What ELI10 is for
- Learning a new field fast — "explain CRISPR like I'm 10".
- Translating a dense research abstract into something you can quote in a meeting.
- Helping a child with homework without dumbing it down too far.
- Sanity-checking your own understanding before teaching others.
- Writing the intro paragraph of a blog post (then layer in the depth).
Step-by-step
- 1Open the Explain Like I'm 10 tool.
- 2Paste the concept, paragraph or question.
- 3Click Explain simply.
- 4Read the analogy-based explanation.
- 5Ask a follow-up by appending "Now go deeper on X" at the bottom of the input.
What makes a great ELI10 prompt
- Be specific — "how a transformer model works" beats "explain AI".
- Add the context — "I know basic statistics" — to control the depth.
- Ask for an analogy explicitly — analogies are what make ELI10 stick.
- Ask for one example from everyday life.
Why "explain like I'm 10" works as a learning trick
The Feynman technique — teach a topic in plain language to a non-expert — surfaces the gaps in your own understanding faster than re-reading the source. Asking AI to explain a concept at a 10-year-old's reading level forces the explanation to drop jargon, use concrete analogies, and ground abstract ideas in everyday experience. You then notice exactly where the explanation feels hand-wavy, and that's where to dig deeper.
Topics it's especially good at
- Research paper abstracts — turn dense scientific language into a 2-paragraph summary you can actually retain
- Legal clauses — strip the "hereinafter" and translate into plain English
- Medical terms from a lab report or doctor's note
- Tech and engineering concepts (HTTPS, blockchain, neural networks) for non-engineers
- Tax and finance terminology for first-time filers
- History and politics for kids doing homework
How to push past surface explanations
First-pass plain-English explanations are good for orientation, not depth. After the AI gives you the simple version, follow up with "now go deeper — what would a graduate student need to know?" This staircase approach (10-year-old → high-schooler → undergrad → graduate) is how learning scientists recommend tackling unfamiliar fields. Each level adds vocabulary and nuance without skipping the foundation you built at the previous step.
FAQ
- Is the ELI10 tool free?
- Yes — fully free, no signup.
- How is ELI10 different from ELI5?
- ELI5 strips almost all detail. ELI10 keeps real concepts but uses friendlier language and analogies.
- Can I explain technical papers?
- Yes — paste the abstract and the introduction.
- What languages are supported?
- All major languages. Add "explain in Hindi" or your preferred language at the top of the input.
- Will the explanation be accurate?
- It's a strong starting point. For high-stakes topics (medical, legal), verify with a primary source.
- Is my input stored?
- No — it's processed and discarded.