ChatGPT

Large language models like ChatGPT and its relatives have an immense potential for helping us. However, some of their limitations can make it difficult to determine exactly what they are good at. Here are some suggestions for productive uses of ChatGPT:

• Fuzzy searching for things you don't know the name of. If you don't know the correct magic word to put into Google to find what you are looking for, try describing it to ChatGPT. It will often be able to tell you what the name of the concept is.
• Rewriting emails or other text/communication to be more succinct, formal, fun (rhyming) or others
  • Ask it to check your writing and suggest improvements
• Generate or expand on a list of options
  • Come up with ideas for naming things or projects
• Generate flash cards for spaced repetition
• Advisor about many different topics. The model’s claims definitely have to be fact checked.
  • Language learning - Ask it to point out mistakes
  • Trip planning (travel agent)
  • Meal planning (nutrition)
    • "what goes well with [...]?"
  • Coach
  • Maybe even therapist (tread carefully)
• “Please ask me a few questions about [subject] to check that I understand it”
• Interactive troubleshooting. "Help me figure out how to fix this toilet."
• Generate bash or other scripts for simple one-off tasks.
  • Spreadsheet formulas
• Data munging: Make it clean up your data - The tasks you would give to an intern.

Other tips:

• Be direct in your instructions, it is not necessary to insinuate and you can be demanding.
  • "make your replies shorter"
  • "skip prose"
  • “don’t respond with too much text or detail. If I need more clarification I will ask.”

External resources

Ask HN: How are you using GPT to be productive?