If your boss asked you to today to use ChatGPT, would you know how? Would you even know what it was? If not, you wouldn’t be alone. ChatGPT is still fairly under the radar when it comes to the mainstream. A lot of media is focused on theatrics, purposely working to elicit an inflammatory response. ChatGPT is a text-based language generator. What it is doing isn’t thinking, or even reciting the most up-to-date data on a topic, (it only has access to information from 2021) it’s replicating what the most “likely” response to a prompt is. It’s completely possible to use ChatGPT and not enter identifying information into it.

A common problem I have run across in my career is being asked to create some sort of text-based communication that I have zero context for. Employment offers, company-wide emails, and even simple responses to clients can all take up valuable time and mental energy. This is where ChatGPT comes in. As an assistant, you can input the message you want to convey and let ChatGPT generate a response for you.

Of course, it’s important to remember that ChatGPT isn’t perfect. It may generate responses that aren’t quite what you were looking for, or that miss the mark on tone or intention. That’s why it’s always important to review and edit the generated text before sending it out. Additionally, because ChatGPT has access to a limited amount of information, it’s important to be aware of potential inaccuracies or outdated information.

ChatGPT itself is a program and a technology that can be built on. This is why when we talk about ChatGPT, it can be a bit confusing when you read that “ChatGPT can assist with scheduling.” It’s commonly misconstrued as ChatGPT alone will do the scheduling, when it still relies on a human to initiate the request. An example of a product utilizing ChatGPT to expand its offerings is EABuddy.com. Originally created to assist administrative professionals with complicated scheduling, they have recently integrated ChatGPT into the website, allowing for an all-in-one, easy-to-use, scheduling “buddy” that is quickly being adopted by Tech Savyy Assistants.

ChatGPT can be an incredibly valuable tool for busy assistants. It can help streamline communication, free up time for other tasks, and provide a helpful sounding board for those moments when you need a little extra support. So, if you haven’t already, it may be worth exploring the world of ChatGPT and seeing how it can help you in your role as an assistant.