4 ways OpenAI's newest AI model GPT-4o can make you more productive at work

The latest version of ChatGPT is more powerful than ever, with features that can help you work faster.

• OpenAI released the latest version of ChatGPT in May and it costs $20 a month for full access.
• The new version powered by GPT-4o can reason across audio, vision, and text in real time. 
• Here are four ways you can use the latest version of ChatGPT to become more productive at work. 

While AI job displacement has started happening in some industries, many workers have found that the technology has helped them improve their performance.

Chatbots are saving workers time and helping them improve in areas they're weaker in, like writing or coding. A recent survey of 1,666 computer-using US employees by ResumeTemplates.com found that four in 10 workers who use ChatGPT said it helped them secure a raise, and 30% reported it aided with a promotion.

OpenAI has led the AI race with ChatGPT, which attracted one million users shortly after it became available in November 2022. But even though many find the the tool helpful, OpenAI CEO has referred to early versions of the technology as a "barely useful cellphone."

While the previous version of ChatGPT was groundbreaking in many aspects, it had limited access to data analysis, file uploads, vision, web browsing, and custom GPTs, according to ChatGPT's pricing page.

But OpenAI's new flagship AI model, GPT-4o, which was announced during OpenAI's Spring Update, has improved capabilities in these areas and "can reason across audio, vision, and text in real time."

The latest version of ChatGPT, which is available with full access for $20 a month, struck a chord with viewers at the demo with its more human-like dialogue and ability to help solve math equations. OpenAI has since pushed back the release of its voice assistant tool, which sounded similar to Scarlet Johansson's voice in the movie "Her," despite the actress declining an offer to voice the chatbot.

Still, the updated AI assistant is faster and better than its previous versions, even if it sometimes generates inaccuracies and can't be fully relied on. GPT-4o is also available with limits to free users.

Here are some of the GPT-4o features that can help make your workday more productive.

GPT-4o has advanced data analysis

ChatGPT powered by GPT-4o can combine and clean large datasets, create charts, and come up with deeper insights.

You can try out the data analysis by uploading a file from your desktop or your Google or Microsoft drive. ChatGPT will then analyze the data by writing and running Python code on your behalf, according to OpenAI.

The latest chatbot creates an interactive table from the dataset that users can expand on as it comes up with analysis. GPT-4o can also continuously monitor data to provide real-time updates on trends and alert users when changes occur.

Use a custom GPT designed for a specific task

OpenAI refers to GPTs as customized versions of the chatbot that can be tailored "for specific tasks or topics by combining instructions, knowledge, and capabilities." They can help with a broad range of areas, including language tutoring or technical support.

To create a GPT, you can go to this site and select "Create a GPT." You can then message the chatbot to help you build a new GPT. For example, you can ask it to "create a software engineer to help me build my own blog site."

You can then select the actions you would like your GPT to take, like developing code or designing the site. Then, you can hit "Create."

Custom instructions cut down on the time it takes to preface multiple questions or tasks

Users can add preferences or requirements they want the chatbot to remember when coming up with future answers.

By setting custom instructions, you can get personalized answers more quickly so you don't have to spend as much time editing the response or feeding multiple prompts to curate a specific type of answer.

For example, a math teacher can skip starting each prompt with "I'm teaching a calculus curriculum to high school students who plan to take the AP exam at the end of the year." The teacher can just save those details.

Get real-time feedback

ChatGPT's latest version can give you feedback in real time with its ability to reason across vision and text. That means it can help you solve a math equation on the spot or it can provide grammar advice to clean up an email.

OpenAI said in its announcement of GPT-4o that the chatbot can "respond to audio inputs in as little as 232 milliseconds, with an average of 320 milliseconds." That's similar to human response time in a conversation.

Instead of spending 20 minutes re-reading a cover letter or staying stuck on one part of a math equation, ChatGPT can help you on the spot and work through your questions as you go along.