Using GPTs (Custom ChatGPT Apps)

GPTs are custom versions of ChatGPT built for specific purposes. They combine specialized instructions, knowledge, and sometimes actions to excel at particular tasks. Understanding how to use - and find - good GPTs dramatically expands what you can accomplish.

What Are GPTs?

GPTs are like specialized assistants built on top of ChatGPT. Each one is configured to:

• Follow specific instructions - Pre-set behavior and expertise
• Access specific knowledge - Custom documents and data
• Take specific actions - Connect to external services
• Maintain a specific persona - Consistent personality and approach

Think of them as pre-prompted ChatGPT instances designed for specific use cases.

Finding GPTs

The GPT Store

Access the GPT Store from the ChatGPT sidebar:

1. Click "Explore GPTs" in the sidebar
2. Browse by category or search for specific needs
3. Check ratings and user counts
4. Read descriptions to understand capabilities

Categories to Explore

Category	Examples
Writing	Blog post writers, email assistants, editors
Productivity	Meeting summarizers, task planners, note-takers
Research	Analysts, fact-checkers, academic assistants
Programming	Code reviewers, debuggers, documentation writers
Creative	Story writers, brainstormers, design assistants
Learning	Tutors, quiz makers, explainers
Business	Pitch deck creators, strategy advisors, market analysts

Evaluating GPTs

Before committing to a GPT, consider:

• Description clarity - Does it explain what the GPT does well?
• User reviews - What are others saying?
• Conversation starters - Do they match your use case?
• Creator credibility - Who made it and why?
• Recency - Is it recently updated?

Using GPTs Effectively

Starting a Conversation

GPTs often have conversation starters - pre-written prompts to get you going:

Providing Context

Even specialized GPTs benefit from context:

When the GPT Doesn't Understand

If a GPT seems confused about its purpose:

Popular GPT Categories and How to Use Them

Writing Assistants

Code Helpers

Research Assistants

Learning Tutors

Creating Your Own GPTs

ChatGPT Plus users can create custom GPTs:

When to Create a GPT

• You repeat the same type of task frequently
• You have specific documents to reference
• You want to share a specialized assistant with others
• You need a consistent persona or approach

How to Create a GPT

1. Click "Create a GPT" in the GPT Store
2. Use the conversational builder or Configure tab
3. Set instructions (the system prompt)
4. Upload relevant knowledge files
5. Configure capabilities (web browsing, image generation, etc.)
6. Test and refine
7. Publish (private, anyone with link, or to store)

Example: GPT Configuration

GPT Best Practices

1. Match GPT to Task

Use specialized GPTs for specialized tasks. General ChatGPT for general tasks.

2. Read the Instructions

Most GPTs have a description explaining how to use them best. Read it.

3. Start Fresh When Switching

When moving from one GPT to another, the context doesn't carry over. Re-establish context.

4. Provide Feedback

If a GPT doesn't work well, its creator may want to know. Use the feedback options.

5. Check Capabilities

Some GPTs can browse the web, generate images, or run code. Understand what yours can do.

6. Be Privacy-Aware

Information you share with a GPT may be seen by its creator (for improvement purposes). Don't share sensitive data.

Comparing: GPT vs Custom Instructions vs Prompting

Feature	Custom GPT	Custom Instructions	Good Prompting
Setup effort	Higher	Medium	Per-conversation
Consistency	Very high	High	Depends on you
Shareability	Yes	No	Manual
File knowledge	Yes	No	Paste text only
External actions	Possible	No	No
Flexibility	Fixed purpose	Applies to all	Fully flexible

When to Use What

Situation	Best Option
One-off task	Regular prompting
Repeated personal tasks	Custom Instructions
Specialized recurring needs	Find/create a GPT
Sharing with others	Create a GPT
Need external integrations	GPT with actions
General conversation	Regular ChatGPT

Exercise: Explore GPTs

Try exploring GPTs for your needs:

Key Takeaways

1. GPTs are specialized - Pre-configured for specific tasks
2. Explore the store - Find GPTs for your common needs
3. Evaluate before using - Check reviews and descriptions
4. Provide context - Even specialized GPTs need information
5. Create your own - For repeated tasks and sharing
6. Know the tradeoffs - GPTs vs Custom Instructions vs prompting

GPTs turn ChatGPT from a general assistant into an army of specialists. Find the right ones for your workflow and watch your productivity multiply.