You've paired your Nexus Pen, you're holding the push-to-talk button, and you're staring at the ceiling wondering what to ask. We've been there. The first conversation with a new AI assistant is oddly intimidating — not because there's nothing to say, but because there's too much.
Here are ten questions that showcase exactly what Donna can do across all five modes. Work through a few of these on day one and you'll have a real feel for her capabilities by the end of the afternoon.
Answer Mode
Answer mode is Donna's default — fast, direct, factual responses on any topic. Think of it as having a knowledgeable friend who gives you real answers instead of just Googling things back at you.
1. "Donna, what's the difference between mitosis and meiosis?"
This is a classic question that every biology student has Googled at least once. Donna's answer in Answer mode is tight, clear, and structured: she'll hit the key distinction (mitosis for growth, meiosis for reproduction), explain the chromosome count difference, and wrap up in under 30 seconds. Watch it scroll across the OLED while you listen. The combination of audio and visual makes it stick.
2. "Donna, explain how compound interest works."
A perfect test of how well Donna handles math concepts with real-world relevance. She'll give you the formula, a simple example with numbers, and then connect it to something tangible like a savings account or a loan. No jargon. No condescension. Just clarity.
School Mode
School mode is Donna's tutoring brain. Instead of just answering, she asks questions back, checks your understanding, and guides you toward the answer rather than handing it to you. It's Socratic by design.
3. "Donna, I don't understand the French Revolution. Help me study it."
This is where School mode shines. Donna will start by asking what you already know, then build from there. She'll hit causes, key figures, the Tennis Court Oath, the Reign of Terror — but she'll check in with you at each step. "What do you think drove the Third Estate to revolt?" She won't let you be passive.
4. "Donna, quiz me on the periodic table."
Ask her to generate a quick quiz and watch School mode do its thing. She'll fire off element symbols, atomic numbers, and group classifications. Wrong answer? She doesn't just correct you — she explains why, then comes back to the same question two or three questions later to reinforce it. Active recall at its best.
5. "Donna, make me flashcards for the Civil War."
Donna will generate a set of question-and-answer pairs you can review verbally or save to the app. Date, event, significance — organized clearly. This feature alone is worth the subscription for any history student.
Research Mode
Research mode is built for depth. Donna goes longer, cites frameworks, and gives you the kind of structured analysis you'd expect from a well-prepared classmate who actually read all the sources.
6. "Donna, give me an overview of quantum entanglement for a research paper."
You'll get a substantive response that covers the phenomenon, the key experiment (Bell's theorem), the implications for quantum computing, and current research directions. It's not a copy-paste summary — it's a framework you can actually build a paper around. Ask a follow-up and she'll go deeper on any thread.
Creative Mode
Creative mode unlocks Donna's imagination. She writes, brainstorms, and collaborates on original content — poetry, story ideas, essay hooks, character sketches. This mode surprises people most.
7. "Donna, write me the opening paragraph of a dystopian short story set in 2087."
Try this one and pay attention to the tone. Donna doesn't produce generic AI prose — she goes for atmosphere, specific sensory detail, and an actual hook. Use it as a starting point and she'll continue from wherever you take it. Say "Add a mysterious stranger" and the scene expands. It's genuinely fun.
8. "Donna, give me five unexpected angles for an essay about social media."
Most essays on social media end up in the same three arguments. Donna in Creative mode will push past the obvious — she might suggest exploring the psychology of parasocial relationships, or the economics of attention, or a historical parallel to the printing press. Angles you can actually build a compelling argument around.
Language Mode
Language mode is Donna's linguist. Translation, grammar coaching, pronunciation tips, vocabulary in context — built for language learners of every level.
9. "Donna, how do I say 'Where is the nearest library?' in Spanish — and teach me the grammar."
Donna gives you the translation, breaks down each component of the sentence, explains the verb conjugation, and offers a memory trick for the key vocabulary. Then she'll offer to quiz you on it. This is the kind of layered explanation a language tutor gives — not a dictionary lookup.
10. "Donna, what are three phrases that sound natural in French but are easy for English speakers to get wrong?"
This is the kind of question that shows Donna understands nuance, not just translation. She'll pick up on false cognates, common pronunciation errors, or idioms that don't translate literally. Language mode at its most useful — cultural and practical, not just textbook.
Keep Going
These ten questions are a starting point. The more you use Donna, the more you'll develop your own rhythm — the shorthand phrases that get her to the answer you need fastest, the follow-up questions that push her deeper, the creative prompts that produce something genuinely useful.
By the end of your first day, Donna won't feel like a tool. She'll feel like a collaborator.