Updated
Why I use ChatGPT
A blank page, an untidy document or a repeat admin task can take more time than the judgement that comes afterwards. I use ChatGPT to get that initial work moving sooner.
I chose it because it is broad enough to help with drafting, summarising, analysis and structured problem-solving. That means I do not need to add a specialist tool for every small job.
How it fits into my work
I use ChatGPT to structure proposals, create first drafts and summarise long material. I also use it to clean up messy data and create repeatable prompts for work that comes up regularly.
Its role is to produce a useful starting point. I still review the content and apply my own judgement before using it.
- Structuring proposals
- Creating first drafts
- Summarising long material
- Cleaning up messy data
- Creating repeatable prompts
What it does well
ChatGPT is most useful to me when the first version is the difficult part. It creates momentum by giving me something concrete to assess, change or reject.
It also works across a broad range of business tasks. For recurring work, it can provide a useful starting point for prompts that follow a repeatable structure.
- Creates momentum when the first version is hard
- Works across a wide range of business tasks
- Provides a starting point for repeatable prompts
Who it suits and who it does not
ChatGPT suits owners and small teams looking for a general-purpose AI assistant. It is a practical fit for people who want help getting drafts, documents and repeat admin work underway, while remaining responsible for the final output.
It does not suit anyone expecting AI to replace judgement, subject knowledge or high-stakes checks. If you are not prepared to review its answers, question uncertain material and edit generic wording, it is not the right approach.
- Suits owners and small teams
- Suits people willing to review and edit every output
- Does not suit anyone looking to replace human judgement
- Does not suit work where high-stakes checks will be skipped
Limitations and information handling
ChatGPT can sound certain when it is wrong. That confidence can make an incorrect answer appear more dependable than it is, so I do not treat its output as automatically accurate.
Unedited output can also sound generic. A business needs a clear information policy setting out what should not be entered into the tool, as well as a review process for anything it produces.
- Answers can sound certain while being wrong
- Unedited writing can sound generic
- Businesses need clear rules about information that must not be entered
- Outputs still require human review
Pricing and alternatives
There is a free option and paid plans. I would check the supplier's current plan details before deciding, as the available options may affect which version is appropriate.
Claude was the alternative I considered. My reason for selecting ChatGPT was its breadth across drafting, summarising, analysis and structured problem-solving.
My verdict
I find ChatGPT most useful as a thinking and drafting partner. Its value in my work is in creating structure and momentum when a blank page, long document or repeat task is slowing the start.
The useful result is not unedited AI output. It comes from reviewing the starting point, applying subject knowledge and making the final decisions myself.