Every time I think I’ve tried the strangest use for ChatGPT, I try something else and it seems to work. Not to mention, make my life easier. Obviously, I use ChatGPT for the usual suspects — meal planning, budgeting, bill negotiation — but then I give something new a try and discover another use for AI.
As a ChatGPT power user, I've tried and tested OpenAI's models endlessly. Here are five of the most unusual real use cases that I've tried and tested myself. All of them are shockingly helpful. Here's what actually worked and how to try them for yourself.
1. Creating “micro-manuals” for anything you buy
If you've ever tried to make sense of a user manual or worse, lost a manual and can't find it online, you may want to give this one a try. ChatGPT can help turn long, boring and jargon-filled product manuals into short, personalized cheat sheets. You can do this for appliances, gadgets you just bought and want to use immediately, furniture setup or even your car manual.
I recently did this to replace the bulb on my above stove microwave and to replace a breaklight on my Jeep. I coincidentally used it to fix bulbs, but I plan on using this trick for many more repairs in the future. I already know I'll give it another try when I put the kids' toys together before placing under the tree.
Try this prompt: Here’s the user manual (or description) for my device: [paste text or upload screenshots]. Turn this into a short, step-by-step cheat sheet written in plain English. Highlight the exact steps I need to follow, any tools I’ll need, common mistakes to avoid, and anything I should double-check before I start.
2. Reverse-engineering someone’s communication style
I don't know about you, but sometimes when I speak I don't feel like I'm being heard. That's where ChatGPT has helped me out. You can feed screenshots of texts or emails into ChatGPT and ask it to decode the person's communication style so you can respond more effectively.
ChatGPT can break the data down like a personality profile and explain tone, triggers, preferred structure, hidden signals (they aren't angry, they are just using short sentences to save time) and best of all, the ideal way to reply to the person.
Keep this one on hand to help break communication barriers and avoid unnecessary confusion.
Try this prompt: Analyze this message. Break down the sender’s tone, communication style, emotional cues, likely intentions, and anything they’re trying to convey indirectly. Then tell me the clearest, calmest and most effective way to respond.
3. Turn overwhelming tasks into step-by-step “starter versions”
This is surprisingly useful to get unstuck. Use ChatGPT to break intimidating tasks into bare-minimum starter versions that take less than 10 minutes.
I tested it on three things I had been avoiding including the hopelessly cluttered play room, a stressful screenplay I'm working on and tackling holiday shopping for the extended family.
ChatGPT broke everything down into 7-minute starters. I found it surprisingly powerful because it's that first step that seems to be the hardest. But, ChatGPT hands it to you to get you going.
Try this prompt: I’m overwhelmed by this task: [describe your task]. Break it into three starter steps that take less than 10 minutes each — ideally something I can do right now to build momentum.
4. Using ChatGPT as a personal shopper for oddly specific items
What do you get that person who has everything? I don't know, but ChatGPT has an infinite amount of ideas.
With the new personal shopper feature baked into the ChatGPT chatbox, you can shop, review and tweak until you find the perfect gift. As a mom of three, this one has been a real time saver as I shop for the holidays.
Enter a prompt like: Find me a $30 gift for an eight-year-old who loves sharks and hates reading.
5. Using ChatGPT as a reality filter for social anxiety
'Tis the season for holiday parties and get-togethers. For many with social anxiety, this is not the happiest time of year, but that's where ChatGPT can help. Instead of spiraling, try using ChatGPT to sanity-check moments of overwhelm.
I tested it with a message I worried came off cold. ChatGPT explained why the tone was neutral, suggested warmer alternatives and pointed out why I was overanalyzing it.
You can also use ChatGPT to walk you through an event before it happens. It won’t sugarcoat things or feed your anxiety — it simply gives you a clearer, calmer version of reality.
Try this prompt: I’m feeling anxious about an upcoming social event. Can you walk me through what’s likely to happen, help me understand what’s realistic vs. what I’m worrying about, and give me a few grounding thoughts I can use in the moment?
Bottom line
ChatGPT has so many useful features like memory, shopping and tone shifting that can be useful in some pretty unique ways. Sometimes it's just about asking yourself, "What can I do to make this project/activity/moment easier" and leaning on AI to fill that void.
Beyond productivity, ChatGPT can be a supportive tool for clarity and perspective. And sometimes it’s just something that's there to make life feel a little less overwhelming. Give these a try and let me know what you think in the comments.
More from Tom's Guide
- Elon Musk's AI vs. Google's AI with 9 challenging prompts — here's the clear winner
- ChatGPT simplified my employee benefits during open enrollment — here’s what happened
- I tested ChatGPT vs Gemini with 7 money-saving prompts — here’s the one that actually saved me more
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