Plain Future Press An imprint of Black Line Ops

Coming soon

You're not behind. You were just never let in.

Artificial intelligence explained in plain English — for newcomers, latecomers, and the overwhelmed. No hype. No fear. No talking down.

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Coming soon in eBook & paperback. Leave your email — you'll be first to know, and we'll send the free Starter Kit right away.

Written by a cybersecurity co-founder who builds AI software for a living — a real, named insider, not an anonymous name.

Cover of The Honest Guide to AI by Brian J. Lane — artificial intelligence explained in plain English, for newcomers, latecomers, and the overwhelmed

Coming soon in eBook & paperback

By the end of this short, readable book, you'll be able to:

  • Understand what AI really is — and what it isn't — with no technical background
  • Have a real conversation with assistants like ChatGPT and get useful answers
  • Tell the difference between what these tools do well and where they confidently get things wrong
  • Recognize the AI you already use every day (you've been using it for years)
  • Use it for practical everyday tasks: letters, questions, plans, and more
  • Protect your privacy and your money — and answer the honest question: "is it listening to me?"

The safety chapter

The chapter most books skip — the one your family will thank you for.

One of the newer scams uses a cloned voice of a family member — calling in a panic, asking for money. The book names that threat plainly and teaches a simple, memorable way to check before you act, plus how to spot fake photos, voices, and videos.

It comes from a security expert, not an afterthought. Here is the method, in four calm steps:

  • Stop.

    Don't pay, click, reply, or give information while your heart is racing.

  • Test the story.

    Ask: Why the rush? Why secrecy? Why this payment method? Does this sound like how this person usually talks?

  • Open a trusted channel.

    Hang up or close the message. Contact the person, company, or agency another way — using a number, app, or website you already know is real.

  • Protect your money and information.

    Don't send gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, cash, passwords, or verification codes because someone contacted you unexpectedly and pressured you.

You don't have to decide whether the voice, picture, or video is real. You only have to recognize pressure — and verify through a trusted channel.

Why trust this book?

Brian J. Lane, author of The Honest Guide to AI

Brian J. Lane

Author · B.S. Cybersecurity · Co-Founder & CISO, Black Line Ops

Brian J. Lane is a cybersecurity-minded software builder, AI explorer, and co-founder and CISO of Black Line Ops, LLC. He spends his days building AI-native tools and thinking about how to make powerful systems safer, clearer, and less ridiculous for normal people. He holds a B.S. in Information Science with a cybersecurity concentration from the University of South Florida.

Most guides for this audience are written by anonymous names you'll never meet. This one is written by a real, named insider who works with this technology every day — and will tell you plainly what's real, what's exaggerated, and what the industry won't.

Free download & launch list

Get the free AI Starter Kit

Two things, one email. We'll send your free printable AI Starter Kit right away, and let you know the moment the book is available. Inside the kit:

  • A one-page cheat sheet
  • A safety checklist
  • 10 simple prompts to try today

Free. We'll send the Starter Kit now and email you when the book is available, plus the occasional note. No spam — unsubscribe anytime.

Check your email — your Starter Kit is on its way.

We've sent your printable AI Starter Kit to your inbox, and we'll let you know the moment the book is available. You can also download the kit right now:

Download the Starter Kit (PDF)

Early readers are saying…

The book is brand new, so we won't invent quotes. Real reader reviews will appear here as they come in.

An early reader's review will appear here.

An early reader's review will appear here.

An early reader's review will appear here.

What's inside — 12 short chapters and an AI Starter Kit.

Questions

Honest answers to honest questions

Do I need any technical background?

None at all. The book assumes you have never read anything about AI before. Everything is explained in plain English, at a comfortable pace, with no jargon and nothing taken for granted.

Is this going to scare me about AI?

No. There is a clear-eyed safety chapter, but the tone throughout is calm and honest — no hype and no fear. The goal is to leave you more confident and capable, not more worried.

Is it long or hard to get through?

No. It is a short, readable book — 12 short chapters at a comfortable pace. You can finish a chapter in one sitting and put it down knowing one more thing for sure.

I'm buying this for my parent or grandparent — is it right for them?

Yes. It was written for exactly that reader: a smart, capable adult who simply hasn't been let in yet. It treats them with respect, moves gently, and includes a safety chapter the whole family will be glad they read.

What's the free AI Starter Kit?

A printable one-page cheat sheet, a safety checklist, and 10 simple prompts to try today. Enter your email and we'll send it to you — it's free, and you can unsubscribe anytime.

What formats will the book come in?

It will be available as an eBook and a paperback. The paperback makes an easy gift for a parent or grandparent.

Become the helper, not the one left out. Be first in line the day it arrives — and stop feeling left behind.

Notify me when it's out

Coming soon in eBook & paperback.