What is Why Try AI?
Why Try AI is a Substack newsletter by Daniel Nest that covers AI in a hype-free, hands-on way for non-techies. It has over 17,000 subscribers and mixes practical advice, AI news roundups and tool recommendations. It is aimed at normal readers who want to understand what is happening with AI and what they can actually do with it.
Key features
- Hype-free AI writing
- The newsletter positions itself as a plain-language alternative to overhyped AI coverage, described by readers as "a well-written hype-free AI newsletter for normal folk."
- Hands-on practical advice
- Posts focus on what readers can do with AI, including guides such as getting AI to create flashcards that only cover knowledge gaps.
- Weekly news roundups
- The "Sunday Rundown" series gives a skimmable roundup of the week's AI news.
- AI tool recommendations
- Posts such as "Here Are My Go-To AI Tools" cover preferred LLMs, image and video models, music makers and research tools.
- Model comparisons
- Posts like the Opus 5.5 "vibe check" compare AI models against each other and against the author's own workflow.
- Live workshops
- The site lists live workshops among its sections.
- Paid subscriber perks
- Premium members get exclusive bonuses including guides, tools, a Sunday Bonus Directory of 95 swipe files, tools, guides and workshops, and Claude Code Essentials material.
How to use Why Try AI
- Go to whytryai.com and read the "Your Guide to Why Try AI" post, which acts as an intro and table of contents.
- Enter your email address in the subscribe box to sign up for the newsletter.
- Choose whether to read for free first or take a paid subscription for premium perks.
- Read the latest posts, or browse the archive and the Sunday Rundown series for weekly AI news.
- If you are a paid subscriber, open the Paid Perks section to access bonus guides, tools and the Sunday Bonus Directory.
Use cases
- Non-technical readers who want a plain explanation of what is happening with AI.
- People looking for practical, hands-on ways to use AI in their own work rather than benchmark comparisons.
- Readers who want a short weekly summary of AI news instead of following every announcement.
- Anyone choosing between AI models, image and video generators, music makers or research tools.
- Paid subscribers who want ready-made guides, swipe files and workshop material.
Pricing
The official website does not list specific prices. It shows that Why Try AI is a Substack publication with a free reading option and a paid tier for "Paid Subscribers" and "Premium Members," who get exclusive bonuses, guides, tools and workshops. Check the official site for current subscription prices.
FAQ
Is Why Try AI free to read?
The site offers a "Let me read it first!" option alongside its subscribe button, so readers can start reading before committing. A paid subscription tier also exists for premium members. The official website does not list prices.
What does Why Try AI cover?
It covers AI news, practical hands-on AI advice, AI tool recommendations and comparisons of AI models. Regular features include the Sunday Rundown news roundup and posts on the author's go-to AI tools.
Who is Why Try AI written for?
It is written for non-techies and "normal folk" who want to understand AI without hype. Readers describe it as a good primer on what is happening with AI and what you can do with it.
What do paid subscribers of Why Try AI get?
Paid subscribers get exclusive bonuses including guides and tools, access to a Sunday Bonus Directory of 95 swipe files, tools, guides and workshops, and Claude Code Essentials material. The site does not list the price of the paid tier.
Does Why Try AI publish AI news?
Yes. The Sunday Rundown series is a skimmable weekly roundup of AI news, published alongside the newsletter's longer practical posts.
How is Why Try AI different from other AI newsletters?
It avoids hype and focuses on hands-on, practical advice for non-technical readers. It also argues that the best AI benchmark is your own work, so it recommends testing models on your own tasks rather than relying on generic benchmarks.
Why Try AI
Hands-on, no-hype guide to generative AI. Click to read Why Try AI, by Daniel Nest, a Substack publication with thousands of subscribers.
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