Frustrating!!

Have you ever asked ChatGPT for help with something, only to find yourself getting increasingly frustrated with its answers?

Maybe you're planning a vacation, comparing products or trying to solve a problem around the house. You explain what you're looking for, and ChatGPT responds with something that seems reasonable at first. But when you look closer, it's not really what you wanted.

So you try again. You add a little more information, perhaps reword your question, and hope for a better answer. Sometimes that works. Other times, you end up going in circles.

Here's something worth knowing: When AI gives you an answer you don't like, you don't necessarily need a better question. You need to tell it what to fix.

And there's a simple way to do that.

One of the most useful things about conversational AI is that its first answer doesn't have to be its final answer.

Think of it like asking someone to help you plan a holiday. They might suggest a busy itinerary packed with sightseeing, restaurants and activities. But perhaps you were imagining a relaxing getaway with a few scenic drives and plenty of time to explore at your own pace.

You wouldn't throw away the entire conversation. You'd probably say something like, "I like the idea of the scenic drives, but that's far too much activity. Can we make it more relaxing?"

You can do exactly the same thing with ChatGPT.

The difference between a frustrating conversation and a productive one often comes down to how you respond when the AI misses the mark.

Rather than simply saying "Try again," give it a little direction. Tell it which part of the answer isn't working, what you'd prefer instead, and which parts it got right.

That gives AI something specific to work with instead of leaving it to guess what you didn't like.

Let’s imagine you're shopping for a new laptop.

You mainly use your computer for email, browsing the internet, storing family photos and occasionally making video calls. You don't need anything particularly powerful, and you'd rather not spend a fortune.

You open ChatGPT and ask:

"Can you recommend a good laptop for everyday use?"

ChatGPT responds with several suggestions, including some expensive models loaded with features you'll probably never use. The explanations are full of technical terms such as processors, RAM and graphics capabilities.

It's not exactly what you had in mind.

Instead of starting over, you can get the conversation back on track with three simple instructions.

First, explain what's wrong. Tell ChatGPT that the recommendations are too expensive and the explanations are too technical.

Second, explain what you actually need. In this case, you want an affordable laptop suitable for ordinary household activities.

Third, tell it what to keep or change. You still want recommendations, but you'd prefer just three options with simple explanations of why each might suit you.

Put those instructions together, and you have a much more useful follow-up.

"Those laptops are more expensive than I want to spend, and the explanations are too technical. I'm looking for something under $800 Canadian for email, browsing, family photos and video calls. Give me three suitable options, explain the differences in plain English, and tell me which one you'd recommend and why."

Notice what's different?

You haven't started a new conversation or repeated everything from the beginning. You've simply explained what wasn't working and given ChatGPT a clearer direction.

Now it's in a much better position to give you recommendations that suit your needs. You can even ask it to compare its suggestions in a simple table or explain whether spending another $100 would make a meaningful difference.

Of course, before buying anything, you'd still want to check current prices, specifications and availability with the retailer.

Have you ever taken a great vacation photo, only to discover there's a stranger walking through the background, a garbage can beside the scenery or something else you wish wasn't there?

Google Photos has an AI-powered feature called Magic Eraser that can make those unwanted objects disappear.

Open a photo in the Google Photos app, tap Edit, and find Magic Eraser (usually under Tools or Actions, depending on your phone). Circle or brush over the object you want removed, and AI will attempt to erase it and fill in the background.

It doesn't always get everything perfect, particularly with complicated backgrounds, but the results can be surprisingly good.

Try it on a vacation picture or family photo where something in the background has always bothered you. You might be amazed at the difference a few taps can make.

Cost: Free on supported devices
Available: iPhone and Android
Website: https://www.google.com/photos/

No photo editing experience required!

Want more simple, practical ways to use AI in everyday life?

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Someone sent me a text this week. They knew my name and something about my past from more than 30 years ago.

There was just one problem. Something didn't add up.

Next week, I'll share what happened and show you how AI can help spot the warning signs of a scam.