How to Build a Custom AI Chatbot in Plain English

This course, developed entirely from scratch using the latest generation of AI research applications, provides a concise overview of how professionals can design and deploy custom AI chatbots using modern large language models and conversational AI platforms. Participants will learn how to transform static documents into interactive “thinking environments,” enabling users to question policies, analyze financial data, simulate expert reasoning, and accelerate decision-making. The course explains how modern chatbots have evolved beyond simple scripted responders into context-aware AI assistants capable of analyzing uploaded documents, maintaining conversational context, and supporting professional workflows.

Through practical demonstrations and real-world examples, learners will explore how to build specialized AI assistants using document grounding, persona-driven instructions, and contextual knowledge hubs. The course also introduces emerging capabilities such as document-grounded voice chat and conversational AI agents that interact with users through speech. Emphasis is placed on governance, verification, and responsible use, ensuring that AI accelerates research, analysis, and collaboration while maintaining professional judgment and oversight.

Topics Covered:

• Introduction to modern AI chatbots and conversational AI

• Document-grounded chat and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)

• Persona-grounded AI assistants and expert role prompting

• Building contextual knowledge hubs and persistent AI workspaces

• Comparing leading AI platforms (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity)

• Document-grounded voice chat and conversational voice agents

• Governance, verification, and responsible AI use in professional work

Target Audience:

This course is designed for accountants, consultants, analysts, and knowledge professionals who want to build custom AI assistants that enhance research, analysis, and decision-making in their organizations.