AI WORLD HQUsing Le Chat to Get Simple Explanations for Tech Terms You Hear at Work
Turn confusing workplace jargon into plain English with a quick chat — no tech background needed, no awkward follow-up required.
Hook: Ever nodded along in a meeting while someone said "we need to refactor our API endpoints" and had no clue what they meant? Le Chat, the assistant made by Mistral, can quietly translate that jargon into everyday English in seconds — so you can keep up without ever having to ask the speaker to slow down. This guide shows you the workflow, step by step.
💡 Tip: tap a step’s number when you finish it — a green tick appears and your browser remembers how far you got.
- A free Mistral account — sign up with any email address at the Le Chat website.
- A device with internet access — a computer, tablet or phone all work. You can use the Le Chat website in any browser, or grab the free mobile app from your app store.
- About 10 minutes to learn the routine the first time.
- The free plan is enough for this guide; paid plans may unlock longer conversations or extra features.
- One honest note: Le Chat can't listen in to meetings in real time, so you'll need to type the term you heard afterwards.
Open Le Chat in your browser
Open your web browser and go to the Le Chat website. The page loads with a clean chat screen — "Le Chat" at the top, a short intro message, and an empty chat box near the bottom. After a moment, you'll be sitting in a fresh conversation, ready to type your first question. If it looks different: on a phone, open the Le Chat app instead, or search your app store for "Le Chat by Mistral". On a work computer, your IT department may block the site — if so, ask if there's a personal-device option. 💬 Example: (no typing in this step — just opening the page). You'll know it worked when the chat box is empty and waiting for your message.
Sign in so your chats are saved
Click the Log in or Sign up button, usually in the top-right corner of the screen. A small window pops up asking for an email address, or offering a "Continue with Google" style option. Once you finish signing in, you're bounced back to the same chat screen — this time with your name or initials showing in the top corner. If it looks different: some regions offer a guest mode that lets you chat without an account, but your history won't be saved between visits. 💬 Example: (no typing — just use whichever email you check most often). You'll know it worked when you can refresh the page and your previous chats are still there.
Type the term you want explained
Click into the chat box at the bottom of the screen and type the word or phrase you want broken down. As you type, your text appears in the box. When you press Enter (or tap the small arrow icon on mobile), Le Chat starts streaming a reply within a few seconds — you'll see words appearing one by one. If it looks different: if nothing sends, you may have accidentally added a line break — look for a small paper-plane or arrow icon and click that instead. 💬 Example: "What does 'API' mean? Please explain it like I'm not a technical person, using everyday words." You'll know it worked when a reply starts appearing on screen within a few seconds and ends with a full stop or paragraph.
Ask for a workplace analogy
Now type a follow-up asking for a relatable example from everyday work life. Your new question appears in the same chat, just under the previous reply. Le Chat reads the whole conversation, so it builds on what it already said — usually giving you a concrete analogy (think waiter in a restaurant for "API", or a shared Google Drive folder for "cloud storage"). If it looks different: if the analogy still feels abstract, add a sentence about your own role so it can tailor the example. 💬 Example: "Can you give me a non-technical workplace analogy for API? Pretend you're explaining it to a new admin assistant on their first day." You'll know it worked when you can picture the concept in a real, familiar situation — like a waiter passing messages between you and the kitchen.
Push for an even simpler version
Ask Le Chat to strip the explanation down further. Your new prompt lands in the chat, and the assistant gives a shorter, plainer version using simple vocabulary — almost childlike in its clarity. This is a great habit, because the first reply sometimes still sneaks in technical words. If it looks different: if the simpler version is still confusing, try specifying an audience like "explain it to my mum" or "use only three short sentences". 💬 Example: "Now explain API one more time, but as if I was 10 years old, using only simple words and no jargon." You'll know it worked when you can repeat the idea out loud to someone else without using the original technical word.
Save the answer for later
Hover your mouse over Le Chat's reply (or tap and hold on mobile) and look for a small copy icon — usually two overlapping squares or a tiny clipboard. Click or tap it, and the full answer lands in your clipboard, ready to paste anywhere: Notes, email, Slack, a doc. If it looks different: you can always highlight the reply text manually with your mouse or finger, then copy with Ctrl+C / Cmd+C, or right-click and choose Copy. 💬 Example: (no typing — just paste into your favourite notes app). You'll know it worked when you paste the text elsewhere and the complete explanation shows up.
- Asking "explain X" with no context — vague prompts often get vague answers. Fix: always add a phrase like "like I'm not a technical person" or "in plain English".
- Trusting the first reply as the final word — AI explanations can still be a bit woolly. Fix: ask one follow-up to confirm you really got it, in your own words.
- Pasting the answer into a work email without checking — the explanation might be slightly off, or use words you don't actually understand. Fix: re-read it, swap unfamiliar words, and put it in your own voice before sharing.
Pick one tech term you heard in the last seven days — maybe "cloud", "API", "algorithm", "SaaS" or "machine learning" — and type it into Le Chat with the words "explain it like I'm not a technical person". Read the reply, then ask for a workplace analogy in one follow-up. Total time: under two minutes.
❓ Quick questions
How long does this take?
About 6 minutes — the guide has 6 steps, and you can tick each one off as you go.
Which tool do I need?
This guide uses Mistral Le Chat — but the approach works very similarly in other AI assistants.
Do I need to prepare anything?
- A free Mistral account — sign up with any email address at the Le Chat website.
- A device with internet access — a computer, tablet or phone all work. You can use the Le Chat website in any browser, or grab the free mobile app from your app store.
- About 10 minutes to learn the routine the first time.
- The free plan is enough for this guide; paid plans may unlock longer conversations or extra features.
- One honest note: Le Chat can't listen in to meetings in real time, so you'll need to type the term you heard afterwards.
What mistakes should I avoid?
- Asking "explain X" with no context — vague prompts often get vague answers. Fix: always add a phrase like "like I'm not a technical person" or "in plain English".
- Trusting the first reply as the final word — AI explanations can still be a bit woolly. Fix: ask one follow-up to confirm you really got it, in your own words.
- Pasting the answer into a work email without checking — the explanation might be slightly off, or use words you don't actually understand. Fix: re-read it, swap unfamiliar words, and put it in your own voice before sharing.
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✦ Original step-by-step guide by AI World HQ's AI editorial team. Written in plain language, reviewed for accuracy.
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