📚 Get Reliable Results from ChatGPT Agent

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Hello AI Enthusiast,

OpenAI launched ChatGPT Agent, a groundbreaking feature that transforms ChatGPT from a conversational assistant into an autonomous task executor. The launch video makes it look effortless, just ask and it delivers. But after testing it ourselves, we've learned that success with Agent mode requires the same thoughtful prompting techniques we use for regular ChatGPT, plus some healthy skepticism about its current reliability.

The Problem (And The Reality Check)

The marketing pitch sounds amazing: ChatGPT can now research competitors, create presentations, and handle complex workflows autonomously. The reality? Agent mode is impressive when it works, but it's still very much in beta. Simple, vague prompts often lead to confused execution, incomplete tasks, or the agent getting stuck mid-process.

The tool shows genuine potential, but it's not the "just describe what you want" simplicity shown in demos. You still need to be a skilled prompt engineer to get reliable results.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman himself described it as "cutting edge and experimental; a chance to try the future, but not something I'd yet use for high-stakes uses or with a lot of personal information."

How ChatGPT Agent Actually Works: A Reality Check

Let's walk through how to use ChatGPT Agent effectively, including what works, what doesn't, and where you need to be extra careful.

Step 1: Activate Agent Mode (The Easy Part)

To use ChatGPT agent, select Agent mode from the tools menu or type /agent in the composer. You'll need a ChatGPT Pro, Plus, or Team subscription to access this feature.

Where to find it:

1. Go to ChatGPT and start a new conversation

2. Click the tools dropdown menu below the message box

3. Select "Agent mode" or simply type /agent in the chat

Step 2: Craft a Detailed Prompt (The Critical Part)

Here's where most people go wrong. The launch video makes it look like you can just say "research competitors and make a presentation," but that leads to generic, often unusable results. We applied our CIDI framework (Context, Instructions, Details, Input) even more rigorously with Agent mode.

What doesn't work (despite what the demo suggests):

❌ "Analyze my competitors and create a slide deck"

❌ "Research the market and make a report"

❌ "Plan a corporate event for next month"

What actually works - Detailed CIDI prompt:

*Context:** I'm a product manager at a B2B SaaS company preparing for Q1 strategic planning. Our executive team needs competitive intelligence to inform pricing and positioning decisions.
**Instructions:** Analyze our three main competitors in the project management software space (Asana, Monday.com, and Notion) based on their latest product updates, pricing changes, and market positioning from the last 6 months.
**Details:** Create a professional slide deck that includes: 1) Executive summary (1 slide), 2) Individual competitor profiles with current strengths/weaknesses (3 slides), 3) Feature comparison chart focusing on automation and integrations (1 slide), 4) Current pricing analysis with enterprise tiers (1 slide), 5) Strategic recommendations for our positioning (1 slide). Use professional formatting suitable for C-suite presentation. Focus on data from company websites, press releases, and recent industry reports.
**Input:** Our target market is mid-market companies (100-1000 employees) in tech and professional services sectors.

Step 3: Monitor Execution (And Be Ready to Intervene)

Unlike smooth demos, real-world use often requires active monitoring, as the agent may open wrong sites, misinterpret results, get stuck in loops, miss prompt requirements, or vary in success depending on task complexity and prompt quality.

Red flags to watch for:

• Agent spending excessive time on irrelevant research

• Misunderstanding your industry or target audience

• Creating generic content that doesn't match your specifications

• Getting stuck on authentication or website navigation issues

Step 4: Provide Clear Mid-Task Guidance

The ability to interrupt and redirect is crucial because the agent will often need guidance.

Template for effective guidance:

Stop. [Specific issue you've noticed]. Instead, [exact correction needed]. Continue from [where they should resume].

Step 5: Handle Sensitive Data Carefully (Major Security Considerations)

Here's where we recommend extreme caution. While OpenAI has built security features around sensitive actions, Agent mode is still experimental. We strongly advise against using it for tasks involving:

• Banking or financial account access

• Personal passwords or login credentials

• Credit card information or payment processing

• Confidential client data or proprietary information

• Personal healthcare or legal documents

Instead, use it with caution for:

• Work email access (consider the data exposure risk)

• Internal company tools (evaluate what data the agent might access)

• Any task requiring authentication to sensitive systems

Finally, it’s generally safe for:

• Public research and information gathering

• Creating presentations from non-sensitive data

• Market research using publicly available information

Step 6: Review and Refine the Output (Always Required)

Don't expect a perfect deliverable on the first try. In our testing, Agent mode consistently produces work that needs refinement, fact-checking, and often significant editing. As you can see in the below image, the results aren’t perfect.

The Reality: When Agent Mode Works (And When It Doesn't)

✅ Agent mode excels at:

• Structured research tasks with clear parameters

• Creating first drafts that you'll significantly edit

• Handling tedious, multi-step processes you'd rather not do manually

• Generating comprehensive outlines and frameworks

❌ Agent mode struggles with:

• Vague or overly broad requests

• Tasks requiring nuanced judgment or industry expertise

• Producing immediately presentation-ready work without refinement

Your Turn (With Realistic Expectations)

Don't expect the seamless experience from OpenAI's demos—plan for an iterative process.

Here's your realistic starter challenge:

1. Pick a low-stakes research project where errors won't cause problems (not your quarterly board presentation)

2. Write a detailed prompt with specific context, clear instructions, detailed requirements, and relevant background

3. Monitor actively and be ready to provide mid-course corrections

4. Plan to refine the output significantly before using it professionally

5. Never share sensitive credentials or confidential company data

Pro tip: Think of Agent mode as a very capable research assistant that needs clear direction and produces excellent rough drafts, not a replacement for your judgment and expertise.

Want to get even more practical? Explore hands-on AI learning with AI Academy:

• AI Academy Membership: Get 12 months of access to all our cohort-based programs, live webinars, on-demand courses, and tutorials.

• AI Agent Bootcamp: Accelerate processes and solve business problems by mastering prompts and building AI Agents, without coding.

• Corporate Training: Equip your team with the skills they need to unlock the potential of AI in your business.

• Practical Introduction to ChatGPT: A free course on using ChatGPT confidently, understanding its workings, and exploring its potential.

We'll be back with more AI tips soon!