Start with something you need to finish
When you first open ChatGPT, it is easy to ask general questions and close it without gaining anything. It is better to bring a real task from your work.
We will use an example suited to anyone: you have a long PDF, new guideline, workplace policy, or study handout. You want a two-page summary in Word and a table of changes from the old version.
Open ChatGPT ↗ and sign in. A paid subscription adds features, but you can try everything here.
Chat or Work?
Above the message box, you will find two modes: Chat and Work.
Chat is for discussion and thinking: ask, understand, write a draft, and edit line by line. Use it to understand an idea or write a short message.
Work is for a task with a deliverable, such as a Word file, spreadsheet, presentation, or website, requiring several steps. Hand it the task, and it reads the files and works while you follow its actions and intervene if something is wrong.
| Task | Suitable mode |
|---|---|
| Explain this paragraph in plain language | Chat |
| Write a short reply to a customer’s email | Chat |
| Prepare a summary of this file in a Word document | Work |
| Create a spreadsheet of amounts and dates from invoice photos | Work |
You do not need to memorize the table. If the task ends with a file you will open, try Work. If it ends with text you will read, Chat is enough.
Upload your files and explain each file’s role
Use the (+) button beside the message box to upload a file from your computer or Google Drive. If you upload several files, explain each one’s role. Uploading new and old versions without clarification can cause confusion.
In our example, the new version is the source, and the old one is for comparison only.
Copy the prompt as it is, or tailor it with your details first.
Tailor the prompt to your workOptional: add your details and the prompt adjusts itself
View full prompt
Tools under the (+) menu
The same (+) menu includes tools that change the type of work:
- Upload files: PDFs, Word documents, images, and spreadsheets.
- Deep Research: Research across many websites with a sourced report. We explained it in detail in the research guide.
- Create an image: An illustration or cover. See the image guide.
- Connected apps: Such as Google Drive and Gmail, to fetch the file from its location instead of uploading it.
If you are unsure what to choose, write your request normally. In most cases, it will choose the right tool itself.
Open the result and request a specific change
When the file is ready, open it yourself. Compare a sample of points against the original and check that the page numbers are correct.
Then ask for the exact change. “I do not like it” communicates little, but “Point 4 is not in the file; remove it” or “The summary is long; make it one page” gets the message across immediately.
Copy the prompt as it is, or tailor it with your details first.
Tailor the prompt to your workOptional: add your details and the prompt adjusts itself
View full prompt
If this work recurs
- Projects: A workspace for each job, client, or subject, with files and standing instructions. Each conversation within the project starts with your work context.
- Skills: A method that worked for you, such as your summarizing approach, saved for use anytime. The difference between skills and projects is in the projects and skills guide.
- Scheduled actions: A task that runs automatically at its set time, such as a news summary for your field every Sunday. See the scheduling guide.
Try it now
Summarize a file from your work
Upload a long file you need for work or study, and use the prompt above in Work mode. Open the resulting file, check five points against the original, and request one specific change.