The CORRECT way to use ChatGPT (in 2026)
About this video
Jeff Su explains when to use which ChatGPT feature, noting ChatGPT has rolled out over 1.1 updates per week this year. For models, default to the latest O-number reasoning model with the cleanest name: use reasoning models for important or hard queries where you will wait for a better answer, and GPT-number chat models for low-stakes, fast tasks — choice depends on complexity, not task type, illustrated by a simple fiber question vs a nutritionist breakfast requiring at least 15g fiber and 20g protein, and a bullet-point email vs a 20-message upset thread uploaded as a PDF. Reasoning prompting tips: use delimiters to separate task from document, do not add ’think step by step’ (it hurts reasoning models), and examples are optional/zero-shot. For web search, use Google for a single fact and ChatGPT search for a fact plus explainer — e.g. Nvidia stock price alone vs earnings call context, or a Zurich forecast Dec 1-7 with clothing advice, or 5 years of global vaccination rates in a table. Deep research is an agent that runs 10 to 20 minutes reading dozens to hundreds of links to produce a report, e.g. comparing Nvidia, AMD and Intel AI chip roadmaps or top five high-yield savings accounts for saving $1,000 a month. Canvas should be toggled on when you will edit a response more than once.
Key takeaways
- Default to the latest reasoning model; reserve basic chat models for low-stakes speed — decide by complexity, not by task type like email.
- Prompt reasoning models with delimiters, without ’think step by step’, and start zero-shot, adding examples only if results are wrong.
- Use Google search for a single fact and ChatGPT search for a fact with explanation, comparison or table formatting; toggle search with the forward-slash command.
- Use Deep Research for multi-source reports with detailed prompts (or a custom GPT / OpenAI help PDF to generate the prompt), and test both ChatGPT and Gemini on the same prompt.
- Use Canvas for iterative documents: version back/forward, built-in shortcuts and Suggest Edits, then download as markdown for Google Docs; quick commands are elaborate, critique and rewrite.
Episode details: published July 1, 2025 · 9:47 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are Jeff Su’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.
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