What You Will Learn

• Create and organize ChatGPT Projects
• Set project-wide custom instructions
• Attach files to provide project context
• Automate tasks like charting and PDF→CSV extraction
• Understand limits vs. custom GPTs and context sharing

Study Guide

Introduction

Welcome to the comprehensive guide on Understanding ChatGPT Projects. In this course, we will explore the ins and outs of ChatGPT's "Projects" feature, a powerful tool designed to enhance the way you manage and execute tasks within ChatGPT. This feature is particularly valuable for streamlining workflows, ensuring consistency across tasks, and leveraging AI to automate repetitive processes. Whether you're new to ChatGPT or looking to deepen your understanding, this course will equip you with the knowledge and skills to effectively use Projects in your daily operations.

Introduction to ChatGPT Projects

ChatGPT Projects is a feature available to paid plan users on ChatGPT.com, designed to help manage and organize chats related to specific tasks or themes. This feature allows users to create and name new projects, such as "riddles," and organize existing chats by dragging and dropping them into these projects or using the chat's options menu.

Example:
Imagine you are a project manager overseeing multiple teams. By creating a project for each team, you can easily organize and access all related conversations, ensuring that you maintain a clear overview of each team's progress and challenges.

Practical Tip:
When starting a new chat while a project is selected, it automatically belongs to that project. This helps in maintaining a structured and organized workflow without the need to manually sort each conversation.

Custom Instructions within Projects

One of the core features of ChatGPT Projects is the ability to set custom instructions that apply to every chat within a specific project. This is done via the "add instructions" button, allowing users to define how ChatGPT should respond.

Example:
Suppose you are running a customer support project. You can set instructions for ChatGPT to always respond in a polite and empathetic tone, ensuring consistency across all customer interactions.

Quote:
"Everything you put in this text box will be respected and considered by ChatGPT in all of its responses. But just for chats in this project."

Best Practice:
Use clear and concise instructions to ensure ChatGPT understands the desired response format and tone. Regularly review and refine these instructions based on the outputs you receive.

Leveraging External Files within Projects

Projects allow users to upload files that become part of the context for all chats within that project. This feature is accessed via the "add files" button, enabling users to enhance ChatGPT's responses with specific knowledge or guidelines.

Example:
For a "mentorship chats" project, you might upload documents containing principles on building great products. ChatGPT can then provide advice based on these principles.

Quote:
"To supercharge ChatGPT with this knowledge, I'll use the add files button in this project. Then I'll drag and drop these two files so they become part of the context for every chat in this project."

Practical Tip:
Ensure that the uploaded files are relevant and concise to avoid overwhelming ChatGPT with unnecessary information. This will help in generating more accurate and useful responses.

Automation of Repetitive Tasks

ChatGPT Projects can significantly enhance efficiency by automating common, repetitive tasks. This is achieved by setting specific instructions and leveraging external files within projects.

Example 1: Building Charts from Data
By providing instructions on the expected format of a PDF report and the desired chart outputs, ChatGPT can automatically generate these charts upon uploading a new report.

Example 2: Data Entry from PDFs
Instructions can be set to extract data from PDF documents and format it as a CSV file with specified columns, streamlining the data entry process.

Best Practice:
Iteratively refine instructions based on the initial outputs from ChatGPT. This helps in achieving the desired results and improving the automation process over time.

Generating Negotiation Emails

Projects can also be used to automate the generation of negotiation emails by setting custom instructions for tone and strategy.

Example:
For a project focused on negotiation, you might set instructions for ChatGPT to respond in the style of Chris Voss, ensuring a consistent and strategic approach to negotiation emails.

Practical Tip:
Regularly update the instructions based on the feedback and outcomes of the negotiation emails to continuously improve their effectiveness.

Comparison with Custom GPTs

While both Projects and custom GPTs allow for custom instructions, there are key differences between the two.

Example:
Projects are simpler to create and manage, requiring fewer options and clicks, while custom GPTs offer more power through integration with external services.

Best Practice:
Choose Projects for tasks that require simplicity and ease of organization, and opt for custom GPTs when you need more advanced capabilities and integration options.

Context Management within Projects

It's important to understand that chats within a Project do not share context. Each new chat operates independently, and you cannot reference data from other chats within the same project.

Quote:
"On a final note, be aware that chats within projects do not share contexts. In other words, every chat is independent, and you can't reference data from other chats."

Practical Tip:
When working on projects that require context sharing, consider using external tools or documentation to maintain continuity across chats.

Conclusion

By now, you should have a comprehensive understanding of ChatGPT Projects and how to effectively implement them in your workflows. The ability to organize chats, apply consistent instructions, and leverage external files makes Projects a powerful tool for enhancing productivity and output quality. Remember, the thoughtful application of these skills can transform the way you manage tasks, automate processes, and engage with AI. Embrace the potential of ChatGPT Projects to streamline your operations and achieve greater efficiency in your work.

Podcast

There'll soon be a podcast available for this course.

Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to the FAQ section for the 'Video Course: Understanding ChatGPT Projects.' This resource is designed to answer common questions about using ChatGPT Projects, guiding you from the basics to advanced functionalities. Whether you're new to AI or looking to deepen your understanding, this FAQ will provide insights and practical tips for leveraging ChatGPT Projects in your business.

What are ChatGPT Projects and what can they be used for?

ChatGPT Projects is a feature within ChatGPT that allows users on a paid plan to organise their conversations and apply custom instructions and upload files that will be consistently applied to every new chat within that specific project.
This is particularly useful for streamlining repetitive tasks such as generating reports, manipulating data, improving email quality, building charts from data in PDFs, data entry from PDFs to CSVs, analysing customer feedback, and creating negotiation email strategies.

How do I create a new project in ChatGPT?

To create a new project, navigate to ChatGPT.com, ensure you are logged in and on a paid plan where you can see the "Projects" section in the left sidebar. Click on the "New Project" button, give your project a name (for example, "Riddles"), and then click "Create Project".

How can I organise my existing chats using Projects?

You can organise past chats by either dragging and dropping them individually into a project or by clicking the three dots next to a chat's name, selecting "Add to project", and then choosing the desired project. When a project is selected before starting a new chat, that new conversation will automatically be added to the project.

What are "Add instructions" in a ChatGPT Project and how do they work?

The "Add instructions" feature allows you to define how ChatGPT should assist you in every chat within a specific project. Any instructions entered in this text box will be considered by ChatGPT in all its responses within that project. For example, you can instruct ChatGPT to format responses with bullet points, adhere to a specific reading level, or even start every response with a particular emoji.

How can I provide ChatGPT Projects with external knowledge or documents?

Within a project, you can use the "Add files" button to upload documents (like PDFs) that will then become part of the context for every chat in that project. Once uploaded, ChatGPT can be instructed (via the "Add instructions" feature) to utilise the information within these attached files to guide its responses. This allows you to supercharge ChatGPT with specific knowledge relevant to the tasks within that project.

What is the difference between ChatGPT Projects and Custom GPTs?

While both Projects and Custom GPTs allow you to provide custom instructions, there are key differences. Projects are simpler to create with fewer options, whereas Custom GPTs offer more power, including the ability to integrate with external services using actions. Additionally, chats with Custom GPTs appear in the main feed and cannot be moved into projects, while other chats can be organised into projects.

Can I reference information or context from previous chats within the same ChatGPT Project?

No, chats within ChatGPT Projects do not share context. Each new chat within a project is treated as an independent conversation, and you cannot directly reference data or information from other chats within the same project.

What are some example use cases for ChatGPT Projects highlighted in the source?

The source provides several examples of how ChatGPT Projects can be used, including:

• Mentorship Chats: Uploading documents containing principles and instructing ChatGPT to provide advice aligned with these principles.
• Automating Chart Building: Providing instructions on how to extract data from PDF reports and generate specific types of charts.
• Data Entry Automation: Instructing ChatGPT to convert data from PDFs into a specified CSV format.
• Analysing Customer Feedback: Defining instructions for identifying key themes in customer feedback provided in a CSV and generating an action plan.
• Negotiation Email Strategy: Setting custom instructions to write email responses in a specific negotiation style.

What is the primary purpose of ChatGPT Projects?

The primary purpose of ChatGPT Projects is to help users automate tedious and repetitive tasks with consistently high quality. This includes tasks like report generation, data manipulation, and improving email quality, allowing for the application of specific instructions and data to related chats.

How can users access the Projects section in ChatGPT, and what might it mean if they don't see it?

Users can access the Projects section in the left sidebar of ChatGPT.com after logging in. If the Projects section is not visible, it likely means the user is on the free plan, as this feature is currently only available for paid subscribers.

Describe the "add instructions" feature within a ChatGPT Project and explain its function.

The "add instructions" feature allows users to input specific guidelines that ChatGPT will consider in all subsequent chats within that project. This enables the AI to consistently format responses, adopt a certain tone, or focus on particular criteria relevant to the project's goal.

Besides custom instructions, what is another key feature that enhances the capabilities of ChatGPT Projects for specific tasks?

Another key feature is the ability to "add files" to a project. This allows users to upload documents that ChatGPT can then use as context for every chat within that project, enabling it to incorporate the information from those files into its responses.

Give an example from the video of how custom instructions were used to automate a repetitive task.

In the video, custom instructions were used to automate the creation of charts from weekly PDF sales reports. The instructions specified the input format (PDF), the desired outputs (total revenue and two types of bar graphs), and other formatting preferences.

Explain the two main components of the custom instructions used for processing customer feedback in the video.

The custom instructions for processing customer feedback were divided into two parts: The first part instructed ChatGPT to identify the most common negative feedback from a provided CSV file and then create an action plan. The second part specified the markdown format for the action plan, including headers and bullet points, with placeholders for ChatGPT's analysis.

How can ChatGPT Projects assist with drafting negotiation emails, according to the video?

ChatGPT Projects can assist with drafting negotiation emails by using custom instructions to define the desired style and strategy. For example, writing in the style of Chris Voss, being solution-oriented but not readily agreeing to discounts. When a customer email is pasted into a new chat within the project, ChatGPT will generate a response based on these pre-defined instructions.

What are two key similarities between ChatGPT Projects and custom GPTs?

Two key similarities between ChatGPT Projects and custom GPTs are that both allow users to provide custom instructions to guide ChatGPT's responses and enable a degree of task-specific customisation of the AI's behaviour.

Identify two significant differences between ChatGPT Projects and custom GPTs discussed in the video.

Two significant differences are that creating a project is simpler with fewer options than creating a custom GPT, and custom GPTs can be integrated with external services using actions, a feature not available in Projects. Additionally, custom GPTs are limited to the GPT-4 model, while Projects offer more model options.

What important limitation exists regarding the sharing and context of chats within ChatGPT Projects?

A significant limitation of ChatGPT Projects is that they cannot be shared with other users, making custom GPTs a better option for team collaboration. Furthermore, chats within a project do not share context with each other, meaning each new chat is treated independently.

What are the advantages and potential disadvantages of using ChatGPT Projects for managing repetitive tasks?

Advantages include increased efficiency and consistency in performing repetitive tasks, such as report generation and data analysis. However, a potential disadvantage is the inability to share projects, limiting collaborative efforts. Additionally, the lack of shared context across chats may require repeated input of the same information.

How do ChatGPT Projects compare to custom GPTs in terms of functionality and use cases?

ChatGPT Projects are easier to set up and use, ideal for individual tasks requiring consistency and organisation. Custom GPTs, however, offer more advanced customisation, including integration with external services, making them suitable for complex, collaborative projects.

How do the "add instructions" and "add files" features impact the quality of AI-assisted workflows?

The "add instructions" and "add files" features significantly enhance workflow quality by providing ChatGPT with specific guidelines and context. This results in more accurate and relevant responses, improving the efficiency of tasks like data analysis and report generation.

How can ChatGPT Projects streamline data-related tasks?

ChatGPT Projects streamline data-related tasks by automating data extraction, transformation, and visualisation processes. For example, converting PDF data into CSV format or generating charts from sales reports. However, challenges may include the need for precise instructions and potential limitations in handling complex datasets.

How can ChatGPT Projects be implemented across different professional roles?

ChatGPT Projects can be used in various professional roles to enhance productivity. In marketing, for example, they can automate customer feedback analysis. In finance, they can generate financial reports. The key is to tailor projects to specific tasks and industry needs.

What are some common misconceptions about ChatGPT Projects?

A common misconception is that projects share context between chats, which they do not. Each chat is independent, requiring users to provide information anew each time. Another misconception is that projects can be shared; currently, they are for individual use only.

What challenges might users face when using ChatGPT Projects?

Users might face challenges such as ensuring precise instructions for desired outcomes and managing the independent nature of each chat. Additionally, the inability to share projects may hinder collaborative efforts in team environments.

Can you provide real-world examples of ChatGPT Projects in action?

In a marketing firm, ChatGPT Projects can automate the analysis of customer feedback, identifying trends and generating reports. In a law firm, they can streamline the creation of legal documents by applying consistent formatting and language across similar cases.