Wondering why people run every aspect of life through ChatGPT

Meh. You could say the same about googling things or asking on mumsnet.

I know what you mean OP, I've seen lots of examples too and it's always for the most straightforward, banal things as well.

There's nothing wrong with using it to streamline or simplify tasks, that's literally what it's designed for, but I've seen posters saying things like "I asked Chat GPT to write a message to (apologise for missing a friend's event)." Surely by the time you've done that (and then almost inevitably amended the first response so it doesn't sound like a weird American salesperson) it would have been faster (let alone the environmental impact) to just send a text saying "Sorry, can't do Friday, hope you have a nice time" or whatever.

It's weird that they do it in the first place but then even weirder that they feel the need to tell everyone they have rather than just using the Chat GPT generated answer as their own.

tbf a while ago there used to be a number of posters on here who would reply to everything with "I asked DH and he said" as if their farty husband was the voice of God - I was pleased when that seemed to die out but this is even more annoying!

It’s given me my work life balance back it does a huge amount of my admin. Having said that I rarely use it for anything other than work although I did get it to do my colours though!

That’s so strange, I’m one of those barely functioning adults who finds coping exhausting and setbacks almost physically painful, but I never do this, seems silly?

I use AI primarily for language learning. Its excellent for checking/explaining grammar and suggesting different ways to say the same thing depending on the scenario.

I occasionally use it for everyday stuff to save time. Eg. I asked for some obscure book suggestions based on authors I like and it came back with some really good options, ideas for toddler activities etc. It saves me time I don't have researching everyday stuff.

I found it very helpful for writing a letter of complaint (ie. A letter that should be factual and devoid of human emotions). I bashed out my angry response that I could never send and it turned it into something that was acceptable.

I very very rarely use AI when studying - it is too unreliable. Also, I find it's "supportive" language to be so l condescending it makes me angry!

I see it a lot in threads here, mostly for inane posts, and I despair over the environmental costs and lack of human intelligence.

Is this because of the thread tonight from the OP with a son in uni halls, where she had ran a draft note response through Chat?

I haven't seen it much on here apart from that.

It's really useful to help some people word things effectively - especially if that's not their natural ability.

It's saving time, increasing productivity, helps me do things I wouldn't otherwise have done. But yes, I guess some people are using it for things their brain used to do perfectly well.

One poster used it to write a note for someone at uni 🤦🏽‍♀️if you can't manage to write a simple note without AI you're really in trouble!

I'm single. My friends are all busy and fully loaded with thei kids, husbands, abusive husband in one case and I don't want to take up their time with my problems because I don't have a DP to discuss with.

They're very busy (as I can see from mums on here) and I would hate to be a nuisance.

ChatGPT helps me order my thoughts so that I feel more settled, in control and like I have "digested" a problem with someone.

Yes you can't put personal or sensitive data in it, but anything else - save yourself some time and learn something in the process ! I work for a tech firm and we are actively encouraged to use it daily. I cycle between Gemini, Notebook LM and ChatGPT which I prefer.
I think anyone that isn't at least playing with it and knows how to prompt in future will struggle moving jobs in some sectors. Work wise basic examples include: design me a comms approach for xyz, build a project plan with milestones, define roles and responsibilities for xyz, write a job description, reply to this email..., presentation key points , the possibilities are endless. You have to of course sense check and know your stuff / work so you don't push out bullshit 😛
Personal examples- I'm going to Lisbon gor a 3 day trip - design 2 itineraries for me - here's what I usually like to do. Recommendations for restaurants in an area never visited before. This is my current pension pot - my salary is X, I want to earn Y when retired. Work out a financial plan for me. I've got these tops and trousers I never wear - suggest outfit combinations and key items to add for a new look. Here's a picture of my living room- any tips to update it quickly and show me what it could look like. I've done ALL of these in the past week !!

Because a very large number of people simply can’t cope with life. They can’t make decisions, aren’t resilient, and can barely handle even the most minor and routine setbacks in life.

If you are an arsehole and always think you are right then even if it did tell you, chatgpt isn't going to convince you otherwise

It doesn't "spy", it just takes what you've told it and re-uses it (I think....)

That’s a worry though; yes it validates your feelings, supports you, it’s made to agree and not lose you as a user. What if you are a complete arsehole and totally in the wrong?

In the long run using it like this will dumb humanity down

Never used it. Dont know anyone who does.

I do use AI in work. I summarise documents and get it to start work so i can finish stuff off.

At home not so often but will get it to make a recipe from left over food so I can reduce waste or i get it to help with translating stuff (in another country and im not fluent yet in the lanuguage).

I use it regularly for life stuff, dilemmas and to get it's perspective on things. It's definitely helped get me out of a thinking spiral many times and has validated my feelings. I'm so glad I found it, it's like a comfort thing. It's also great if you want to ask it something that you feel you can't ask anyone else in real life.

I think officially we have been told we aren’t allowed to use it as we handle a lot of personal/sensitive data and can’t be putting these details into a website for gdpr/data sharing reasons.

But I don’t think our managers are fussed, we are productive and keep to deadlines. It’s a beaurocratic organisation and they don’t like change at the best of times 😂

what sort of personal planning would you recommend it for? I don’t use it at all although really don’t struggle organising general life stuff so not sure I have a need for it at all, I’ve managed this far making my own decision! Just curious really what people are using it for that they can’t do for themselves!

Just to add on the back of some comments here, it can be a positive to use for a framework.

However, I work in a sector where I am currently seeing so much (including overall quantity AND length) homogenised, AI produced slop. It has not been proof read and is so broad brush and generalised.

In this respect, it has not made my life easier having to read through it all.

The people wanting info feel isolated and the people they might ask seem a bit hard to approach?

Plus AI is programmed to be supportive even if the question is foolish.

I’ve used it as therapy for pregnancy loss. It validates my feeling and gives me stats / chances for events.

I do use it to reword some emails at work at times or help with presentations so it sounds more corporate.

If you haven't used it for work or even personal planning as an example you are missing A trick ! Not sure what line of work you are in but most office jobs you can increase productivity hugely

I am behind the times and only recently discovered chat gpt. Well it's been amazing! I had to write a difficult email to the school SENCO the other day. I'm a good writer, with good understanding of the system. but I was struggling with how to get my point across. I ran it through Chat gpt and within seconds it had crafted exactly what I needed. I think there are a lot of negatives to AI but I also completely understand why people.would become increasingly reliant on it.

Because a large number of people aren’t very intelligent to start with so think little of throwing their cognitive function out of the window.