The ChatGPT Experiment - Simplifying Chat GPT For Curious Beginners

Episode Summary: In this solo episode, host Cary Weston dives into a batch of real listener questions submitted through the podcast’s website. He shares his perspective, tips, and best practices for using ChatGPT effectively—covering everything from voice tone customization to managing complex family schedules. Cary emphasizes the importance of curiosity and how ChatGPT can act as both an intern and a teacher, depending on how you engage with it. Whether you're just starting out or trying to get deeper results, this episode is packed with practical advice.  3 Key Takeaways: * Let ChatGPT Play Teacher: You can get better results by asking ChatGPT to evaluate its own work or create prompts for itself—this approach often leads to higher-quality output. * Feed It What It Needs: For ChatGPT to sound like you or think like you, provide it with background, examples of your tone, or even let it interview you to get context. * Use ChatGPT to Stay Organized: It can help you plan meals, create shopping lists, analyze your calendar, or even act as a personal accountability partner if you give it the right information. Cary offers customized one-on-one ChatGPT training in 60 minute sessions. Find out more information on the sessions, answers to frequent questions, and how to register at www.ChatGPTExperiment.com [http://www.ChatGPTExperiment.com] +++++++++ CONNECT WITH CARY ChatGPT Podcast Website: www.ChatGPTExperiment.com [http://www.ChatGPTExperiment.com] Marketing Podcast: www.PracticalMarketingShow.com [http://www.PracticalMarketingShow.com] Cary's Agency Website: www.CMWeston.com [http://www.CMWeston.com] LinkedIn: Cary Weston on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryweston] LINKEDIN NEWSLETTER The Chat GPT Experiment is also a LinkedIn Newsletter and you can find it here: The Chat GPT Experiment Newsletter [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-chat-gpt-experiment-7110348839919702016/] MUSIC CREDITS The instrumental music used in this podcast is called “Curious” by Podington Bear.

Episode Summary  Cary tackles one of the most common questions he hears in workshops: “Can I trust ChatGPT—or AI in general?” He explains that trust in AI depends on what you’re trusting it for, and that the real key is working with AI rather than expecting it to work for you. Using stories, research, and examples, Cary lays out why transparency, verification, and human oversight are essential for responsible AI use. He also shares listener stories of people building AI curriculums for both college students and retirees, showing how curiosity can spread and inspire. 3 Key Takeaways: * Trust starts with clarity: Always ask, “Trust it to do what?”—the answer changes how you use and verify AI’s output. * Work with, not for you: Treat AI like an eager, capable intern—give it clear instructions, check its work, and add your human insight before using the results. * Verification isn’t optional: No matter how smart AI gets, “trust but verify” ensures accuracy, especially in high-stakes or sensitive situations. Cary offers customized one-on-one ChatGPT training in 60 minute sessions. Find out more information on the sessions, answers to frequent questions, and how to register at www.ChatGPTExperiment.com [https://www.ChatGPTExperiment.com] +++++++++ CONNECT WITH CARY ChatGPT Podcast Website: www.ChatGPTExperiment.com [https://www.ChatGPTExperiment.com] Marketing Podcast: www.PracticalMarketingShow.com [https://www.PracticalMarketingShow.com] Cary's Agency Website: www.CMWeston.com [https://www.CMWeston.com] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryweston [https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryweston] LINKEDIN NEWSLETTER The Chat GPT Experiment is also a LinkedIn Newsletter and you can find it here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-chat-gpt-experiment-7110348839919702016/ [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-chat-gpt-experiment-7110348839919702016/] MUSIC CREDITS The instrumental music used in this podcast is called “Curious” by Podington Bear.

Episode 80 Summary: In this solo episode, host Cary Weston shares stories from a recent trip to the National Sports Card Collecting Show in Chicago with his 14-year-old son—a heartwarming moment that sets the tone. Cary then dives into a hodgepodge of updates and insights, including a helpful listener tip about ChatGPT task scheduling, details about the upcoming automation workshop, and two recent experiments using ChatGPT to assist with software specs and NDAs. He wraps up by answering common questions about the differences between ChatGPT's free and paid versions and how to navigate some of its newer features. 3 Key Takeaways: * Tasks Tip: If you're experimenting with ChatGPT’s task scheduling feature, go directly to chatgpt.com/schedules [https://chatgpt.com/schedules] to view, edit, or manage what you’ve set up. * Roleplaying for Clarity: Cary used ChatGPT to roleplay both a client and a programmer to build more thorough custom software specs, demonstrating how ChatGPT can bridge communication gaps in complex projects. * ChatGPT Modes Explained: From memory and web browsing to the new “Study and Learn” tool, Cary walks through what’s available in the paid version of ChatGPT and how each feature can help users be more productive. Cary offers customized one-on-one ChatGPT training in 60 minute sessions. Find out more information on the sessions, answers to frequent questions, and how to register at www.ChatGPTExperiment.com [https://www.ChatGPTExperiment.com] +++++++++ CONNECT WITH CARY * ChatGPT Podcast Website: www.ChatGPTExperiment.com [https://www.ChatGPTExperiment.com] * Marketing Podcast: www.PracticalMarketingShow.com [https://www.PracticalMarketingShow.com] * Cary's Agency Website: www.CMWeston.com [https://www.CMWeston.com] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryweston [https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryweston] LINKEDIN NEWSLETTER The Chat GPT Experiment is also a LinkedIn Newsletter and you can find it here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-chat-gpt-experiment-7110348839919702016/ [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-chat-gpt-experiment-7110348839919702016/] MUSIC CREDITS The instrumental music used in this podcast is called “Curious” by Podington Bear.

n this episode, Cary talks with Bill Gross, CIO of the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI). Bill shares the story of how his CEO tasked him with preparing their 100+ person organization for an AI-powered future. With a background in computer science but little hands-on AI experience, Bill dove headfirst into learning—and then teaching—ChatGPT use cases across NEI. They dig into OpenAI's "Projects" feature, how NEI structures AI training, and the cultural shifts that come with rolling out a new technology at scale. 🔑 Key Takeaways: * Projects in ChatGPT are game-changing: Bill highlights how uploading shared context files to a Project makes it easy to run multiple threads with consistent knowledge, offering more dynamic support than Custom GPTs alone. * Champion programs work—but need structure: NEI's internal “JEDAI” champions (cute, right?) helped spread AI adoption, but Bill notes the importance of setting clear expectations and ensuring they get leadership support and time to follow through. * Start at the top: Bill prioritized executive buy-in, doing hands-on ChatGPT sessions with leadership early on, which paid off by fostering a culture of experimentation and support from the highest levels. 👤 About Bill Gross Bill Gross is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at the Nuclear Energy Institute, where he’s leading the charge to integrate AI tools—especially ChatGPT—across the organization. With a technical background and a fresh curiosity about modern AI, he’s become both a student and a teacher, guiding NEI’s staff through training, use-case discovery, and cultural change. Bill’s practical approach—focused on upskilling, real-world applications, and cross-team collaboration—offers a blueprint for any organization trying to responsibly and effectively adopt AI tools. If you want to connect with Bill, you can reach him by email at wrg@nei.org. Cary offers customized one-on-one ChatGPT training in 60 minute sessions. Find out more information on the sessions, answers to frequent questions, and how to register at www.ChatGPTExperiment.com [http://www.ChatGPTExperiment.com] +++++++++ CONNECT WITH CARY ChatGPT Podcast Website: www.ChatGPTExperiment.com [http://www.ChatGPTExperiment.com] Marketing Podcast: www.PracticalMarketingShow.com [http://www.PracticalMarketingShow.com] Cary's Agency Website: www.CMWeston.com [http://www.CMWeston.com] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryweston [https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryweston] LINKEDIN NEWSLETTER The Chat GPT Experiment is also a LinkedIn Newsletter and you can find it here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-chat-gpt-experiment-7110348839919702016/ [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-chat-gpt-experiment-7110348839919702016/] MUSIC CREDITS The instrumental music used in this podcast is called “Curious” by Podington Bear”.

EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of The ChatGPT Experiment, host Cary Weston brings back Greg Howe, founder of Gimme Info, for a deep dive into how small businesses and solopreneurs can use AI and automation to reclaim their time. Greg specializes in helping non-technical professionals streamline daily operations using tools like Make.com, ChatGPT, and Gmail. Together, they unpack real-world use cases—like email triage, customer sentiment tracking, and task automation—and show how simple automation can free up your day for higher-value work. 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS * Email Management Can Be Smarter: Greg explains how tools like Make.com can read emails, assess their tone with ChatGPT, and sort them into Gmail folders—automatically separating value from noise. * Automation Starts With Understanding Your Process: Before plugging in AI, record your workflow (using tools like Loom or Scribe) to map out your steps. This becomes the foundation for training AI to help you. * Use AI Strategically, Not Just Technically: ChatGPT isn’t just a chatbot—it can serve as a thought partner, strategist, and even a SOP (standard operating procedure) generator if you feed it the right context. ABOUT GREG HOWE Greg Howe is the founder of Gimme Info, a consultancy focused on making data and automation accessible to small businesses and solopreneurs. He specializes in integrating AI tools like ChatGPT with platforms people already use—like Gmail, Slack, and HubSpot—to create custom automations that save time and maintain human connection. Greg also runs the AI Automation Launch Pad, a free community where he shares templates and workflows to help people build smarter systems. Find Greg on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/gimmeinfo [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gimmeinfo]. Cary offers customized one-on-one ChatGPT training in 60 minute sessions. Find out more information on the sessions, answers to frequent questions, and how to register at www.ChatGPTExperiment.com [https://www.ChatGPTExperiment.com] +++++++++ CONNECT WITH CARY ChatGPT Podcast Website: www.ChatGPTExperiment.com [https://www.ChatGPTExperiment.com] Marketing Podcast: www.PracticalMarketingShow.com [https://www.PracticalMarketingShow.com] Cary's Agency Website: www.CMWeston.com [https://www.CMWeston.com] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryweston [https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryweston] LINKEDIN NEWSLETTER The Chat GPT Experiment is also a LinkedIn Newsletter and you can find it here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-chat-gpt-experiment-7110348839919702016/ [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-chat-gpt-experiment-7110348839919702016/] MUSIC CREDITS The instrumental music used in this podcast is called “Curious” by Podington Bear.