5 genius things ChatGPT can do that no one talks about

Most people use ChatGPT for basic tasks — but these 5 genius tricks unlock way more power than you'd expect

Skip to main content Tom's Guide Tom's Guide Search Tom's Guide View Profile Newsletters Best Picks Entertainment Prime Day Deals Switch 2 Restock Walmart 4th of July Sale Galaxy Z Fold 7 Best Mattress Best laptops Wordle Today Recommended reading I test ChatGPT for a living — 7 prompts I wish I'd known about sooner 7 ChatGPT productivity hacks that you're not using — but should be 10 ChatGPT prompts I love that’ll turn you into a power user I've been using ChatGPT since its release — here's 5 tips I wish I knew sooner I use ChatGPT every day to boost my productivity — and these 5 prompts always deliver I can’t stop using these 5 ChatGPT prompts — they’re next-level genius I’m a ChatGPT power user — 9 tips to help you get ahead at work 5 genius things ChatGPT can do that no one talks about Amanda Caswell 8 July 2025 Underrated and incredibly useful tricks worth knowing When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Shutterstock) Most people think of ChatGPT as a chatbot that answers questions or helps with writing. Sure, that’s true. But under the hood, it’s far more powerful than that. If you're only using it to brainstorm ideas or edit emails, you're missing out on some seriously impressive hacks that can save you time, simplify complex tasks and even boost your productivity. Here are five under-the-radar things ChatGPT can do that even power users often overlook. You may like I test ChatGPT for a living — 7 prompts I wish I'd known about sooner 7 ChatGPT productivity hacks that you're not using — but should be 10 ChatGPT prompts I love that’ll turn you into a power user 1. Detect AI-generated content from images or text (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Wondering if something was written or designed by AI? You can upload a screenshot, image or block of text directly into ChatGPT, and the chatbot can analyze the content to flag signs of AI involvement. It looks for telltale clues like inconsistent phrasing, visual artifacts or watermarking metadata that we might not notice. Example prompts: “Does this look AI-generated?” “What makes this image seem artificial?” “Is this text likely written by a human or AI?” There are plenty of AI detectors available, but if you're already in the chat, might as well save a little time and as ChatGPT to detect the AI without swithing apps. Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. 2. Run code and analyze data directly in chat (Image credit: Unsplash) With the built-in Python tool (a.k.a. the code interpreter or “advanced data analysis”), ChatGPT can not only explain code, but it can execute it. Even if you have no coding experience, you can upload a CSV or Excel file and ask it to: Plot graphs Clean messy datasets Run regression models Simulate logic or test algorithms Example prompts: “Can you graph the trends from this Excel file?” “Find outliers in this dataset.” “Calculate average sales by month.” Trust me, you really don’t need to know Python, just describe what you want, and ChatGPT will handle the rest. 3. Write and debug regular expressions (regex) (Image credit: Shutterstock) If you’ve ever tried to extract phone numbers or emails from text, you’ve probably Googled a regex pattern. ChatGPT makes this process much easier. Just describe what you're trying to match, and it will build the regex for you and explain it line by line. What's regex? Well, you probably already know what regex is without recognizing the term. Short for regular expression, it’s a way to search and match patterns in text like dates, URLs, capitalized words or repeated characters. Think of it as a supercharged version of “find and replace.” Example prompts: “Write a regex that extracts all email addresses from this text.” “What’s wrong with this regex pattern?” I use this hack frequently for spreadsheets or lists when double checking items. It's equally useful for work-related needs as planning vacations or school activities. 4. Build your own calculators or logic tools (Image credit: MIND AND I/Shutterstock) Need a quick mortgage calculator? A freelance rate estimator? A tip-splitting tool? Rather than switching over to Google, just ask ChatGPT to build one using custom logic. Example prompt: “Create a mortgage calculator where I input price, interest rate, and term, and it gives me monthly payments.” ChatGPT will write the formula, explain the math (my favorite part!) and even wrap it in code you can run elsewhere. 5. Reverse-engineer success (Image credit: Getty Images) Whether it’s a competitor’s landing page or a teammate’s standout performance, you can use ChatGPT to break down what’s working and why. Just paste in any marketing copy, ad or performance data and ask: “Why is this copy effective?” “What persuasion techniques are used here?” It’s like having a creative strategist, programmer and data analyst all in the same tab. The takeaway As a power user, I am accustomed to using ChatGPT for so much more than basic writing needs or quick queries. These tricks save me time and enhance productivity nearly every day, which is why I'm sharing them with you. Whether you are a creator, analyst, marketer or just someone curious about what ChatGPT beyond the basics, I encourage you to give these a try. With the right prompts, ChatGPT can do far more than you think while quietly saving you hours every week. More from Tom's Guide This ChatGPT prompt changed how I work — and I use it every Monday morning Still shopping blind on Amazon? This ChatGPT trick helps me avoid bad buys — and it works every time I’ve started using ChatGPT’s incognito mode every time — here's 4 reasons why and how to do it Back to Laptops AMD Ryzen 7 Intel Core i3 Intel Core i5 Intel Core i7 Storage Size Screen Size Refurbished Screen Type Storage Type Showing 10 of 138 deals Apple 13" MacBook Air M4 (2025) (256GB Blue) $849Preorder Apple 15" MacBook Air M4 (2025) (15-inch 1TB) $1,599View Dell XPS 13 (2016) Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9) (512GB OLED) $858.11View Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i ChromeBook Plus (14-inch 2TB) $499.99View Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) (14-inch 1TB) $1,579.95View Apple 13" MacBook Air M4 (2025) Apple 15" MacBook Air M4 (2025) (16GB RAM SSD) $1,035View Dell XPS 13 Plus (13.4-inch) $1,099.99View Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9) $939.99View Amanda Caswell Social Links Navigation Amanda Caswell is an award-winning journalist, bestselling YA author, and one of today’s leading voices in AI and technology. A celebrated contributor to various news outlets, her sharp insights and relatable storytelling have earned her a loyal readership. Amanda’s work has been recognized with prestigious honors, including outstanding contribution to media. Known for her ability to bring clarity to even the most complex topics, Amanda seamlessly blends innovation and creativity, inspiring readers to embrace the power of AI and emerging technologies. As a certified prompt engineer, she continues to push the boundaries of how humans and AI can work together. Beyond her journalism career, Amanda is a bestselling author of science fiction books for young readers, where she channels her passion for storytelling into inspiring the next generation. A long-distance runner and mom of three, Amanda’s writing reflects her authenticity, natural curiosity, and heartfelt connection to everyday life — making her not just a journalist, but a trusted guide in the ever-evolving world of technology. 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