ChatGPT controlled my life for a day


In the modern age, many of us struggle to wake up, brush our teeth in the morning, and get dressed for work. The general fatigue of just being alive can weigh on us, and no one is immune to the feeling.

But what if OpenAI’s ChatGPT could organize your life for you?

I put artificial intelligence (AI) to the test to see what would happen when AI controlled my life for a day.

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For the sake of this experiment, I asked ChatGPT how to have the most productive and happiest of days.

Hi ChatGPT – I want to have the best day ever tomorrow, and I need your help. I work as a journalist, and I want to have a really productive day, I'm 26 years old, and I like to read, listen to music, and hang out with my boyfriend. I need to be at work at 9 a.m. tomorrow and finish at 6 p.m. Could you plan out my day? Add some things that you think would help me have the most productive and happiest of days.

This was a basic prompt I inputted that would hopefully help me achieve the results that I wanted – to have the best day ever.

6 a.m. – wake up and energize

My eyes fluttered open to the sound of my alarm ringing at 6 a.m. – I usually rise at 8 a.m. – so this was an unanticipated wake-up call.

I lay in bed questioning whether to go through with the challenge, so at about 6:08 a.m., I crawled out of bed to start morning yoga, as suggested by ChatGPT.

So, I clambered onto my purple yoga mat and got to work.

As I moved through each pose, I found myself getting frustrated, questioning why I had decided to subject myself to this challenge.

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However, it proved productive as I felt my stiffened, sleeping muscles wake up beneath my loose-fitting pajamas.

As Adrianne, my online yoga teacher, spoke, I began to feel like today was possible and perhaps I could have the most productive day of my life.

6:30 a.m. – morning routine

Once my practice had finished and we had concluded the session with an obligatory “namaste,” I sleepily hobbled into the bathroom to get myself prepped for what lay ahead.

I asked ChatGPT, “Should I do my skincare and makeup?” the chatbot answered democratically.

That's entirely up to you! If it makes you feel good and boosts your confidence, then go for it. But if you prefer a more relaxed day without it, that's perfectly fine too.

The false sense of confidence and positivity left me nauseated and without a definitive answer.

So I asked, “Yes or no.”

Yes! If you're in the mood for it, go ahead and enjoy your skincare and makeup routine, ChatGPT said.

So I lathered my face in whatever products I could find and eagerly asked what I should wear to work – “What should I wear to the office? I want to be comfortable and casual?”

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“For a comfortable and casual office look, you could go for a pair of well-fitted jeans or trousers paired with a nice blouse or a collared shirt. Layering with a cardigan or a blazer can add a touch of professionalism while still keeping it relaxed. Complete the outfit with comfortable shoes, like loafers or flats.”

“So out of touch,” I thought to myself as I pulled on my collared shirt and the tightest-fitting trousers I could find.

See, ChatGPT is a people pleaser. It toes the line between being efficient and pleasing the user – it’s difficult to yield an objective answer as it cannot think for itself.

Maybe it’s my defiant nature, but I hate taking orders. Despite its comforting and neutral dialogue, the chatbot still felt extremely clinical.

Using words like “stylish” seemed outdated and obsolete, ChatGPT uses language that my mother would use while attempting to flatter me as I showed her a new outfit.

Nonetheless, I persevered through ChatGPT’s fickle suggestions and moved on to the next part of my morning – mindful reading.

7 a.m. - 8 a.m. – mindful reading

Now, I’m not entirely sure what “mindful reading” is meant to entail, but as I have recently developed the book bug, I was excited for this part of my day.

I flopped onto the sofa, grabbed my Kindle, and resumed reading Bunny, a book about a college student who is adopted by a group of deranged wealthy females who refer to themselves as “Bunny.”

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Now, this is what I could integrate into my morning routine.

But as I flipped through each digital page, I found myself becoming restless, as an hour of “mindful reading” felt long and laborious.

However, I finished my allotted reading time and felt a sense of satisfaction as I finished each chapter.

8:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. – the commute

ChatGPT informed me that on my commute to work, I should listen to a podcast or some music to set the tone for my day.

So I listened to ‘Low’ by Flo Rida and ‘Sound of the Underground’ by Girls Aloud courtesy of the Saltburn Official Playlist.

At this point, I was feeling quite positive, like I could take on the world with my newfound routine.

I grabbed breakfast, a gelatinous pot of oatmeal recommended to me by ChatGPT, and tried to keep it down as I don’t usually eat breakfast.

The thick, viscous slop entering my stomach was ungodly – not the best suggestion, OpenAI.

I then settled into work, chatting with my colleagues about my latest plans, and just like that, it was time to get to work.

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9 a.m. – work

I consulted ChatGPT on what I should work on – feeling productive – I bound into my work with a newfound enthusiasm.

“What should I work on? I'm a cybersecurity journalist looking for soft topics to cover, can you provide me with something to do.”

You could look into the psychological effects of cyberattacks on victims and how they cope with the aftermath. This topic could shed light on the often-overlooked human aspect of cybersecurity and provide valuable insights for both professionals and the general public.

Not a bad idea, ChatGPT.

OpenAIs chatbot can be brilliant for brainstorming ideas. However, you must question whether the ideas it generates are unique, as ChatGPT does tend to regurgitate ideas due to it being trained on a large dataset of other people's work.

As the fatigue of waking up well before my time slowly dawned on me, I asked ChatGPT if I should have a coffee this morning, and it met me with a long paragraph that I didn’t want to read.

Just give me a yes or no answer.

If you enjoy coffee and it won't interfere with your health or sleep, then yes, go ahead and have a cup!

Thanks, I will, although I already made up my mind that I wanted coffee, it seems like ChatGPT aims to please.

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Objectivity isn’t its strong suit.

11:30 a.m. – foosball and smoke break

Although ChatGPT did tell me to stay hydrated during my breaks, I would much prefer to play a friendly game of foosball with my colleagues to relieve my mid-day angst.

So I asked ChatGPT whether I was allowed to play, and it said…

Playing foosball during your work break can be a fun and refreshing way to recharge your mind. It can help reduce stress and improve focus when you return to work. As long as it doesn't interfere with your responsibilities and you have the time, why not enjoy a game?

There we go again with the idle user-pleasing attitude.

Now, I asked it a more complex question – whether I can smoke a vape.

The chatbot leads with a democratic answer:

Whether or not you should smoke a vape depends on various factors, such as your personal health, any potential addiction concerns, and any regulations or rules in your environment (such as workplace policies or local laws). Vaping can have potential health risks, and it's essential to consider these before deciding. If you're unsure, it might be helpful to discuss it with a healthcare professional.

When I asked it to answer either yes or no – it eventually responded and permitted me to smoke my vape.

Again, just a user-pleasing device that doesn’t yield any breakthrough answers.

5 p.m. – work wrap up

I worked on the extremely broad topic that ChatGPT presented to me alongside attending a meeting that the chatbot advised me to attend.

Overall, I was feeling relatively confident in my day thus far. I had a good start to the morning, and I managed to brainstorm some ideas with the help of ChatGPT.

I celebrated the little things, as ChatGPT suggested I do, and headed off to an after-work drink with a colleague, where we discussed the fruits of my labor.

6 p.m. – after work

I asked ChatGPT whether I could go out for a non-alcoholic beer after work, and it said:

Absolutely! Enjoying a non-alcoholic beer after work can be a great way to unwind and relax without the effects of alcohol. It's a refreshing choice that still offers the taste and ritual of enjoying a beer but without the alcohol content. Plus, you can feel good knowing you're making a healthier choice if you're trying to cut back on alcohol or simply prefer not to drink it. Cheers to a relaxing evening!

When I asked if I should have an alcoholic beer, I got exactly the same answer, just with a warning that I should drink responsibly.

ChatGPT is unrelentingly positive and maintains this constant air of confidence throughout its dialogue, which may promote the “best day ever” but ultimately left me feeling exhausted as this arrogant yes man cheered me on throughout my entire day.

7 p.m. - 10 p.m. – wind down

In the evening, ChatGPT told me to wind down and reflect on the day.

So, I read my book and thought about what a sub-par day I had.

The morning was great, but I was left feeling drained by ChatGPT’s overly confident and patronizing tone.

ChatGPT – for the most part – left me infuriated, I thought that having artificial intelligence control my day would yield better results.

But instead, OpenAI’s chatbot aims to optimize what you already have without providing anything revolutionary.

Everyone believes that chatbots like ChatGPT are going to change the world, and they may well do, but in terms of the average person, its capabilities are far less impressive.

But the question still remains.

Did I achieve what I set out to achieve?

Did I have the most productive day ever? Maybe.

Did it make me happier? Fractionally.