I have a growing list of tasks I’d rather avoid. Checking airfare daily is definitely on it, as is sifting through an overflowing inbox. And then there are those pesky free trials that suddenly start charging. This is where AI agents can really shine.
While a typical chatbot waits for someone to ask a question, an AI agent can continue work autonomously after your initial conversation. It might keep an eye on prices, monitor tasks, or handle reminders that would otherwise clutter your mind. Companies like OpenAI, Meta, and Google are advancing in this area, with OpenAI launching tools like Dots and ChatGPT Work, while Meta has Muse and Google offers Gemini Spark.
All of this sounds impressive, but honestly, I’m more interested in having AI take care of the irritating little tasks rather than managing my entire life. So, if you’re curious about practical uses for these agents, here are some ideas.
AI agents can streamline everyday chores, from monitoring flight prices to organizing emails and managing reminders, all while keeping you in control of the bigger decisions. For example, with ChatGPT Work and Dots, users can delegate repetitive tasks more efficiently. Dots, in particular, can remember your ongoing projects and continue working even when you’re not engaged.
If you’re looking to dive into using a tool like ChatGPT Work, start by exploring its features available to your account. It’s a good idea to check your privacy settings so you can control what information ChatGPT has access to.
To get started, you can visit ChatGPT.com, sign in (or create an account), and ensure your settings allow you the privacy you desire. For instance, you can prevent new conversations from being used to train OpenAI’s models.
From there, you can start using the Work feature: specify the tasks you want the AI to handle, and share any relevant information or files it might need. Just be clear about what you want it to do and ensure it doesn’t send messages or make changes without your permission.
If you’re thinking about whether you should use an AI agent, consider the following tasks it could help with:
Daily Briefings: An AI could review your calendar and important messages, ensuring you’re prepared for upcoming meetings without drowning you in information overload.
Price Tracking: Instead of manually checking prices, you could have an agent monitor them for you and alert you when they drop to your desired range.
Email Management: AI could summarize your unread emails and identify which ones need immediate attention, drafting replies for your review without sending them out automatically.
Deadline Reminders: You can ask an agent to track deadlines, renewals, and appointments, nudging you when action is needed without making any changes without your approval.
Dinner Planning: AI can help you decide what’s for dinner based on your preferences and what ingredients you have on hand, potentially saving you time and hassle each week.
Household To-Do Lists: You could transfer the burden of keeping track of household chores and tasks to an AI, which will remind you when items need tackling.
Follow-Up Management: Have an AI keep track of responses you’re waiting for and even draft polite follow-ups if needed.
Availability Monitoring: Rather than checking for appointments or reservations repeatedly, you could instruct AI to look out for available slots and notify you when they appear.
As for how much access to give, it’s wise to start small. Let it read information before allowing actions to be taken. For instance, use it to summarize emails before drafting responses, and be careful about sharing sensitive information.
In summary, AI agents can undoubtedly simplify some of our more tedious tasks and remind us of what we might overlook. But I still prefer to maintain control when it comes to actions that involve money, sensitive information, or critical decision-making.
So, what annoying task would you hand over to AI if you could, and what’s something you’d hesitate to trust it with?
