Tools and prices
AI tools change faster than a book can be reprinted. This page keeps what the book refers to up to date.
Last checked: September 2026. Prices are approximate and include VAT; the subscription page shows the exact amount.
ChatGPT
Go to chatgpt.com or get the ChatGPT app from Google Play or the App Store. Watch out for unofficial apps with similar names.
| Plan | Price | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Free | £0 | Enough for everything in the book. Has daily limits. |
| Go | less than Plus | Higher limits for less money. Availability and price vary by country. |
| Plus | around £20 a month | If you use AI daily and keep hitting the limits. |
| Pro | much more | For heavy professional use. Most people will never need it. |
The advice from the book stands: start free, and decide about paying only after 30–60 days of regular use.
Privacy settings in ChatGPT
- Click your icon or name (bottom left or top right, depending on the version).
- Open Settings, then Data controls.
- Turn off Improve the model for everyone. Your conversations will no longer be used for training.
Temporary chat is the button at the top right of a new conversation. It isn't saved to your history or used for training, but OpenAI may keep it for up to 30 days for safety reasons, so National Insurance numbers and passwords still don't belong there.
Gemini
Go to gemini.google.com and sign in with your Google account. The free version is fully usable. The paid plan is called Google AI Pro (formerly Gemini Advanced) and costs around £20 a month. There is also a cheaper tier.
Microsoft Copilot
Go to copilot.microsoft.com and sign in with a Microsoft account. The free version covers everyday use. Copilot inside Word, Excel and PowerPoint comes with paid Microsoft 365 plans, for example Microsoft 365 Premium at around £20 a month. Copilot Pro is no longer sold on its own.
AI video tools
You don't need these for work. It is worth knowing they exist, because this is exactly how the deepfake videos in Chapter 6 are made. A realistic video with a voice now takes minutes.
- Sora from OpenAI
- Veo from Google, also available through Gemini
- Runway
- Kling
If you are scammed
Shame is a fraudster's best friend. This happens to intelligent people. Work through these steps in order:
- Call your bank on the number on the back of your card, or call 159, which connects you to most UK banks. Minutes matter.
- Change the passwords for your online banking and email, ideally from a different device.
- Delete nothing. Screenshots, emails, texts and statements are evidence.
- Report it. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, use Report Fraud (which replaced Action Fraud in December 2025) at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.
- Ask your bank about reimbursement. Most victims of authorised push payment fraud can get their money back, up to £85,000.
- Forward scam texts to 7726 and scam emails to report@phishing.gov.uk.