5 Hidden ChatGPT Secrets to Crush Your To-Do List

You can trigger ChatGPT with a shortcut (option+space on Mac, alt+space on Windows) from any window, and have technical errors or text in that window automatically included for context, greatly aiding troubleshooting.

ChatGPT Agent is a new feature that allows you to delegate complex, multi-step tasks spanning research, web browsing, coding, data analysis, and even actions like booking reservations or creating presentations. It automates tasks by planning, executing, and toggling between different tools to complete them.

As of filming, ChatGPT Agent is available to Pro plan users and should roll out to all plans except the free one by the end of July 2025.

Start a new chat at chatgpt.com, click on the 'tools' button, and look for 'agent mode'. Submit your task prompt, and the agent will plan, research, and act as needed to complete it.

Do NOT provide the agent with sensitive information such as credit card numbers or IDs, as it may inadvertently share this information if it visits a risky site. Instead, fill in personal information yourself via the 'take over' button.

Deep Research is a tool that enables ChatGPT to perform comprehensive, thorough, and reliable research on virtually any topic, summarizing information from dozens of sources, complete with citations and follow-up clarification questions.

You access Deep Research by clicking 'tools' in the prompt box and selecting 'Run Deep Research'. Free plan users get 5 searches per month, with higher plans offering more.

Deep Research asks clarifying questions, uses citations, summarizes priorities, and provides detailed recommendations, whereas standard prompts may skip clarification and context, potentially missing important details.

Connectors allow ChatGPT to integrate directly with third-party apps (like Google Drive, Gmail, HubSpot, Outlook, SharePoint, Canva, etc.), letting it pull in your own data for use in research and analysis.

The HubSpot connector allows ChatGPT to directly access your CRM data, generate lists (anonymized if needed), summarize customer relationships, and answer questions based on your customer data.

There are four types: Deep Research connectors (for in-depth research), Search connectors (search your cloud storage), Synced connectors (pre-index and make searches faster, e.g. Google Drive), and Custom connectors (write code to link proprietary data).

Search and synced connectors are available only to users on the highest tier or team plans (e.g., Pro or Plus).

A custom connector is a user-built integration that lets ChatGPT access your proprietary data or systems (like QuickBooks Online), bringing in live, up-to-date information for analysis and reporting.

Custom GPTs let you create specialized AI agents to handle repetitive or complex tasks with structured instructions. They're less feature-rich than agents but easier to control and maintain, ideal for tasks that don't require perfect accuracy.

Use a four-part framework: 1) Role – specify what kind of expert the AI should be, 2) Context – provide file/data info, 3) Task – break the job into clear steps, 4) Format – explain how you want results presented.

You may use custom GPTs made by others for free, but creating your own requires a paid subscription (Pro or Plus plan).

There is a free desktop app for ChatGPT (available for Mac and Windows) offering instant access with a keyboard shortcut. On Mac, it can use the current window's text as prompt context, which is especially useful for referencing documents or code errors.

ChatGPT Record is a beta feature (Pro and Team only) that lets you transcribe and summarize audio recordings, including meetings or voice notes. It provides structured summaries and allows you to review the transcript (but not the original audio).

As of now, it's only on the desktop app (Pro/Team), limited to English (best performance), and recordings up to two hours in length. Original audio cannot be played back—only the transcript is available.

Because the AI might inadvertently relay sensitive data if it interacts with potentially unsafe web pages. Safeguards exist but aren't infallible.

Break complex tasks into steps, clearly define role/context/task/format, and iteratively test and adjust the prompt for best results. Double-check output and refine instructions as needed.

You can trigger ChatGPT with a shortcut (option+space on Mac, alt+space on Windows) from any window, and have technical errors or text in that window automatically included for context, greatly aiding troubleshooting.

ChatGPT Agent is a new feature that allows you to delegate complex, multi-step tasks spanning research, web browsing, coding, data analysis, and even actions like booking reservations or creating presentations. It automates tasks by planning, executing, and toggling between different tools to complete them.