As a daily user of ChatGPT for the past several months, I’ve come to regard it as an indispensable resource in my digital toolkit. Since it’s still relatively new for many, I thought it might be useful to share a list of my favorite prompts with those curious about ChatGPT, as well as some essential security considerations.

An important caveat before diving into these prompts: Discretion is essential with ChatGPT or any other chatbot or search engine. Don’t share confidential information with these platforms; caution is paramount with such tools.

One must consider the precarious nature of data privacy and security. When you use these services, your data could inadvertently be exposed or used in ways you never intended, compromising your confidentiality.

For instance, Engadget reported that on March 24 “OpenAI was forced to take its wildly-popular ChatGPT bot offline for emergency maintenance” because a user exploited a bug in the system to access the titles from others’ chat histories.

Worse still, in the wrong hands, leaked or exposed information can become a tool for identity theft, financial fraud and other nefarious activities. And let’s not forget the legal ramifications. Sharing sensitive data can flout data protection laws, regulations or contracts, potentially resulting in financial penalties and legal consequences.

In this digital age, where the line between public and private is increasingly blurred, we all must exercise caution with sensitive information. Sharing confidential data with AI systems, search engines or any vulnerable online platform is simply a risk not worth taking.

With digital tools like ChatGPT, one must approach the results discerningly. A critical mindset is essential: Ask yourself, does the generated content align with your expectations and logic? What factors make it convincing or perhaps cast doubt on its validity?

It’s a good idea to seek out and cite corroborating sources that either reinforce or challenge the content presented by the AI tool.

With these vital caveats in mind, I’m eager to reveal my favorite ChatGPT prompts, which I hope will inspire your use of this technology:

• Take these four points and craft an email.
• Make this less formal and more conversational?
• What is wrong with this sentence?
• How can I improve this?
• What are the pros and cons of this statement?
• How would you characterize this statement?