12 things you never have to do again thanks to ChatGPT

How to save time, energy and frustration by outsourcing tasks to AI

I recently attended a conference for successful location-independent entrepreneurs in Mexico. Notebook in hand, I jotted down ideas, to-do lists, and email addresses from inspiring conversations and speakers. By the end of the day, my notes were a mess of scribbles.

Exhausted but satisfied, I sat in the hotel bar that evening and thought, “Let’s see what ChatGPT can do with this chaos.” I took a photo of my notes, uploaded it, and within seconds received a clean, typed summary. Action points were automatically identified, and even the handwritten names and email addresses were neatly listed.

One name wasn’t legible, so I asked: “Can you guess the email address based on this?” It did.

And that was just the beginning. I asked ChatGPT to explain complex terms like I was five. I had it structure my insights as if I needed to present them. And all of this while I was lying back on a beach chair, looking at the sea and palm trees.

That’s when I realized: if ChatGPT can take over so much of my work, what are the things I never actually have to do myself again?

Twelve tasks you can outsource to ChatGPT today

Here are 12 tasks you can immediately hand off to your AI assistant:

1. ✅ Typing things out

Why waste time typing if you can just speak? With voice prompts, you never have to hit the keyboard again. ChatGPT listens, thinks along, and types it all out. It’s like having a personal secretary in your pocket.

2. ✅ Transcribing handwritten notes

Paper notes? Snap a photo, upload, done. Even to-do’s and scribbled email addresses are recognized instantly. I tested it at the conference and it worked better than my own handwriting.

3. ✅ Translating anything

Menus in French, voice messages in Spanish, legal PDFs in English. ChatGPT translates with far more context and nuance than Google Translate. You just choose what language you want to say thank you in. With the voice function, you can even have live conversations in other languages.

4. ✅ Hiring a private tutor

Need help with grammar, history, or math? ChatGPT is available 24/7. You can ask all the “dumb” questions you want without any judgment. And it never says, “I explained this last week.”

5. ✅ Booking a tour guide

See something interesting while traveling? Describe the artwork or building, or upload a photo. ChatGPT gives you a quick and engaging explanation. You can even have it read aloud or chat with your AI tour guide using the audio feature.

6. ✅ Browsing on Google for hours

Why open 15 browser tabs when ChatGPT can summarize everything for you? Whether you’re planning a trip, researching a topic, or trying to understand a contract, it does the heavy lifting for you.

7. ✅ Calling in tech support

Wi-Fi issues, printer errors, software glitches? ChatGPT walks you through the solution step by step. No jargon, no frustration, and infinite patience.

8. ✅ Creating PowerPoint presentations

Have bullet points or rough ideas? ChatGPT turns them into a clear and structured presentation: titles, sections, visual suggestions included. You still have to deliver it yourself, unfortunately.

9. ✅ Brainstorming social media posts

Need a clever caption or post idea that fits your brand? ChatGPT helps with hooks, formats, and hashtags. I often speak my idea into the app and ask it to turn that into a post in my tone of voice. Or I give it two disconnected thoughts and ask it to merge them into something my audience will relate to. The results are surprisingly spot on.

10. ✅ Being creative at 9 AM on a Monday

No inspiration? Hungover from the weekend? ChatGPT gets you going. Whether you need to write an email, a campaign message, or a content strategy, just tell it what needs to happen, and it helps you build it step by step.

11. ✅ Reading long, boring documents

That 30-page policy report, meeting transcript, or technical manual? Ask ChatGPT to summarize it in three bullet points. You’ll get the gist in no time. When I recently reviewed an investment deal, I had to read eight separate documents. I asked ChatGPT to review them from my perspective (as an investor) and tell me: What are the red flags? Are the percentages market standard? What questions should I ask?

12. ✅ Writing a column

Yes, even this column started as a few scattered sentences I mumbled into my phone. The rest was handled by ChatGPT. Well, almost. I still like to keep my hands on the wheel.

Believe me, this list could have easily included fifty items. The more you play with ChatGPT, the more useful it becomes.

It’s not magic, and it doesn’t replace your brain, intuition, or common sense. But as a smart assistant that is always available, it can change the way you work and think.

What you do with it is entirely up to you.
But one thing is certain: you never have to say, “I really don’t have time for this” again.

No excuses.

This column was originally published in May 2025 on Dutch career platform Intermediair.nl. Check out all of Esther’s monthly columns with AI tips.