Since AEDs are produced by a number of manufacturers, there are slight differences to operating each AED, but all are very intuitive. In order to use an AED, begin by either opening the lid or pushing the "ON" button. From there, it's as simple as following the AED voice and text prompts which include directions such as "Attach electrodes to patient's bare chest" and "Begin CPR."
The AED itself will determine whether a shock is necessary, and if it is, will prompt the rescuer to push the shock button, or give a clear warning before shocking the victim. Since these devices guide a person through the entire rescue process, they can be used by people that haven't been trained in CPR/AED usage, however, it is highly recommended that every facility have trained personnel.