ChatGPT

This talk was given by Geoff Sheath on 22 September 2025 as part of our Get Together Monday programme.

It was subtitled How ChatGPT can help us (particularly if we're Senior Citizens)

THIS WEBPAGE IS STILL NOT COMPLETE: I'M WORKING ON IT WHEN I HAVE TIME

What I covered

Installing the ChatGPT app on an iPhone/ iPad, an Android phone or tablet or using ChatGPT in a browser on a computer
Privacy
(how to make sure that private information is not used by ChatGPT to improve its modelM)
Help with Creating a Birthday Card
(Getting ChatGPT to write a birthday poem and create a realistic photo)
Helping with Scams and Hoaxes
(Getting advice if you're not sure if an email or a message is genuine)
It’s not perfect!
(A case where ChatGPT is mistaken)
Helping with written documents
(Interpreting a technical report, or summarising information in a style and/ or to a chosen length)
Helping plan a trip
(Asking for suggestions for places to visit and getting detailed plans to make the most of a holiday)
Helping with cooking
(Help with planning a dinner party - choosing dishes, making a shopping list, getting a plan with timings to cook it - , asking for recipies to meet dietary needs, asking for a meal to use up various ingredients in the fridge)
Step-by-step help
(How to listen to a podcast, how to clean and seal a wooden floor, how to declutter a bedroom...)
Help with claims and filling in forms
(Who can claim Pension Credit, what information to collect, how to answer questions on a form or on the phone)
Helping with Hobbies and Pastimes
(Solving simple crossword clues, explaining cryptic crossword clues and answers, a knitting pattern for a bobble hat)
ChatGPT v Google (and how they work)

Installing the ChatGPT App or finding ChatGPT on the internet

You can find detailed instructions for Apple, Android or a Computer by clicking on this link

Help with Creating a special Birthday Card

Getting ChatGPT to write a birthday poem

Collect information about the person e.g.

Emily will be 18 this year
She lives in France
She's studying for a Baccalaureat with German as a main subject
She's a tri-athlete

Type Please write a short birthday poem for Sally using this information and retyppe or copy and paste the bullet points before pressing enter.

You can copy and paste the poem (and the picture) into either a Moonpig card or make a home-made one in Word.

Emily's card is saved here. Feel free to download it. It is a Word document. If you want to make your own you can use this card as a template. Just replace all the words and pictures with your own.

A birthday poem for Emily

Eighteen candles, shining bright,
A milestone reached, a joyful light.
In France you study, strive, and grow,
With German words you’ve come to know.

A triathlete with strength and grace,
You’re ready now to run your race.
May this new year bring joy anew,
Happy birthday, Emily —cheers to you!

Getting ChatGPT to create a "photo"

Find a reference photo and paste it into ChatGPT (note, this photo is NOT of Emily, but was used as reference in the session)

Without pressing return, type something like, "Create a photorealistic picture of 18 year old Emily on the running leg of a triathlon using this picture as reference."

You can see that ChatGPT has used characteristics of the reference face but has followed the brief.

These are the four pages of the completed card. It should print double sided on a printer ready to be folded, put in an envelope and sent.

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