Ask HN: How do you use AI to get things done faster?
Summary of this thread (summarized by chatGPT 4:<p>Part 1:<p>1. *Getting Around Bad Documentation*:
   - ChatGPT can provide clarity on topics that are not well-documented, especially when the source code is public. This is particularly useful for libraries, services, and APIs.<p><pre><code>   - Helps in understanding command-line or code behavior. For instance, understanding redirection in bash commands.
</code></pre>
2. *Quick Knowledge Retrieval*:
   - ChatGPT can provide a brief summary of various topics, effectively serving as a conversational interface for accessing knowledge.<p>3. *Browsing Mode and Plugins*:
   - Plugins, such as pdf readers and web browsers, can extend ChatGPT&#x27;s capabilities.
   - Some comments mention tools like &quot;Phind&quot; which combine ChatGPT with source documentation embeddings.<p>4. *Code Debugging and Generation*:
   - Users get help with debugging code, including identifying and rectifying JSON format errors.
   - ChatGPT can generate boilerplate code and assist in finding small bugs like off-by-one errors.
   - The tool can be useful for understanding and generating code snippets, especially in less-frequently used languages or frameworks.
   - Some users employ ChatGPT to stub out APIs or to get suggestions on API endpoint designs.<p>5. *Text Transformations*:
   - For one-off tasks like transforming unformatted data into JSON or finding patterns in a large text.<p>6. *Learning and Clarification*:
   - Helps users learn more about various topics, such as understanding the differences between certain technologies or getting summaries on specific subjects.
   - Useful for &quot;rubber duck debugging&quot; or clarifying coding concepts.<p>7. *Code Refinement*:
   - ChatGPT can assist in rewriting code for clarity or in adding comments.
   - Some users compare ChatGPT to tools like Copilot, noting the distinct strengths of each.<p>However, some users highlighted limitations. While GPT-4 is seen as a significant improvement over GPT-3, some found that it might not always generate perfect or highly detailed code. Some users also feel the need to iterate with the model to get the desired output.<p>Part 2:<p>*1. Text Analysis:*
   - Finding patterns in large texts.
   - Parsing unstructured data.
   - Extracting unique IP addresses from server log files.<p>*2. Product Development and Workflow Enhancement:*
   - Breaking down mental barriers and enabling exploration outside one&#x27;s familiarity.
   - Building a wide variety of tools and products.
   - Tasks such as text summaries, sysadmin tasks, debugging, boilerplate code, overcoming writer&#x27;s block, data transformations, and marketing tasks (copywriting, campaigns).<p>*3. Coding and Scripting:*
   - Assisting in writing quick shell scripts.
   - Providing information on APIs and libraries.
   - Code refactoring.
   - Assisting in function and script creation.
   - Turning descriptive tasks into actionable code, such as converting functions, creating bootstrap&#x2F;css snippets, and generating regular expressions.
   - Helping in reconciling invoices against transactions.
   - Assisting with tools like Github Copilot.
   - Writing and restructuring blog posts, business letters, and other forms of communication.<p>*4. Admin and System Tasks:*
   - Assistance with NetworkManager parameters.
   - Debugging .htaccess file issues.
   - Guidance on PEM certificates and openssl conversions.
   - Restoring software RAID arrays with lvm.
   - Filtering options with journalctl.
   - Working with ffmpeg commands.<p>*5. Miscellaneous:*
   - Providing explanations on concepts like Double Entry Accounting.
   - Guiding in personal interactions.
   - Assisting with search queries, e.g., &quot;how to do x in language y&quot;.<p>*6. Collaborative Tools:*
   - Integrating GPT with tools like Promptr and Open Interpreter for enhanced dialog-based file and command modifications.<p>*7. Search and Web Assistance:*
   - Improving search results in tandem with search engines.
   - Assisting in pulling email from IMAP accounts and other web-related tasks.<p>Overall, GPT is seen as a valuable tool that can assist in a myriad of tasks, especially when users exercise discernment and optimize their approach over time.<p>Part 3:<p>1. *General Information Retrieval*: Directly asking ChatGPT questions rather than going through search engines.<p>2. *Specific Task Assistance*: Assistance with various tasks, from locating a particular camera lens, generating comedic scripts for memes, clarifying HVAC repair updates, to simplifying shipping needs.<p>3. *Web Page Summarization*: Using engines like Kagi to get summarized versions of long web pages.<p>4. *Coding*: Seeking assistance similar to querying StackOverflow. For example, improving docker commands, generating code based on specific requirements, and helping users understand error messages and unfamiliar frameworks.<p>5. *Code Review and Design*: Validating the sensibility of an API design, checking coding patterns, determining class names, assessing the readability of a code snippet, and providing boilerplate code.<p>6. *Autocompletion and Code Translation*: Using tools like Copilot in VSCode to autocomplete code, suggest code blocks, and even translate code between languages, e.g., from Python to JavaScript.<p>7. *Medical and Health Advice*: Asking health-related questions, both for humans and veterinary purposes.<p>8. *Architectural and Design Discussions*: Engaging in technical conversations regarding system design and architecture.<p>9. *Corporate and Business Set-Up*: Seeking advice related to corporate setup, taxes, legalities, and banking.<p>10. *Learning and Development*: Using GPT to learn new concepts, frameworks, or to better understand complex topics.<p>11. *Content Generation and Assistance*: Bootstrapping presentations, sanity checking plans, and generating content for various purposes.<p>12. *Reduced Social Overhead*: For introverted users, the AI provides an avenue to think aloud and discuss ideas without the social dynamics and potential pressures of human interaction.<p>Note: Some users also expressed concerns about team dynamics and the potential negative impact of AI on interpersonal communication and collaboration.<p>Part 4:<p>1. *Code Assistance and Development*: 
    - Pulling repos and asking questions through plugins like &quot;AskTheCode&quot;.
    - Contributing to open source by understanding complex codebases.
    - Scaffolding tests for React components.
    - Making bad code readable by converting complex expressions to simpler structures.
    - Generating boilerplate code.
    - Assisting in new or unfamiliar problem&#x2F;situations with contextual questions.
    - Helping with web development tasks, including creating Ansible roles and Docker files.
    - Code review for files such as Docker files.
    - Automating tedious mathematical calculations for game development.<p>2. *Project and Task Management*:
    - Automating tasks like scheduling and data analysis.
    - AI-driven email categorization to prioritize messages.
    - Using AI tools for workflow optimization.<p>3. *Content Creation and Assistance*:
    - Transcribing voice notes to text.
    - Assisting in lecture preparation, especially for accurate definitions and examples.
    - Improving the wording in emails, posts, and comments.
    - Providing travel advice and general queries.
    - Offering companionship for emotional support.<p>4. *Efficiency and Workflow Improvements*:
    - Acting as a &quot;real-time intern&quot; to offload commoditized tasks, such as writing boilerplate CSS code or stubs of API client code.
    - Keeping the user in a productive flow state by assisting with small problems.
    - Replacing Google searches for software development and DevOps queries.
    - Offering context-aware code assistance without compromising confidentiality.
    - Preventing procrastination by quickly resolving minor obstacles.<p>5. *Document Transformation and Data Handling*:
    - Converting document formats (e.g., from CSV to JSON).
    - Assisting with document-related tasks using Python scripting.<p>6. *Miscellaneous*:
    - Offering alternative tools and suggestions to explore.
    - Ensuring quality of generated code using TDD and specific compilers.
    - Offering suggestions on how to navigate open-source projects with difficult documentation.
    - Helping clarify complex logical conditions in code.
    - Offering a method to handle unfamiliar programming languages.
    - Offering solutions that save time and reduce internal debate.<p>This summary captures the core ways users have found GPT useful in their workflows, with an emphasis on coding, content creation, and efficiency improvements.