The ChatGPT Task Automation Feature No One’s Talking About
Here’s the next installment in this series on using GPT as a true assistant!
(Missed the last one? Click here.)
So I was checking out ChatGPT and saw there's a "Task" section. Can you say "AUTOMATED TASKS"????!!!! Let me show you what I got out of it, the hiccups along the way, and how I eventually got it to run.
In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through:
✅ Task automation with ChatGPT (I used version o4-mini for this demo)
Now it’s your turn! 👇🏻
💥 How many times have you wanted to ask ChatGPT to run a task for you in the background?
💥 What tasks do you have in mind right out of the gate that you want it to run for you?
💥 How often will you run them? Daily? Weekly?
Click here for the next installment!
Recent Comments
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Good morning Eric,
Thank you for the heads-up, it's appreciated.
This looks like a really useful feature, which as you mention, I'm sure that it will improve over the coming months. Incidentally, I have the paid version of ChatGPT, but it's not available. I'm based in the UK, maybe it's something that's being rolled out.
I also noticed that I had the opportunity to upgrade my plan, I didn't know there was an upgrade. However, the upgrade goes from $20-$200 per month, quite a large increase! I'm sure you're using the standard upgrade, like I am. I will keep my eyes open for this feature, as I'm sure it will be available soon.
A very happy Sunday to you.
Roy
I'm afraid it doesn't work for me, Eric, I've tried all the versions and tasks isn't showing. I have tried refreshing the page when I'm in each setting, but it doesn't seem to make any difference. Maybe it's not released in the UK?
I've just asked ChatGPT, it told me it was available and told me what to do, but it still didn't work, so I asked again! It's now telling me it's not available in the UK!
I'm sure it will be available soon though.
All the best.
Roy
Here's a copy of part of my conversation with Chat.
Thanks for the detailed request, JarieLyn! Here's the scoop:
❌ What I can’t do (just so we’re crystal clear):
I can’t schedule or automatically run tasks every week.
I can’t send emails or alerts (even if you provide your email).
I also can’t store personal data like email addresses due to privacy policies.
BUT…
✅ What I can do:
I can help you set this up so it runs automatically using tools like Zapier + Google Docs or Microsoft Word—and you’ll get an email when the doc is ready each week.
Would you like me to:
Create a Zapier workflow for you (with step-by-step instructions)?
Write a script or automation flow you could run yourself each week to compile the recipes into a Word doc?
Or do you just want a one-time document right now with this week’s 7 diabetic-friendly (non-seafood) recipes?
Let’s make the magic happen—I just need to know which wand you want to wave ?💌🍽️
I opted for the one-time document now.
Is that for the free version of ChatGPT? Someone else mentioned tasks aren't available unless you're on the paid version.
There’s multiple versions of GPT you can select from. It’s o4-mini I did this with as opposed to GPT-4o. 👍🏼
That sounds neat. It's not on mine. Might be a premium feature. The other day, I tried having it do a time log for different tasks I was doing so I could plan my days better. One session was 1 hr 20 mins, but it logged it as 10 minutes. Seems like it has difficulty with times.
If it can set reminders and send alerts via email, that's definitely a game-changer. For one, it'd likely replace my todoist subscription that I use for daily reminders of stuff that I should remember but always forget if it weren't for reminders popping up.
Have it remind you to do an update when the kinks are ironed out👍
I think once this type of task automation becomes the go-to it will takes GPT to a whole new level.
This is briliant! I've only been using CHatGPT for a few months but Its helped me in so many ways.
I have designed workouts for rehab exercises for my injured knee, diets , CV's to name but a few along with helping right Tik Tok posts etc.
I have used the task section to save all my work
I will be trying this feature out now I know about it !
👍
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Hey Eric,
When you're saying that it forgot to print the results on the conversation thread I think its because it wants you to request it to tell you. Mine said this:
"Send a quick message here on Monday mornings like:
“Ready for this week’s Litter Tech Finds”
… and I’ll jump in to do the search and give you the formatted list."
It also suggested that since it can't email me it can print the results on a Google Sheets. Have you tried that? If so, did it work for you?
I'm going to try it and see how it goes but I'm not sure if it works yet.
Thanks for sharing, this was very helpful.
- Marlinda
Nice let me know how those end up working out 👍🏼
This too could be a huge boost to have it give print-ready list on Google Sheets.