorten it, ask: “Make it shorter, about 60 words.”
  3. If you want a warmer tone, ask: “Make it warmer and more personal.”
  4. Keep editing until it feels right.
💬 Try typing thisAfter the AI replies, you can simply type:➤
Make it warmer and more personal.
4

Save your work

You can copy the final text and paste it into your email tool (Gmail, Outlook, etc.).

  1. Highlight the AI’s reply.
  2. Press Ctrl+C (Windows) or Command+C (Mac) to copy.
  3. Open your email app and paste the text.
  4. Add your signature and any extra details, then send.
💬 Try typing thisYou now have a ready-to-send welcome email that took less than two minutes to create.➤
5

Try a business task

Cohere can help with many everyday business jobs. Pick one small task to try next.

  1. Ask the AI: “Summarise this customer feedback in three bullet points.”
  2. Paste three short sentences of feedback.
  3. Read the summary and copy it into your notes.
💬 Try typing thisPaste this feedback:➤
The product was easy to use. Shipping took longer than expected. Customer service was helpful.

Then ask the AI to summarise it.

⚠️ Common mistakes
  • Over-editing: Don’t rewrite the AI’s reply from scratch. Start with its draft and tweak it—this saves time.
  • Ignoring the prompt: If the AI’s answer isn’t useful, check your prompt. Be specific: “Write a 50-word product description for hiking boots” works better than “Tell me about boots.”
  • Skipping the copy step: Always copy the AI’s text before closing the chat. Once you refresh, the chat disappears.
🚀 Try it now

Open Cohere’s chat window and type:

Write a 75-word product description for wireless earbuds. Make it lively and highlight comfort and sound quality.

Copy the reply and paste it into your notes. You just used AI to create content in under two minutes.

✦ Original step-by-step guide by AI World Co.'s AI editorial team. Written in plain language, reviewed for accuracy.

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