5 ways GPT-5 can do in minutes what used to take you days

August 18, 2025

By Kim Komando

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

It can search, sort and summarize mountains of info instantly.

Example: Fighting with a school district about bus routes? Upload all your emails or connect your Gmail and ask GPT-5 to put them in order, group by topic, and summarize. Boom, an instant, easy-to-read timeline for your next meeting.

🧠 4. Remember context all day long

Start a project in the morning, come back later, and GPT-5 remembers where you left off.

Example: Working on a family history book? Upload letters and photos in the morning, then return hours later and say, “Write the section about Aunt Linda’s wedding.” GPT-5 knows exactly what you mean.

🌐 5. Combine web and your files in one answer

It can pull from the internet and your files at the same time.

Example: Upload your brokerage statement, then say, “Find the latest news on these companies, and summarize risks.” You’ll get a personalized market report in seconds.

If you’ve ever wished you had a full-blown mental exoskeleton, personal researcher, analyst and organizer rolled into one, GPT-5 is pretty close. Learn more about connecting your Gmail, Outlook, Drive and more with GPT-5 right here on OpenAI’s site.

🔨 Meanwhile at Home Depot the other day, I asked an orange-aproned assistant to show me where the nails were located. Once there, he asked, “How long do you need them?” I said, “I’m planning on keeping them for a long time.” Such a bummer when one of your best lines is wasted on someone who doesn’t get it.

Now use the share icons below with someone you know will get why they need to use GPT-5 for a project. They’ll thank you!