Automating Repetitive Tasks

Automation is about removing the "Human in the Middle." By connecting ChatGPT to tools like Zapier or Make.com, you can create workflows that run while you sleep.

1. The Trigger-Action Model

Every automation has a Trigger (the event that starts it) and an Action (what the AI does).

Example Workflow:

1. Trigger: You receive a new email in Gmail.
2. AI Action: ChatGPT summarizes the email and determines the "Sentiment."
3. Action: If the sentiment is "Urgent," the summary is sent to your Slack.

2. Zapier: The "No-Code" King

Zapier has a built-in "ChatGPT" integration that requires zero programming knowledge.

• Task: "When a new lead fills out my Typeform, have ChatGPT write a personalized intro for an email and save it as a draft in Gmail."

graph LR
    Trigger[New Github Issue] --> AI[ChatGPT Analysis]
    AI --> Logic{Is it a Bug?}
    Logic -->|Yes| ActionA[Add 'Bug' Label]
    Logic -->|No| ActionB[Add 'Question' Label]

3. Make.com: The "Power User" Choice

Make.com is more complex but more powerful for multi-step branching logic.

• Task: "Fetch 10 news articles about [Topic], have ChatGPT summarize them into a newsletter, and auto-post the newsletter to a WordPress site."

4. Scheduled Tasks

You can set AI to run on a timer.

• "Every Monday morning at 9:00 AM, fetch my calendar for the week, summarize my free blocks, and send me a 'Goal-Setting' prompt."

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Hands-on: Design an Automation

1. Identify one task you do every day that is repetitive (e.g., "Summarizing news," "Formatting data," "Replying to invites").
2. Task: Sketch out the "Trigger," the "AI Step," and the "Final Action." Do not build it yet; just outline the logic!

Key Takeaways

• No-code tools (Zapier/Make) democratize AI automation.
• Automations require a clear Trigger.
• Scheduled tasks are the secret to a high-productivity week.