Frequently Asked Questions About Using ChatGPT: Your Guide to Simplifying Life with AI
- Larissa - AI Hacks 4 Moms
- Sep 7, 2024
- 6 min read

Motherhood is full of endless to-do lists, moments of chaos, and the constant search for balance. Between meal planning, keeping up with activities, and answering a thousand "why" questions from curious little minds, it can feel like there’s never enough time in the day. That’s where ChatGPT comes in—an AI tool that can truly become your secret weapon in simplifying your life.
As a busy mom, you likely have a few questions on your mind—like how ChatGPT works, what features it offers, and whether it can actually fit into your daily routine. Whether you're wondering about the difference between the free and paid versions or how it can help with parenting tasks, this guide will walk you through all the ChatGPT frequently asked questions you need to know. By answering these common questions, you'll discover just how much this AI tool can simplify your life and free up your time for what matters most.

Common ChatGPT Frequently Asked Questions: How It Works, Features, and Benefits
What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is an advanced AI language model developed by OpenAI that can understand and generate human-like text. This tool can assist you with a variety of tasks, from brainstorming meal ideas and organizing your week to answering tricky questions from your kids and even helping you draft emails. Whether you’re a seasoned multitasking mom or looking for a little help managing your schedule, ChatGPT can become a valuable part of your routine.
How Can ChatGPT Help Me as a Mom?
Think of ChatGPT as a virtual assistant that you can call on anytime. It can provide quick, reliable solutions to everyday problems, allowing you to save time and focus on the things that matter most. Here’s how ChatGPT can help:
Time-Saving Solutions: Get immediate answers to questions without the need to scroll through endless websites. Ask ChatGPT for parenting tips, product recommendations, or even advice on handling tantrums—saving you time and frustration.
Creative Ideas: Need some fun ideas to keep the kids busy on a rainy day? ChatGPT can generate activity ideas, craft projects, or even personalized bedtime stories tailored to your child’s interests.
Organizational Support: Use ChatGPT to help plan your family’s schedule, create to-do lists, or manage meal planning for the week. It can even help you organize a family event or vacation.
Integrating ChatGPT into your routine can help simplify your life, giving you more time to focus on your family and the things you enjoy.
Is ChatGPT Free to Use?
Yes, ChatGPT offers a free version that provides access to basic features. This version is perfect for exploring the tool and seeing how it fits into your life without a financial commitment. However, during peak times, access may be limited, and you might experience slower response times.
For more consistent access, there’s ChatGPT Plus, a paid version that costs $20 per month. The Plus plan gives you priority access, faster response times, and access to new features as they are released. If you find yourself using ChatGPT regularly, this plan can be worth the investment, especially if you want to rely on the tool for quick assistance throughout the day.
I used the free version when I first started using ChatGPT and have since upgraded my plan to the ChatGPT Plus, and its one of the best spent $20 I spend every month!

How Do I Sign Up for ChatGPT?
The sign-up process for ChatGPT is simple and only takes a few minutes. Here's how you can get started:
Visit the OpenAI Website: Head to the OpenAI website and navigate to the ChatGPT section.
Create an Account: Click “Sign Up” and follow the prompts. You can sign up with your email, Google, or Microsoft account.
Verify Your Email: After signing up, you’ll receive a verification email. Click the link in the email to verify your account.
Start Using ChatGPT: Once your account is verified, you can log in and start using ChatGPT.
If you’re interested in upgrading to ChatGPT Plus, you can do so through your account dashboard by selecting the subscription option and entering your payment information.
Where Does ChatGPT Get Its Information From?
ChatGPT pulls its information from a broad range of sources that were available on the internet prior to its last update. It has been trained on data that includes books, websites, articles, and various other content forms. However, it’s important to remember that ChatGPT doesn't have real-time access to the internet, and its knowledge is based on the information it was trained on, up until September 2021.
When Was ChatGPT’s Information Last Updated?
The latest version of ChatGPT, as of now, was trained on data available up until September 2021. While it has access to a wide range of knowledge up to that point, any events, trends, or updates that occurred after that may not be reflected in its responses. For real-time information, you can always combine ChatGPT’s suggestions with a quick online search to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
How Often Is ChatGPT’s Information Updated?
Currently, ChatGPT’s information is not continuously updated. However, OpenAI has plans to release more advanced versions in the future, which could include more frequent updates to ensure the AI remains as relevant and accurate as possible.

Are Your Conversations Private? Can I Turn ChatGPT’s Memory On or Off?
OpenAI takes privacy seriously and provides options for managing your data. When using ChatGPT, your conversations may be stored and analyzed to improve the model, but OpenAI does not use your personal data to train the system.
However, it’s always good to review the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use to understand how your information is handled.
You also have control over ChatGPT’s memory settings. To protect your privacy, you can turn memory off, ensuring that your previous conversations are not stored or referenced in future sessions.
To manage these settings:
Go to your ChatGPT account dashboard.
Navigate to the privacy settings.
Turn memory on or off based on your preference.
How Do I Give ChatGPT Custom Instructions?
One of ChatGPT’s helpful features is that you can give it custom instructions to remember certain information. For example, if you frequently ask for meal planning advice, you can instruct ChatGPT to always use your family’s dietary preferences in its suggestions. This means you won’t have to repeat the same input every time you use it.
Here’s how you can set custom instructions:
While in a conversation, provide ChatGPT with specific guidelines.
Alternatively, use the custom instructions section in your settings, where you can provide recurring details, like preferences for response styles, topic focus, and more.
What Kind of Files Can ChatGPT Create?
ChatGPT can assist in creating a variety of files, depending on the format you need:
PDFs: For generating documents like schedules, checklists, or guides.
Excel Sheets: Use ChatGPT to help you create or organize data into Excel files for budget tracking, meal plans, or task lists.
Text Files (Word, Notepad): For drafts, notes, or any content you need to format into text.
It’s a flexible tool for managing and organizing both personal and work-related tasks. To have ChatGPT put your information in a certian file type, simply give it the prompt:
Please put into a [File Type].

Is ChatGPT Safe for Kids to Use?
While ChatGPT can provide kid-friendly answers, it's not specifically designed for children. As a parent, you should monitor your child’s use of the tool. If you’re using ChatGPT to help with educational activities, you can guide your child’s interaction by controlling the types of questions and content it generates.
For a more child-focused experience, consider supervising or even customizing the prompts to ensure the content is age-appropriate.
Best Prompt Hack: Ask ChatGPT to Ask Clarifying Questions
One of my FAVORITE ways to get high-quality responses from ChatGPT is to ask it to ask you clarifying questions before responding. This prompt hack ensures that the AI fully understands what you're looking for, which leads to better, more relevant answers. For example, if you're asking for dinner ideas, you can prompt ChatGPT with: “Can you ask me any clarifying questions before responding?”
Exploring the ChatGPT Store: Custom AI Solutions for Every Need
A growing number of companies are now developing their own custom ChatGPT-powered bots to serve specific needs. From customer service chatbots to personal assistant bots tailored to industries like healthcare or retail, the ChatGPT Store is becoming a hub for specialized AI tools. As AI continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more innovation in this space, with bots designed to meet the unique demands of businesses and individuals.

Conclusion: Simplifying Motherhood with ChatGPT
ChatGPT is an incredibly versatile tool that can significantly simplify motherhood by helping you manage daily tasks, generate creative ideas, and save time. Whether you're using the free version or upgrading to ChatGPT Plus for additional benefits, this AI tool is designed to support you, providing valuable assistance when you need it most.
By understanding its features and learning how to customize its responses to suit your lifestyle, you’ll find ChatGPT can be an indispensable part of your day. From answering endless kid questions to organizing your week, ChatGPT is here to make motherhood a little easier.
Ready to give ChatGPT a try? Visit the OpenAI website to start simplifying your life today.
If you have any more questions about using ChatGPT, don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re here to help you navigate motherhood with AI.