You’re using ChatGPT wrong

Jeff Su
6 Feb 202409:30

TLDRThe video script discusses common misconceptions about using Chat GPT effectively. It advises against overly specific custom instructions and instead suggests a simple approach to cover various use cases. The script also highlights the potential of Chat GPT for non-technical users to automate tasks, such as creating Google app scripts without coding knowledge. It emphasizes the importance of asking clarifying questions to improve responses and suggests using Chat GPT for personalized insights and Q&A sessions. The video encourages viewers to optimize and apply Chat GPT prompts in their daily tasks for increased productivity.

Takeaways

  • 🔍 Custom instructions should be broad to cover various use cases, not overly specific.
  • 📝 Start with a simple three-sentence summary of your professional, secondary, and personal aspects.
  • 🤝 Emulate writing style by analyzing blog posts or content from someone you admire.
  • 📅 Use Chat GPT to automate tasks, even without coding experience.
  • 📝 Ask Chat GPT to write scripts for automating tasks in Google applications.
  • 📈 Ask five clarifying questions to improve the quality of responses from Chat GPT.
  • 📊 Use Chat GPT to distill actionable insights from articles relevant to your role.
  • 📝 Engage in Q&A sessions with Chat GPT to get targeted insights from reports or articles.
  • 🚫 Avoid the 'summary only' shortfall; use Chat GPT for more than just summarizing content.
  • 📋 Avoid prompt overload; optimize and use a few key prompts regularly.
  • 🔧 Refine your prompts over time for better productivity and task efficiency.

Q & A

  • What is the common mistake made by new users when utilizing custom instructions for Chat GPT?

    -A common mistake is being overly specific with custom instructions, which can limit the versatility of the AI's outputs for various use cases.

  • How should one initially set up their custom instructions for optimal results?

    -One should keep the initial custom instructions simple, providing a snapshot of their professional identity, secondary persona, and personality interests.

  • Why is it beneficial to model custom instructions after someone you admire?

    -Modeling instructions after a respected figure can help in emulating their tone, writing style, and delivery, which can enhance the quality and relevance of the AI's outputs.

  • How can Chat GPT assist users with no coding experience?

    -Chat GPT can help users automate tasks by writing scripts for them, even if they have no prior coding knowledge, making it easier to perform tasks within applications like Google Docs or Google Sheets.

  • What is the 'first try fallacy' mentioned in the script?

    -The 'first try fallacy' is the unrealistic expectation of getting perfect answers from Chat GPT on the initial prompt without any follow-up or clarification.

  • How can users improve the quality of responses from Chat GPT?

    -Users can ask Chat GPT to ask them five questions that would improve the response, which helps clarify the user's needs and leads to more relevant outputs.

  • What is the 'summary only shortfall' and how can it be overcome?

    -The 'summary only shortfall' refers to users only using Chat GPT to summarize information. To overcome this, users can ask for personalized insights specific to their role and responsibilities.

  • How can users make the most of Chat GPT prompts they've saved?

    -Users can ask Chat GPT to generate a list of prompts tailored to their role and responsibilities, then select a few to focus on and integrate into their daily tasks for improved productivity.

  • What is the importance of refining Chat GPT prompts over time?

    -Refining prompts helps users to better align the AI's outputs with their specific needs and goals, leading to more effective and efficient use of the AI in their work.

  • How can Chat GPT be used to analyze and extract actionable insights from reports?

    -Users can engage in a Q&A session with Chat GPT, asking targeted questions based on the content of a report, to receive insights, analyses, and answers relevant to their specific role and objectives.

Outlines

00:00

📝 Optimizing Chat GPT for Personal Use

This paragraph discusses the common mistakes people make when using Chat GPT, such as following untested advice from self-proclaimed experts. It emphasizes the importance of creating custom instructions that cover a range of use cases, rather than being overly specific. The speaker shares a personal strategy for setting up custom instructions by keeping them simple and reflective of their professional and personal interests. They also provide a hack for finding inspiration in online creators and suggest using Chat GPT to analyze writing styles for improved outputs.

05:01

🤖 Automating Tasks with Chat GPT

The second paragraph focuses on using Chat GPT to automate tasks, even for those without coding experience. The speaker shares their own experience of creating a Google Docs script with Chat GPT's help to automate meeting notes. They explain the process of using Google Apps Script and provide a pro tip for customizing the output. The paragraph also highlights the potential for using Chat GPT to create simple scripts for other Google applications, such as Google Slides, to streamline work processes.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Custom Instructions

Custom Instructions refer to the ability to tailor the behavior of an AI like Chat GPT to specific user needs. In the video, it's suggested that instead of being overly specific, users should keep their custom instructions simple and broad to cover various use cases. An example given is to describe one's professional role, secondary persona, and personal interests to guide the AI's output.

💡Product Marketing Manager

A Product Marketing Manager is a professional role focused on promoting and positioning products in the market. In the context of the video, the speaker identifies themselves as a Product Marketing Manager in Tech, which sets the stage for the type of content and assistance they seek from the AI, such as efficiency and productivity-related tasks.

💡Efficiency

Efficiency is the ability to do something in the最少的 effort or time. The video emphasizes the importance of efficiency in both professional and personal life, as the speaker is looking for AI assistance to improve their efficiency in tasks like meeting preparation and document organization.

💡Google App Script

Google App Script is a scripting language based on JavaScript that allows users to create custom functionality within Google applications. The video provides an example of how a non-technical user can leverage Google App Script through Chat GPT to automate tasks, such as generating meeting notes in Google Docs.

💡Automation

Automation refers to the process of creating systems to perform tasks with minimal human intervention. The video discusses the benefits of using Chat GPT to automate tasks, like generating meeting notes or standardizing document formats, to save time and increase productivity.

💡Currency Conversion

Currency conversion is the process of changing one currency into another. In the video, the speaker asks Chat GPT to help automate the tracking of payments in various currencies, converting them to USD, which illustrates the practical application of AI in managing financial tasks.

💡First Try Fallacy

The First Try Fallacy is the expectation of getting perfect answers from AI on the first attempt without further refinement. The video suggests that users should ask AI follow-up questions to improve the quality of responses, rather than expecting immediate perfection.

💡Summary Only Shortfall

Summary Only Shortfall refers to the limited use of AI for merely summarizing information, instead of extracting actionable insights. The video encourages users to ask AI for personalized insights relevant to their specific roles and responsibilities, which can lead to more valuable outcomes.

💡Prompt Overload

Prompt Overload is the situation where users save numerous AI prompts but fail to optimize or utilize them effectively. The video advises users to select a few relevant prompts and integrate them into their daily tasks for better productivity.

💡Prompt Engineering

Prompt Engineering involves the skillful creation and refinement of prompts to get the most out of AI. The video suggests that users should ask AI to generate a list of prompts tailored to their job roles and objectives, and then focus on using a select few to enhance their work efficiency.

Highlights

New features in Chat GPT often come with untested advice from self-proclaimed experts.

Custom instructions should be broad to cover all use cases, not overly specific.

For effective custom instructions, keep it simple with three sentences about your professional, secondary, and personal aspects.

Use a role model's writing style as a reference for custom instructions to emulate their tone and style.

Chat GPT can help automate tasks without coding experience, such as creating Google app scripts.

To improve responses, ask Chat GPT five questions that would enhance the answer.

Avoid the first try fallacy by clarifying your needs with follow-up questions.

Chat GPT can be used to distill actionable insights from information, not just summarize it.

For personalized insights, ask Chat GPT to apply information to your specific role and responsibilities.

Chat GPT can be used for Q&A sessions with written content, providing targeted insights and analyses.

To optimize prompts, ask Chat GPT for a list of prompts tailored to your role and objectives.

Select a few prompts that are most relevant and focus on using them consistently to refine their effectiveness.

Prompt overload can occur when users save many prompts but fail to optimize or use them effectively.

Chat GPT can generate scripts for automating tasks in Google applications with ease.

The video provides practical examples of how to use Chat GPT to increase productivity in various work scenarios.

The transcript emphasizes the importance of understanding and utilizing Chat GPT's capabilities to their fullest potential.