A quick X search for “ChatGPT” displays screenshots from the tool, opinions on how ChatGPT will revolutionize the future (or not), and examples of ways this tool is helping people all over save time.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT has been and continues to be a hot topic (and a helping hand for many modern-day tasks). In this post, you’ll learn:
- What ChatGPT is
- Where ChatGPT came from (and why it quickly took the world by storm)
- How to use ChatGPT to boost productivity
- Five use cases to get the most out of ChatGPT right away
- And answers to some frequently asked questions about ChatGPT
What is ChatGPT?
OpenAI launched ChatGPT—Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer—a natural language processing (NLP) tool driven by artificial intelligence (AI) in late November 2022 as a prototype. The chatbot almost instantly went viral on social media due to its ability to quickly generate cohesive responses to user questions.
Its creators trained ChatGPT using two types of machine learning: supervised learning and reinforcement learning. Humans also helped improve the chatbot's performance to create a holistic approach. ChatGPT can answer almost any question you may have. While previous versions (like GPT-3.5) had cutoff dates in 2021 and early 2022, the latest version (GPT-4) has a cutoff date of April 2023.
Tips for using ChatGPT to be more productive
There are many ways you can use ChatGPT to boost your productivity, no matter your role or industry. Here are five ways to use ChatGPT, with some tips and best practices to help you get started.
ChatGPT for coding
Software developers everywhere may rejoice that ChatGPT can lend a helping hand in coding scenarios. Whether you’re a junior programmer or a more experienced one, ChatGPT’s functionality can help you write and debug code for you.
One Amazon engineer asked ChatGPT interview questions for a coding position within Amazon, and ChatGPT answered the questions correctly. While it isn’t necessarily ideal for developing an application from start to finish since it’s not an actual human coder, it can help developers with specific tasks.
Regarding coding, David Gewirtz, Senior Contributing Editor at ZDNET, recommends using ChatGPT to explore libraries and resources to determine which library will work best for a particular coding project. In other words, programmers can use ChatGPT for research purposes to gather information that helps them make decisions about their projects.
Additionally, Gewirtz also suggested using ChatGPT to write example code. (Again, keep in mind that you should always double-check the outputs and understand that ChatGPT can’t generate your code entirely.)
Here’s an example:
Consider using the programming ChatGPTs available via the Explore GPTs menu:
ChatGPT for writing
ChatGPT offers helpful assistance for many writing tasks, including brainstorming content ideas, drafting short social media captions, essays, blog posts, and more. Will it replace writers entirely? Bani Kaur wrote, “So, will ChatGPT replace all writers? No. Will it replace most of them? Yes.”
Despite some concerns around ChatGPT’s impact on writers and writing skills, some legitimate benefits can help you save time and be more productive (especially if you train ChatGPT to write like you). According to Contently, ChatGPT can be particularly useful to writers (and marketers) for ideation, headline generation, meta descriptions, and outlining content.
Outside of writers, workers can use ChatGPT to draft emails, create meeting agendas, and summarize meeting notes, freeing up administrative overhead time for more time for deep work.
Here’s an example email draft:
You can try enhancing your writing with one of the Writing GPTs available in the Explore GPTs menu shown below:
ChatGPT for editing
Like writing, you can use ChatGPT to streamline editing and proofreading work. ChatGPT can be an excellent sidekick for editing drafts and improving written paragraphs. Copyhacker put together helpful copy sweep editing prompts you can experiment with that cover clarity, voice, tone, specificity, emotions, and more.
It’s important to note that different types of editing can impact how well ChatGPT works for you. For example, editing for grammatical and spelling errors significantly differs from editing for a brand’s tone and voice. ChatGPT can likely do the former without needing additional details, whereas the latter requires training the model to understand your brand.
Some additional proofreading tasks ChatGPT can help with, as outlined by Upwork, include:
- Avoiding passive voice
- Improving or changing writing style
- Reducing the use of redundant phrases
- Improving readability
ChatGPT for ideas
You can use ChatGPT to generate ideas ranging from birthday gift ideas to recipes, article topics, and vacation suggestions. Outside of personal use cases, you can ask ChatGPT to brainstorm for projects and tasks at work. This is an excellent use of ChatGPT for instances where you feel like you’re wasting time attempting to generate ideas and coming up empty-handed. The catch is that ChatGPT does this most effectively when you provide enough context and direction about what you are looking for.
I asked ChatGPT to help me brainstorm names for a new iced coffee beverage for working moms. Here’s what it provided back:
ChatGPT for calendars
Finally, one of my favorite use cases! ChatGPT can help you manage your calendar and calendar invites to save time. It can also help you plan your workday when your to-do list becomes too overwhelming.
For example, I asked ChatGPT to help me plan my workday tomorrow and provided it with my meeting schedule and task list. I offered feedback as it generated schedules until it developed a plan I was happy with.
Additionally, custom tools like Calendar GPT, powered by Zapier’s AI Actions, can show you what’s on your calendar today, tell you what’s coming up, and help you prepare for your meetings. (Sign in with actions.zapier.com on ChatGPT to use this).
FAQ
If you have some questions about ChatGPT, you certainly aren’t alone! Here are some common frequently asked questions about the tool.
Is ChatGPT safe?
In general, ChatGPT is a safe and secure tool for general use. According to the OpenAI website, AI trainers can review conversations to improve the system.
There are some concerns about how some people may use the tool maliciously, which can lead to potential threats, including cybersecurity attacks. Axios reported that hackers are using ChatGPT to create malware and encryption scripts. Ultimately, ChatGPT has the potential to make it easier for hackers and criminals to cause trouble for others.
How does ChatGPT work?
ChatGPT is a learning model that creators trained using large datasets of text and writing that already existed on the Internet. This generative AI reacts to questions or prompts quickly. Actual humans provided feedback to help improve the language model and better understand queries and prompts upon submission.
What are the benefits of ChatGPT?
Like other chatbot technologies, ChatGPT can improve efficiencies by reducing manual work while saving time. For example, it can generate email templates you can quickly copy, paste, and customize accordingly.
Additionally, ChatGPT can answer questions and prompts quickly, providing users with rapid answers to questions rather than search results they must dig through to find solutions themselves. (There is a time and place for Google searches, but ChatGPT can provide answers to straightforward questions.)
What are the limitations of ChatGPT?
Although ChatGPT is impressive and offers many benefits, there are some limitations to consider. First, ChatGPT was trained on data, which means it can only craft responses based on the information it has. It may generate incorrect information or produce biased content. On the same note, ChatGPT has a training cutoff date, so it can’t provide you with details past its cutoff.
Another limitation of ChatGPT is that even when its responses are accurate and helpful, it’s still a language model and can’t necessarily replicate human emotional elements or deeper conversational layers. ChatGPT responds to text-based inquiries using the information it has been trained on and nothing more.
How can I start using ChatGPT?
Using ChatGPT is easy! Follow the steps below to get started:
- Navigate to https://chat.openai.com/
- Click the “Sign up” button
- Create your account by entering your email address or linking to a Microsoft or Google account and creating a password
- Verify your email address by clicking the link in your inbox
- Finish setting up your account by adding your first and last name and verifying your phone number
- Ask ChatGPT something!
If you don’t sign up, you can still access ChatGPT 3.5 (the former model).
How will ChatGPT be used in the future?
ChatGPT has prompted some excitement and fear about the future. While ChatGPT has much to offer and can streamline various aspects of some jobs (see the examples above), it cannot fully replicate human interactions and emotions. Additionally, artificial intelligence lacks creativity, critical thinking, and empathy.
That said, ChatGPT may become an integral part of workflows and processes. Businesses are experimenting with it to enable workers to do their jobs more effectively and efficiently, leaving more time for critical thinking and complex matters.
Going forward
There’s a lot of buzz around ChatGPT, and for good reasons. ChatGPT is a natural language processing tool driven by artificial intelligence. AI trainers taught the tool to respond to human questions and queries with data and information. ChatGPT can assist with coding, writing, editing, idea generation, and calendar management (among other use cases). Benefits of the tool include reduced manual work and rapid responses to questions. But it’s worth noting that ChatGPT can’t quite replicate human traits like empathy.
About the author
Alyssa Towns has written productivity and time management content for Clockwise for several years. Early in her career, she dove into time management strategies to effectively manage her workday calendar and 10+ C-Suite officers' calendars across various organizations. She uses her training in change management to write time management, the future of work, and career content that helps people change their behaviors and habits. In addition, she writes about artificial intelligence (AI) and other technology for G2's Learn Hub. When she isn't writing, Alyssa enjoys trying new restaurants with her husband, playing with her Bengal cats, adventuring outdoors, or reading a book from her TBR list.
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