How Custom GPTs Help Real People Use AI Daily

How Custom GPTs Are Helping Real People Use AI Every Day

Last week in Open Office Hours, we gathered for another lively, practical conversation about how to actually use AI—not in theory, but in the flow of real life and work. From real estate agents to artists to travel planners, folks came with questions, stories, and a shared curiosity about how custom GPTs can make their creative and professional lives a little smoother.

One theme emerged again and again: AI doesn't have to be overwhelming or abstract. With custom GPTs, it's possible to create simple, targeted tools that fit your actual needs—no coding background required.

Custom GPTs: More Useful Than You Think

We kicked off with a quick demo of how to build a specialized GPT (think of it like a mini app powered by ChatGPT) that could write real estate listings. Step-by-step, we walked through how to set up the instructions, add examples, and tweak it to match your voice and goals.

Helen, who works in travel and genealogy, shared that she’s created over 30 custom GPTs for everything from crafting luxury itineraries to simplifying research. "I get an idea and I go and create a GPT for it," she said. Her tools now help her skip repetitive instructions and get right to the creative or strategic part of the task.

Meanwhile, Dean and Robert, both in real estate, talked about how their GPTs help with writing listing descriptions, social posts, and client messages. Robert put it simply: "I normally take the GPT version. It's much more elegant than I am."

That mix of humor and honesty is what I love most about these conversations. Everyone's experimenting, learning, and finding their own ways to make AI useful—without needing to become an expert.

Brainstorming, Troubleshooting, and Creative Support

We also explored how GPTs can be more than writing assistants. They're great at brainstorming, clarifying your thinking, and even helping you troubleshoot tech hiccups (though, as Emelyn reminded us, they can't fix a stubborn printer!).

Nancy uses image-generating AI to promote her glass art classes, especially for scenes she can't capture in a photo. And others chimed in about using GPTs to develop book ideas, outline webinars, and work through learning curves.

A few folks mentioned OpenAI Academy as a helpful (and free) resource for learning the basics, including live tutorials and recorded videos. Whether you're just getting started or refining your skills, it's worth checking out.

Keep It Simple, Make It Yours

The biggest takeaway? You don’t need to automate your whole life. Even one small, well-made GPT can save time, reduce friction, or spark something new.

As one attendee said, "Every week you just add another layer. Now I understand so much more because I've got the base of it."

If you're curious, I invite you to come to the next Open Office Hour. It’s a space where you can ask real questions, get unstuck, and explore AI at your own pace. Or feel free to reach out directly—we're all learning together, one layer at a time.

Want to join the next session or stay in the loop? You can join our Facebook group, The AI Channel, or subscribe to our newsletter, The Terza Factor AI Newsletter, for updates, prompts, and invites.