AI tutorial #2 : How to use ChatGPT as your personal assistant ? (without paying for one)
Save hours every week without working harder... (steal these AI prompts)
The personal assistant you never knew you needed
Imagine having a personal assistant available 24/7 who never gets tired, never asks for a raise, and doesn't judge you when you request the same task for the fifth time.
That's the promise of using ChatGPT as your virtual assistant.
And the best part?
While the rest of the world is paying hundreds per month for human assistants (or even premium AI plans), you can get 80% of the benefits without spending a dime.
No technical background required.
Just a willingness to try something new and the ability to type complete sentences.
You can handle that, right?
Grab a coffee and take place.
Let’s goooo 🚀
Why ChatGPT makes an excellent assistant ?
(even on the free plan)
Before we dive into the how-to, let's talk about why AI assistants like ChatGPT are revolutionizing productivity for everyday folks:
Always available: 3 AM inspiration strike? Your AI assistant is ready while your human assistant is (rightfully) dreaming.
Infinite patience: Ask it to rewrite something 15 times without any sighs or eye-rolling.
Perfect memory: It remembers every detail you share within a conversation (though admittedly, it "forgets" between sessions on the free plan).
No emotional management: No awkward holiday parties or birthday remembrances needed.
Jack of all trades: From writing to research to brainstorming. It's like hiring a team for the price of... well, nothing.
As one of our subscribers told us last week: "I used to think AI was for tech bros and sci-fi movies. Now I can't imagine handling my emails without it."
Essential assistant functions anyone can use (Even your tech-phobic uncle)
1. Email management that won't make you pull your hair out
The problem: You spend hours crafting the perfect professional email only to wonder if you sound too aggressive/passive/desperate.
The AI solution: Have ChatGPT draft, revise, or review your emails.
Try this:
Prompt example : "Act as a professional communication specialist. Draft an email declining my boss's meeting invitation for [date/time] about [project name], while clearly expressing my continued interest and commitment to the project. Include a brief explanation for why I can't attend and suggest an alternative way I can stay informed or contribute. The tone should be respectful and collaborative"
2. Calendar organization (because your Google calendar is chaos)
The problem: Your calendar looks like a Jackson Pollock painting, colorful, chaotic, and impossible to interpret.
The AI solution: Get help planning your day, creating agendas, and preparing for meetings.
Try this:
Prompt example : "Act as a time management consultant. I have 4 hours available today and need to prioritize these tasks: [Task 1 - 45 min], [Task 2 - 30 min], [Task 3 - 60 min], [Task 4 - 90 min], [Task 5 - 45 min], [Task 6 - 60 min], [Task 7 - 30 min]. Create a time-blocked schedule that prioritizes tasks based on importance and urgency, explain your prioritization decisions, and suggest which lower-priority tasks should be rescheduled or delegated."
3. Research assistant (For when Google gives you 27 million results)
The problem: You need information but don't have time to sift through endless search results or read 20-page articles.
The AI solution: Ask ChatGPT to gather and synthesize information on topics within its knowledge base.
Try this:
Prompt example : "Act as a consumer research specialist in automotive purchases. Provide the 5 most critical factors to consider when buying a used car, focusing on non-obvious issues that commonly lead to buyer's remorse. For each factor, explain why it's important, what specific aspects to check, and any red flags that would indicate potential problems. Keep explanations practical for someone without technical automotive knowledge."
4. Writing support that actually improves your work
The problem: Writer's block, rambling sentences, and that nagging feeling your writing could be better.
The AI solution: Get help with everything from outlining to editing to generating creative ideas.
Try this:
Prompt example : "Act as a content strategist specializing in environmental topics. Create a detailed outline for a 1,500-word blog post about sustainable gardening practices for absolute beginners. The target audience has limited outdoor space (mostly balconies or small yards) and no previous gardening experience. Include an engaging introduction, 4-5 main sections with relevant subsections, and a practical conclusion with next steps. For each section, note key points to cover and any terminology that will need explanation."5. Learning partner (smarter than flashcards, less judgmental than your study group)
The problem: You want to learn something new but don't know where to start or how to stay motivated.
The AI solution: Get personalized learning plans, explanations, and even quizzes.
Try this:
Prompt example : "Act as a language learning coach specializing in travel preparation. Create a detailed 2-week Spanish learning plan for an upcoming trip to Mexico. I'm a complete beginner with 30 minutes available daily for study. Focus on practical travel phrases, essential vocabulary, and basic grammar that will help me navigate transportation, order food, shop, and handle emergencies. Include daily goals, specific learning activities, recommended free resources, and quick cultural tips that will enhance my interactions with locals."Power tips that separate AI amateurs from AI power users
Here's where the magic happens ✨
These tips will immediately upgrade your AI assistant experience from "neat toy" to "how did I live without this?"
1. Be specific with instructions (specificity is your superpower)
Bad: "Help with email."
Good: "Draft a friendly follow-up email to a client who hasn't responded in two weeks. The project is a website redesign that's now a week behind schedule."
Remember: ChatGPT can't read your mind (yet), so the more context you provide, the better.
2. Use the "Act As" technique (personality tansplant for your AI)
Start your prompt with "Act as..." to set the right context:
Prompt example : "Act as my executive assistant helping organize my work priorities for the week. I have 3 client projects, 2 internal meetings, and a proposal due Friday."Other powerful roles to try:
Act as my detail-oriented editor
Act as my creative writing coach
Act as my productivity consultant
Act as my language learning tutor
3. Save your best prompts (don't reinvent the wheel)
Create a document or note on your phone with prompts that worked well. You'd be surprised how often you need the same type of assistance.
Our subscriber Maria created a "Prompt Library" in Notion with categories like:
Email templates
Meeting prep
Writing assistance
Learning resources
She says it saves her at least 5 hours every week.
4. Break complex tasks into steps (the conversation approach)
Instead of one giant prompt, have a conversation:
Start with the big picture
Ask for an outline or plan
Dive deeper into each section
Request revisions or elaboration
Example:
Prompt example : "I need to create a presentation about our Q1 results." ChatGPT: [Provides outline] You: "Great, now help me flesh out the section on revenue growth."5. Give context and constraints (the secret ingredient)
Always include:
Purpose ("This is for...")
Audience ("This will be read by...")
Tone ("Keep it casual but professional...")
Length ("I need about 300 words...")
Format ("Format as a bullet-point list...")
Example:
Prompt example : "I need to write a 500-word blog post about gardening for beginners. The audience is urban apartment dwellers with no prior experience. The tone should be encouraging and simple, avoiding technical jargon."6. Use system prompts to set the foundation
While the free version doesn't have custom instructions, you can still use system prompts at the beginning of your conversation:
Prompt example : "For this conversation, I'd like you to be my marketing consultant. You have 20 years of experience in digital marketing and specialize in helping small businesses with limited budgets. You're practical, results-oriented, and always focus on ROI. Now, let me tell you about my business challenges..."What ChatGPT absolutely cannot do (know the limits)
Let's be real for a moment. Your AI assistant is amazing, but it's not omnipotent:
Cannot interact directly with other software (without plugins on paid plans)
May occasionally make up information (AI hallucinations are real, folks)
Cannot remember conversations after they end (on the free plan)
Cannot handle truly sensitive personal information securely (please don't share your banking details)
As my grandma used to say: "Know the rules before you break them."
Except with AI, just know the rules.
Setting up your AI assistant routine (make it a habit)
Want to truly transform your productivity? Incorporate ChatGPT into your daily workflow:
1. Morning planning (7-8 AM)
Start with:
Prompt example : "Help me plan my day. Here are my priorities: [list tasks]. I have meetings at [times]. What's the most efficient schedule?"2. Email triage (9-10 AM)
Use:
Prompt example : "Help me craft responses to these three types of emails I regularly receive: [describe email types]"3. Meeting prep (15 mins before each meeting)
Try:
Prompt example : "I have a meeting about [topic] with [people]. Based on these previous notes [paste notes], what key points should I make and what questions should I ask?"4. Writing assistance (whenever the blank page appears)
Start with:
Prompt example : "I need to write [document type]. The main points I want to cover are [list points]. Help me create an outline."5. End-of-day review (5-6 PM)
Reflect with:
Prompt example : "Based on what I accomplished today [list achievements], help me identify the top 3 priorities for tomorrow and any lessons learned."One subscriber told us this routine alone saved him 90 minutes every day. That's 7.5 hours a week or nearly 400 hours a year!
💡 Bonus: 10 copy-paste prompts to use right now
1. Daily planning prompt
Prompt example : Act as my productivity coach. Help me plan my day efficiently. I need to complete these tasks: [list tasks]. I have meetings at [times]. I work best in the morning and tend to have an energy slump around 2 PM. Create a schedule that maximizes my productivity based on these factors.2. Email response template generator
Prompt example : Act as my communication consultant. Create 3 templates for common emails I need to send: 1) Following up with clients who haven't responded, 2) Providing project updates to my team, 3) Politely declining requests that don't align with my priorities. Each template should be professional but friendly.3. Meeting agenda creator
Prompt example : Act as my meeting facilitator. Create a detailed 30-minute agenda for a team meeting about [topic]. Include time allocations for each section, specific discussion questions, and designated roles if appropriate. The goal of this meeting is to [desired outcome].4. Learning roadmap creator
Prompt example : Act as my educational consultant. I want to learn [skill/subject] in the next [timeframe]. I'm currently at a [beginner/intermediate/advanced] level. Create a structured learning plan with resources, practice exercises, and milestones to track my progress.5. Document outliner
Prompt example : Act as my writing partner. Help me create a detailed outline for [document type] about [topic]. The audience is [description]. The purpose is to [goal]. The document should be approximately [length] and cover these key points: [list points].6. Decision-making framework
Prompt example : Act as my decision-making consultant. I'm trying to decide between [option A] and [option B]. Key factors to consider are [list factors]. Help me create a pros and cons analysis and recommend an approach based on my priorities, which are [list priorities].7. Creative brainstorming session
Prompt example : Act as my creative director. I need fresh ideas for [project/content]. The target audience is [description]. The key message we want to convey is [message]. Generate 10 creative concepts that are innovative but realistic to implement with [available resources].8. Project breakdown template
Prompt example : Act as my project manager. Break down this project into manageable tasks: [describe project]. Include estimated time for each task, dependencies, potential challenges, and resources needed. Organize these into phases with clear milestones.9. Personal development coach
Prompt example : Act as my personal development coach. I want to improve my [skill/quality]. Currently, I struggle with [challenge]. My goal is [specific outcome]. Create a 30-day improvement plan with daily exercises, reflection questions, and measurable indicators of progress.10. Research question framework
Prompt example : Act as my research assistant. I need to understand [topic] better. Create a structured framework of questions to explore this topic comprehensively, organized from basic concepts to advanced applications. For each question, suggest where I might find reliable information.Wrapping up : Your new AI-powered life
Imagine finishing your workday with time to spare. Picture yourself completing projects that used to take days in just hours. Envision learning new skills faster than you thought possible.
This isn't science fiction. It's what happens when you have an AI assistant working alongside you.
The question isn't whether AI will change how we work. It's whether you'll be ahead of the curve or playing catch-up.
As we like to tell our subscribers:
"The best time to start using AI was yesterday. The second-best time is now."
What will you ask your new assistant to help with first?
Drop a comment below and let me know which of these prompts you tried and how it worked for you!
Next week, we'll dive into advanced AI techniques that will make today's tips look like child's play. You won't want to miss it.
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Thanks for joining us on this journey ! Together, we’ll make AI simple, fun, and empowering for everyone.
Cheers,
The Big Bang AI Team
