If you’re a small business owner, you know how important it is to constantly come up with new and creative ideas.
But let’s face it, sometimes it can be tough to get the creative juices flowing once you’ve done the other hundred things on your list.
That’s when we send in the ChatGPT AI chatbot.
What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is a large language model (kind of like a database with an attitude?!) trained by OpenAI that can help you brainstorm and generate new ideas. It’s like having a virtual brainstorming partner at your fingertips.
You just ‘talk’ to it like any other chat, except you’re talking to a robot with an answer for everything. Lately, I’ve been keeping ChatGPT open all day to use as I would otherwise use Google: to ask silly questions, to research an idea, or to plan the outline of a piece of writing.
How do I use ChatGPT?
Sign up for OpenAI and then start using either the AI tools (like code review, where it’ll fix your dodgy coding) or go straight to ChatGPT.
To use ChatGPT, all you need to do is start a conversation with it. You can do this by typing or even speaking to it, and it will respond. You can ask ChatGPT questions, make statements, and just generally bounce ideas off it. It will analyse what you have to say and offer suggestions or ideas of its own.
What can I use ChatGPT for?
One of the great things about ChatGPT is that it’s good at coming up with unusual and unexpected ideas. Because it’s a large language model, it’s been trained on a vast amount of text data, so it has access to the information your poor brain has replaced with things like ‘Get cat food’ and ‘Underground, overground, wombling free.’
It also has no embarrassment or even common sense holding it back from saying weird stuff. And weird is where ideas live. The best strategists say new ideas are created by smashing two seemingly unrelated concepts together. AI is MADE for that. Imagine yourself with your eyes closed after a long day, dictating to an AI that will take your fractured thoughts and turn them into an orderly idea.
Some example prompts:
- Write a LinkedIn post for the following information: [paste in blog post copy]
- Give me some ideas for advertising [product] to people struggling with [problem]
- Summarise these points: [paste in notes]
- Draft a blog about saving money, with a friendly tone
Any drawbacks to using an AI chatbot?
ChatGPT’s best use is as a starting point. It’s a great tool for generating new ideas, but it’s important to remember that it’s not a magic bullet. It’s not even smart – it needs your common sense and discernment to keep it from making up convincing nonsense.
It’s vital to remember that ChatGPT has no imperative to give you factual information. I’ve seen it insist repeatedly that a kilo of mince is heavier than a kilo of air. Today, it told me that I could change its language setting to British English using the cog icon in the bottom left of my screen. Reader, there is no such cog and no such setting.
So, fact check and sanity check. I’d only be comfortable using the output as a trigger for my ideas, or a rough draft that I edited the heck out of.
It’s a free tool for a tired brain
ChatGPT is a valuable tool for small business owners looking to generate new and creative ideas. It’s like having a virtual brainstorming partner at your fingertips, and it’s always happy to listen to your stream of consciousness, unlike pesky humans.
So, give it a try and see how it can help you and your tired creative brain.
