The Ultimate ChatGPT Guide: From Your First Question to Making it Your Productivity Partner

I once taught a senior who had never used AI before to use ChatGPT. On the first day, he asked it "What's the weather like today?" and received a vague answer, saying "It's okay, I guess." Three weeks later, he used it to help with revising rental agreements, translating emails with foreign manufacturers, and planning trips abroad, and he would tell everyone that this tool had saved him.

The difference lies not in the tool itself, but in how it's used. ChatGPT is one of the few tools that "gives back as much as you put in." This article will explain, step by step, how to use it effectively.

What is ChatGPT

ChatGPT is a conversational AI assistant launched by OpenAI, which allows you to converse with it using everyday language, and it can answer questions, write articles, modify programs, translate, and analyze data. As of 2026, it is powered by the GPT-5 series model, which has much stronger capabilities than its earlier versions and has evolved from a simple text chatbot to a comprehensive tool that can view images, speak, search the internet, and perform multi-step tasks on its own.

It has a free version that can be used after logging in, and paid Plus and Pro plans that unlock more powerful models and advanced features.

What can ChatGPT do

According to OpenAI's official description, as of 2026, ChatGPT can do the following:

• Writing and rewriting: From emails, posts, and reports to rewriting drafts, it can write based on the context and tone you provide.
• Deep Research: It can search across multiple online sources, organize the information into a report with references, and is suitable for doing homework and market research.
• Voice conversation: You can talk to it, which is suitable for language practice and asking questions while on the go.
• Record Mode: It can record meetings, voice notes, and automatically convert them into summaries, to-do lists, or structured documents.
• Image analysis: You can provide an image, a spreadsheet, or a PDF, and ask it to interpret or analyze it.
• Custom GPT and projects: You can organize your frequently used commands and data into a dedicated assistant, so you don't have to repeat yourself every time.

How to use it: Basic steps

• Step 1, register and log in. Go to the official website and register with your email or Google account to start using the free version.
• Step 2, choose the right model. For general questions and answers, the default model is sufficient; for rigorous reasoning or programming, select advanced models like "Thinking"; for searching data, use Deep Research.
• Step 3, be specific with your questions. This is the most crucial step. Instead of saying "Help me write a copy," say "Help me write an Instagram post selling hand-drip coffee beans to office workers, with a casual tone, within 100 words, and including a call to action at the end."
• Step 4, refine and adjust. It's normal if the first response isn't satisfactory; directly tell it what needs to be changed — "Too formal, make it more conversational" or "Delete the second paragraph," and it will adjust accordingly.
• Step 5, make use of attachments and memory. Provide reference materials, past examples, or upload files, and its responses will better fit your needs.

Advanced techniques

The few techniques I use the most are: give it a role — saying "You're an experienced accountant" will get a more professional response; specify the format — clearly stating "Use a table," "List five points," or "Divide into three paragraphs"; provide examples — giving a template you like and saying "Write in this style" is more effective than using adjectives; break down complex tasks — for complicated tasks, don't throw everything at it at once; ask it to outline the steps first, confirm the direction, and then proceed. You can refer to our prompt template library for examples.

Precautions

Three honest reminders: First, it will seriously provide nonsense, especially with numbers, laws, and references, so you must verify the information yourself and not trust it blindly. Second, don't paste confidential information, such as company secrets, personal data, or passwords. Third, it's not a perfect replacement for search engines, and for time-sensitive information, you should use the web search function or verify it yourself. Treat it as a smart but sometimes bluffing assistant that needs your supervision, and you'll be fine.

TheAI Academy Review

ChatGPT's entry barrier is so low that anyone can get started in five minutes, but its ceiling is so high that many people won't reach it even after using it for three years. The difference lies in whether you're willing to clearly state your needs.

Review: ChatGPT won't read minds, but it will respond to what you say. The clearer you explain the background, goals, format, and tone, the closer its response will be to what you want. Treat it as a partner, not a wish-granting pool.

Advice for Taiwanese readers: Start with small tasks that you do every day and find a bit troublesome — such as responding to emails, writing posts, or organizing notes. Build a rapport with it on low-risk tasks first, and then let it help you with more important work. For further reading, you can check our Perplexity usage tutorial to compare the differences with data-searching AI.

Sources

• OpenAI Help Center: Model Release Notes

(This article is compiled based on publicly available information, and the functionality and model versions are subject to the latest announcements from OpenAI.)