50 things to talk about with an AI friend (when you don't know what to say)

16 October 2026 · 4 min read · By the I Am Mate team

Stuck on what to say to an AI chatbot? 50 easy conversation starters for an AI friend: your day, food, travel, careers, hobbies, learning, games and fun what-ifs.

You've opened the chat, the character has said hi, and... your mind goes blank. Totally normal. Here are 50 easy conversation starters, grouped by mood. Copy any of them straight into a chat.

Your day (easy openers)

1. "Can I tell you about my day? It was a weird one."
2. "What's one small win I should celebrate today?"
3. "Help me plan a relaxing evening with what I've got at home."
4. "I've got a busy week. Can you help me make a simple plan?"
5. "Ask me three questions to get to know me."
6. "What's a good way to wind down after a long shift?"

Food and cooking

7. "I've got eggs, spinach and half an onion. What can I make?"
8. "What's your favourite comfort food and how do you make it?"
9. "Teach me one dish I can cook in 20 minutes."
10. "Help me plan cheap lunches for the week."
11. "What's the difference between a biscuit in the UK and the US?"

Tip: Olivia, the chef on I Am Mate, loves turning leftovers into dinner.

Travel and places

12. "Tell me a story from a trip you'd love to take."
13. "What should I see on a weekend in Edinburgh, Toronto or Melbourne?"
14. "How do I beat jet lag on a long-haul flight?"
15. "Help me plan a road trip on a small budget."
16. "What's a tradition from another country you find interesting?"

Tip: Chloe the flight attendant and Ethan the pilot have plenty of travel stories.

Work and career

17. "Ask me practice interview questions for my next job."
18. "How do I ask my manager for feedback without it being awkward?"
19. "Help me write a short, friendly message to a new coworker."
20. "I'm thinking about a career change. Can you ask me questions to help me think it through?"
21. "What does a typical day in your job look like?"
22. "Give me three ideas for a side project."

Hobbies and interests

23. "Recommend a book based on the last one I loved."
24. "Help me make a playlist for a rainy afternoon."
25. "I want to start running. Where do I begin?"
26. "Teach me one photography tip I can try on my phone today."
27. "What's a hobby I could start for under $20 or £20?"
28. "Let's design my dream living room."
29. "What video game should I try next?"

Learning something new

30. "Explain how planes stay in the air, like I'm 12."
31. "Quiz me on world capitals."
32. "Teach me five useful phrases in Spanish."
33. "Help me practise my English and correct my mistakes."
34. "What's one interesting fact about animals I probably don't know?"
35. "Help me study for my exam with quick questions."

Fun and games

36. "Let's play 20 questions."
37. "Would you rather: live by the sea or in the mountains?"
38. "Tell me a joke, then I'll tell you one."
39. "Let's write a short story together, one line each."
40. "Give me a riddle."
41. "If you could have any superpower for a day, what would it be?"
42. "Rate my ideal weekend out of 10."

Thinking and reflecting

43. "What's a habit that could make my mornings better?"
44. "Help me think through a decision by listing pros and cons."
45. "What's something I could do this week to see a friend?"
46. "Ask me what I'm grateful for today."
47. "Help me set one small goal for this month."
48. "What's a good question to ask someone I've just met?"
49. "Help me practise starting a conversation at a meetup."
50. "What should we talk about next time?"

Tips for better conversations

• Share a little about yourself. The more context you give, the better the replies.
• Ask the character about their "job". Each I Am Mate character has a profession and hobbies, and loves to talk about them.
• Keep it friendly. I Am Mate characters are friends only, so they'll steer away from romance or adult topics.
• Remember it's an AI. It can be wrong; double-check facts that matter.

Frequently asked questions

What do you talk about with an AI chatbot?

Anything you'd chat about with a friendly acquaintance: your day, food, travel, work, hobbies, learning something new or playing word games. Asking the character about their job or interests is an easy start.

What are fun things to ask an AI?

Try "would you rather" questions, 20 questions, riddles, writing a story together line by line, or asking it to explain something complicated in simple words.

Can an AI friend help me get better at conversations?

Yes. You can practise small talk, introductions and asking follow-up questions without pressure, then use those skills with people.

What won't an I Am Mate character talk about?

Characters keep things friendly: no romance, flirting or sexual content, and they won't help with anything harmful or illegal. See our acceptable use policy for details.