A new option called Work is beginning to appear inside ChatGPT, sitting beside the familiar Chat mode.
Here’s the basic idea: use regular Chat when you want a quick answer, and switch to Work when the job involves gathering information, organising material and producing something more substantial.
That could be a report, presentation, spreadsheet, document, analysis, website or another finished piece of work.
The name may sound like it’s only meant for offices and large companies, but ChatGPT Work could also be useful for students, freelancers, creators, small-business owners and anyone facing a task that’s too involved for a quick conversation.
Here’s what it does and how to get started.
What Is ChatGPT Work?
ChatGPT Work is an agent designed for longer, multi-step tasks and finished deliverables.
Regular Chat is better when you want something immediate, such as:
- an answer to a question
- help rewriting a paragraph
- a list of ideas
- a quick explanation
- feedback on something you’ve written
Work is designed for jobs involving several stages.
It can gather information from the files and apps you allow it to use, plan an approach, complete different parts of the job and create a finished result. You can follow its progress, answer questions, change direction and approve important actions along the way.
The simplest way to think about it is:
Chat helps you think about the task. Work helps you complete the task.
What Can ChatGPT Work Create?
ChatGPT Work can create or edit:
- documents
- reports
- spreadsheets
- charts
- presentations
- analyses
- PDFs
- images
- websites and other digital materials
You can begin with written instructions, attach your source material or give ChatGPT an existing file or template to follow. OpenAI says Work can also create or edit native Google Docs, Sheets and Slides when the relevant Google Workspace app is enabled and connected.
You could ask it to:
- turn several documents into one report
- analyse figures inside a spreadsheet
- prepare a slide deck from research
- summarise information from different sources
- create a reusable template
- update an existing document without changing its structure
The exact tools and file types available can depend on your plan, device and workspace settings.
Chat, Work and Codex: What’s the Difference?
ChatGPT now separates different kinds of tasks more clearly.
Chat
Use Chat for questions, brainstorming, quick writing help and normal conversations.
It’s the best choice when you need a fast response rather than a complete project.
Work
Use Work when ChatGPT needs to research, analyse information, organise files or produce a finished deliverable.
It’s aimed at broader knowledge work rather than only software development.
Codex
Codex remains focused on coding and technical work.
It can work with repositories, terminals, developer tools and software projects. Most people creating reports, spreadsheets or presentations will want Work instead.
How to Open ChatGPT Work
On the ChatGPT website
- Open ChatGPT and sign in.
- Look for the Chat and Work options near the top of the page.
- Select Work.
- Begin a new task or open an existing Project.
On mobile
- Open the official ChatGPT app.
- Select the mode menu near the top of the screen.
- Choose Work.
- Start a new task or open an existing Project.
In the desktop app
- Open the ChatGPT desktop app.
- Select ChatGPT from the top-left menu.
- Choose Work from the toggle at the top.
- Start a new task, open a Project or give Work access to a local folder when required.
OpenAI says Work chats created in the cloud can sync between web, mobile and desktop. Local desktop tasks stay on that computer unless you move or share their files.
Step 1: Start With a Clear Outcome
Before uploading files or writing a long request, decide what you want ChatGPT Work to deliver.
Instead of saying:
Help me with this information.
Try giving it a clear outcome:
Create a five-page plain-English report summarising the attached customer survey. Highlight the main complaints, recurring themes and three recommended actions.
The second version tells ChatGPT:
- what to create
- how long it should be
- what information matters
- what the finished result should include
Work performs better when it understands what “finished” looks like.
Step 2: Add the Source Material
Upload or connect the information ChatGPT should use.
This could include:
- PDFs
- Word documents
- spreadsheets
- presentations
- screenshots
- images
- notes
- research
- existing templates
- files from connected apps
Try to provide only material that’s relevant to the job.
Giving Work 30 unrelated files won’t necessarily improve the result. A smaller collection of useful sources is usually easier for it to understand and organise.
A Project can help with ongoing work because it keeps related conversations, files and instructions together.
You could create a Project for:
- a monthly business report
- a university assignment
- a marketing campaign
- a website redesign
- an ongoing research topic
When you open Work from that Project, it can use the existing context.
Step 3: Describe the Deliverable
Tell ChatGPT exactly what you want it to make.
Include details such as:
- the required file type
- the intended audience
- the length
- the sections it should contain
- the tone
- the figures or sources it must use
- anything it must not change
- whether charts or visuals are required
Presentation example
Create an eight-slide presentation for non-technical managers. Include an executive summary, three key findings, two charts, recommended next steps and a final decision slide. Keep each slide concise and add speaker notes.
Spreadsheet example
Create a spreadsheet with separate sheets for monthly revenue, expenses and profit. Include formulas, a summary dashboard and charts comparing each month. Do not invent any missing figures.
Report example
Use the attached documents to create a 1,500-word report. Include an introduction, key findings, risks, recommendations and a short conclusion. Identify the source document for every important claim.
Step 4: Tell It What Must Stay the Same
This is especially important when you’re editing an existing file.
You may want ChatGPT to preserve:
- spreadsheet formulas
- brand colours
- slide order
- headings
- table structures
- writing style
- document formatting
- specific wording or approved facts
Spreadsheet update example
Update the figures using the attached June results, but keep the existing formulas, worksheet names, table structure and chart layout unchanged.
Presentation update example
Rewrite the presentation for a general audience, but keep the company branding, master slides and current section order.
OpenAI recommends naming anything that must remain unchanged, including formulas, layouts, branding, tone and table structures.
Step 5: Let Work Plan and Complete the Task
Once your instructions and source material are ready, submit the request.
Work may then:
- examine the files
- organise the information
- gather additional context
- ask a clarifying question
- use a connected app
- create the requested file
- inspect the result
- correct formatting or layout problems
Longer jobs can continue while you’re doing something else. OpenAI says Work can remain involved in complicated projects for hours by breaking them into smaller steps.
Step 6: Answer Questions and Approve Actions
Work may pause and ask for more information if something important isn’t clear.
It might ask:
- Which audience should this report target?
- Should these figures be shown in Australian dollars?
- Which connected file should be updated?
- Should missing data be left blank or flagged?
- May I create a new document in the connected account?
Answering these questions is better than allowing the system to guess.
ChatGPT may also ask for approval before it changes or creates content in a connected app. Check exactly what it’s proposing before approving the action.
Step 7: Review the Finished Work
A polished-looking file can still contain mistakes.
Before relying on or sharing the result, check:
- names and dates
- calculations
- spreadsheet formulas
- chart labels
- source citations
- claims and statistics
- formatting
- missing information
- whether your original instructions were followed
This is especially important for financial, legal, medical, academic or business-critical work.
ChatGPT can help produce the deliverable, but you remain responsible for checking it.
Step 8: Ask for Specific Revisions
You don’t need to accept the first version.
Instead of saying:
Make it better.
Give targeted feedback:
Shorten the executive summary to 150 words and move the financial risks above the recommendations.
Another example:
Slide four is too crowded. Split it into two slides, keep the chart on the first and move the supporting explanation to the second.
Or:
Recheck the spreadsheet formulas in columns F and G, then add a note identifying any rows with missing source data.
Specific instructions help Work improve the right section without unnecessarily changing everything else.
A Simple ChatGPT Work Prompt Template
Here’s a structure you can adapt for most tasks:
Create a [type of deliverable] for [audience and purpose] using [attached files, connected apps or sources]. Include [required sections, information, formulas, charts or visuals]. Keep [layout, branding, tone, formulas or protected elements] unchanged. Do not invent missing information. Clearly flag anything that can’t be verified. Review the finished result for accuracy, formatting problems and unreadable content before presenting it to me.
Four ChatGPT Work Prompts to Try
Turn several documents into a report
Review the attached documents and create a plain-English briefing report. Summarise the main findings, identify any contradictions between the sources and provide five recommended next steps. Include a source note for every major claim.
Create a presentation
Turn the attached research into a seven-slide presentation for an Australian small-business audience. Include a title slide, executive summary, three key findings, practical recommendations and a final action slide. Keep the wording concise and add speaker notes.
Analyse a spreadsheet
Review the attached sales spreadsheet. Identify monthly trends, unusual changes and the strongest and weakest product categories. Create a summary table and three clear charts. Check the formulas and do not invent values where data is missing.
Build a recurring briefing
Every Monday morning, prepare a short briefing covering important developments from the previous week. Include the five biggest changes, why they matter and what to watch next.
Work can also run once, repeat on a schedule or monitor for changes through Scheduled Tasks when that feature is available in your account.
How to Get Better Results
Describe the finished result
Don’t only explain the topic. Tell ChatGPT what you expect to receive at the end.
Include a reference file
An old report, presentation or spreadsheet can show ChatGPT the structure and style you want.
Set clear boundaries
Tell it not to invent figures, rewrite approved wording or change formulas without permission.
Keep related work in a Project
Projects keep files, conversations and instructions together across an ongoing job.
Review the outline first
For a large deliverable, consider asking Work to prepare an outline before it creates the finished file.
Give precise feedback
Fix the title spacing on slides three and five is more useful than the slides look strange.
What to Watch Out For
ChatGPT Work can handle more of a task, but that also means you should be careful about what access you give it.
Only connect the apps, accounts and folders required for the job.
Avoid uploading confidential business information, private customer records or sensitive files unless your organisation allows it and you understand the relevant data controls.
Connected apps may give ChatGPT access to files and account information. Some approved actions may also create or change content inside those services.
You should still monitor important jobs and review actions before approving them.
Who ChatGPT Work Is Best For
ChatGPT Work could be useful for:
- students preparing research reports
- freelancers creating client deliverables
- small businesses producing documents and presentations
- analysts reviewing spreadsheets
- marketers turning research into campaign plans
- managers preparing briefings
- creators organising ideas into finished content
- anyone with raw information that needs to become something usable
It may be unnecessary when all you need is a quick answer or a short rewrite. Regular Chat will usually be faster for those jobs.
Is ChatGPT Work Free?
OpenAI says ChatGPT Work is available to all plans through the Mac and Windows desktop apps.
On web and mobile, it’s available to Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu users. Access is still being rolled out, and workplace settings may determine whether individual members can use it.
If you received the introductory pop-up shown above, press Try it to switch from Chat to Work.
Is ChatGPT Work Worth Using?
Yes, when the task genuinely involves several stages.
The biggest difference isn’t simply that Work produces longer answers. It can gather context, work with files, complete different parts of a workflow and create an editable deliverable that you can review and revise.
It won’t replace the need to understand your own work, check the facts or make the final decisions. But it could remove a lot of the repetitive effort between gathering raw information and producing something ready to use.
The easiest way to test it is with a real task you’ve been putting off.
Choose one report, presentation or spreadsheet. Add the relevant files, describe exactly what the finished result should look like and see how much of the process Work can complete.
Why this matters for Australia
Australian small businesses, freelancers, students and workers often don’t have dedicated teams available to research a topic, analyse figures and turn everything into polished documents.
ChatGPT Work could help close some of that gap by making more involved AI workflows available through the same interface people already use for normal ChatGPT conversations.
That could help with business plans, grant applications, training material, reports, presentations and recurring briefings. It may also reduce the time people spend moving information between different tools.
The important part is knowing when to use it. Quick questions still belong in Chat. Work makes the most sense when ChatGPT needs to take a goal, gather the right context and carry the job through to a finished deliverable.
Source
ChatGPT Work
