How To Master The New ChatGPT Work (Free Course)

Summary of the video (subtitle-based)

The video is a tutorial on how to master “ChatGPT Work”—a more agentic/automation-oriented mode compared to regular ChatGPT—aimed at non-technical users. It emphasizes the desktop app as the best way to experience Work’s full capabilities.

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Key capabilities and setup (ChatGPT Work)

What “Work” can do (vs normal chat)

• Draft and manage work outcomes, like:
  • Email replies
  • Calendar-like task handling
• Perform autonomous multi-step work and deliver finished artifacts (e.g., documents, spreadsheets, presentations) directly to your computer.

Where it’s available

• Accessible via the web app, phone, and desktop app.
• The tutorial recommends starting with the desktop app.

Desktop app tool switcher

In the top-left dropdown, you can choose between:

• ChatGPT Work
• Codeex (not covered in this video; aimed at coders/developers)
• Regular Chat (covered later)

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Permissions / safety controls (important feature)

In Work settings, there are three permission levels:

1. Ask for approval

   • Work asks before it edits external files or uses the internet.
   • Presented as guardrails to prevent unwanted actions.

2. Approve for me

   • More permissive; asks only when actions may be unsafe.

3. Full access (cautioned)

   • Unrestricted access to the internet and any files on your computer.

The instructor keeps it set to Ask for approval for safety.

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Model selection and usage/credits

• A slider selects the model:
  • Left side: faster, uses fewer usage credits, but is less intelligent.
  • Right side: more intelligent.
• The tutorial mentions a mid setting (example shown: “5.6 … medium”).
• Advanced settings allow choosing specific model, effort level, and speed.

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Projects + local folders (core productivity feature)

What Projects do

• Organize tasks inside Work so you’re not stuck with one long list.
• Link to folders on your computer, letting Work read and generate/edit files in that folder.

Example: Budget project

• The user has a local budget folder with multiple files (e.g., monthly budget, annual budget, expense tracker).
• In Work, they create/select a project tied to that folder.
• Work uses the files to:
  • Generate an Excel report (shown as a preview in the app)
  • Edit/create files and output results back into the filesystem

Output types mentioned

• Sites, spreadsheets, PDFs, documents, and presentations.

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Autogenerated / multi-step task creation (local file generation)

• The instructor creates a new task inside the budget project to generate a PowerPoint visualizing spending/expenses.
• Work runs the task and later produces the presentation as a file, including:
  • A preview
  • An option to open it in the folder

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“Desktop pet” helper (task status + approvals)

• Type /pet to “wake” a desktop pet.
• The pet shows task progress.
• If a task needs you, it indicates this (e.g., a paused icon) until you provide input/approval.
• The tutorial demonstrates clicking the paused item, granting permission, and letting the task resume.

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Plugins (access to third-party tools)

Work can connect to external services via plugins, such as tools to access/modify:

• QuickBooks
• Gmail
• Google Drive
• Notion

Gmail example: inbox triage + draft replies

• Work scans the Gmail inbox to:
  • Identify messages needing replies
  • Draft replies directly in Gmail
• It does not send automatically; the user reviews drafts and can send afterward.

Scheduling (automation)

Work can set up scheduled tasks (example):

• “Do this every morning at 8:00 a.m.”

Scheduling requires:

• Your computer on
• The ChatGPT desktop app open

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Skills (repeatable workflows/templates)

• If Work produces something you like (example: a PowerPoint style), you can save it as a skill.
• Skills are described as repeatable workflows.
• You can invoke them later using commands like:
  • / + skill name (the tutorial shows searching for “clean blue” style)

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Built-in browser (research + in-context work)

A major desktop feature: Work’s in-app browser can:

• Open multiple webpages/tabs in real time during research
• Preserve session logins between uses
• Resize UI panels and run in fullscreen

While browsing, you can:

• Ask Work to summarize a page
• Pull information from a page and add it to your knowledge base on your computer
• Generate artifacts (e.g., presentations) using the context you’re viewing

The tutorial demonstrates searching for a product (e.g., “bed cooling system”), opening recommendations, and synthesizing results.

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Multitasking: side-by-side tasks

• Use a split view (via a “plus” icon) to run a task in one panel while browsing/working in another.

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Sites (build websites with visibility controls)

• Under Sites, you can create websites by describing what you want.
• Work can generate sites that may reference:
  • Projects
  • Plugins

Sharing modes shown:

• Link restricted to logged-in user only
• Option to publish publicly to the internet

Example workflow:

• Build a site during a discussion (with differences between Chat and Work)
• Generate and view the site
• Share via controlled link or publish

Image generation + sites integration

• Work can generate hyperrealistic images or infographics from provided data.
• If you like an image, you can publish it to Sites.

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Work vs regular Chat (conceptual difference)

• In Work:
  • Everything you start is a task.
• In regular Chat:
  • Everything is a chat (conversation-style interaction).

Tool differences

Work includes more automation tools, such as:

• local file access via projects
• sites
• a browser
• longer, multi-step research and analysis
• final deliverables that appear on your computer

Purpose differences

• Chat: ideas, explanations, back-and-forth Q&A.
• Work: getting tasks done—producing completed outputs.

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Usage limits (separate pools)

The video explains that ChatGPT Work has its own usage limits (e.g., for the next 5 hours/week), while Regular Chat has separate limits—so switching modes can help avoid hitting Work’s cap.

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Web/mobile differences (important constraints)

Web app

• Work supports plugins (cloud-based services) like:
  • Gmail, Notion, GitHub, Google Drive, AllTrails, etc.
• But it does not access local files like the desktop app.

Mobile app

• Similar constraint: no direct access to local files.
• Mobile includes remote connection to your desktop Work environment, letting you:
  • View/start projects and tasks remotely
  • Use your desktop project files
• Requires:
  • Desktop computer on
  • Desktop app open

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Main speakers/sources

• Primary source/speaker: the tutorial instructor/host (not named in the subtitles)
• Technology source: OpenAI / ChatGPT (ChatGPT Work, plugins, projects, sites, skills, and the desktop/web/mobile apps)