5 ways GPT-5 can do in minutes what used to take you days
The other day, I needed to round up every single email about the never-ending trouble we’ve had with our pool builder. We’re talking years of back-and-forth, buried in thousands of emails. Doing it manually would have taken me days and put me in a really nasty bad mood as I was reliving the horror.
Cue the angels.
Instead, I connected my Gmail with GPT-5, asked it to pull every relevant email and then summarize, categorize and put them in order. Eleven minutes later, I had a decent color-coded timeline. About 40 minutes and several prompts after that, I had something to run with.
That’s when it hit me … GPT-5 isn’t just an upgrade, it’s a power tool for your brain. Now, it’s far from perfect, but here’s what you can try:
📚 1. Handle massive files without breaking a sweat
Got a giant stack of paperwork? Get the AI version of “I skimmed it so you don’t have to.” GPT-5 can read thousands of pages in one go.
Example: Say you’re knee-deep in seven years of HOA meeting notes. Just upload the lot, then ask, “Find every mention of landscaping fees, and summarize the decisions.”
Also great for insurance policies or NDAs. Try, “GPT, are there potential ‘gotchas’ I should be aware of in this doc?” You’ll get your answer before your coffee cools.
🗂 2. Analyze multiple file types together
Mix and match PDFs, Word docs, Excel sheets, even images. GPT-5 reads them all and connects the dots.
Example: If you run a small business, you can upload supplier contracts, sales spreadsheets and scanned invoices, then ask, “Match each invoice to its supplier, and flag anything over budget.”
⚡ 3. Search and categorize at lightning speed
Have AI be your own graphic artist
Confession time: I can’t draw. My brain doesn’t lean at all in the artsy direction. I’ve tried to teach myself Photoshop, but every attempt ends with me whisper-screaming “flatten layer” like it’s going to summon help from the Adobe gods.
AI won’t fix your grief, but it can help manage it
“Hi, Kim, I’ve been taking care of my dad since his stroke. Your story about using ChatGPT to map out questions for our doctors has actually truly helped me feel a little more in control. It’s not perfect, but it’s been a lifeline.” — Maya in Ohio
Survive Zoom, thrive IRL
That meeting that could have been an email? You’re on it, eyes glossing over rambling updates, Todd’s screen share failing for the fourth time (use a mouse, Todd) or what appears to be a seance: “If you can hear me now, make a sign.”