ChatGPT has changed a lot from the early days when it was mainly used for asking questions and getting text answers. The Windows app is now much more useful for everyday computer work, creating files, designing content, coding, researching information and working with different tools.
In this article, I'll explain the main features you should know about and, more importantly, what makes the newer ChatGPT experience different from the old chatbot.
How to Install ChatGPT on Windows
If you don't already have the ChatGPT app, you can install the official Windows application from the Microsoft Store.
Open the Microsoft Store on your Windows PC and search for ChatGPT. Make sure you select the official application from OpenAI and then click Get or Install.
After Windows finishes installing the app, open ChatGPT and sign in to your account.
One useful feature of the Windows app is the quick companion window. When the app is running, you can press Alt + Space to quickly bring up ChatGPT without having to search for the application or open a browser tab.
This is useful when you're working on something else and suddenly need help. You can ask a question, upload a file or start a new conversation without leaving your current work.
ChatGPT Is Now More Like a Work Assistant
The biggest change is that ChatGPT is no longer limited to a conversation window where you type questions.
The newer ChatGPT experience can connect with different tools and services, allowing you to get actual work done from one place.
For example, you might start by asking ChatGPT to research a topic. Then you can ask it to turn the information into a document, create a presentation, make an image for the presentation and continue editing the files.
You can also use connected apps such as Canva and Shutterstock when they are available to your account and region.
So instead of jumping between several websites and applications, ChatGPT can become the starting point for many of these tasks.
Canva Inside ChatGPT
Canva is particularly useful if you create YouTube thumbnails, social-media posts, presentations, posters or other designs.
Instead of opening Canva separately and starting from a blank design, you can use the Canva integration in ChatGPT when it is available.
You can describe what you want in normal language.
For example:
"Create a professional YouTube thumbnail about the latest ChatGPT update."
Or:
"Create an Instagram post announcing my new product."
ChatGPT can help turn your idea into a Canva design, after which you can continue editing the design in Canva.
This is useful because you don't have to know exactly which template, dimensions or design elements you should start with. You can begin with the idea and refine the result.
You can also use Canva for presentations, social posts, flyers, marketing graphics and other visual content.
Shutterstock for Stock Images
Another useful addition is the ability to work with Shutterstock through supported ChatGPT integrations.
This can be useful when you need professional stock photos, illustrations or other creative assets.
For example, imagine you're writing an article about travel and need a suitable image. Instead of searching through different websites yourself, you can ask ChatGPT to help find an appropriate Shutterstock image.
The same idea can be used for presentations, websites, advertisements, social-media content and other projects.
The important difference is that ChatGPT can understand the context of what you're creating and help you find an asset that fits the project instead of simply searching for a random picture.
Documents: Create and Edit Your Work
ChatGPT can also help with documents.
You can ask it to create a document from scratch or work with an existing file.
For example, you could say:
"Create a professional business proposal for my company."
ChatGPT can organize the content, write the sections and prepare the document.
You can also upload an existing document and ask it to make changes.
For example:
"Correct the grammar and make this document more professional."
Or:
"Summarize this document into two pages."
This can be especially useful when you have a long report, business document, application, proposal or other piece of written content.
Work with PDF Files
PDF support is another feature that can save a lot of time.
Instead of opening a long PDF and manually searching through every page, you can upload it to ChatGPT and ask questions about the information inside.
For example:
"Summarize this PDF."
"Find all the important dates in this document."
"Explain this report in simple language."
"Compare the information in these two PDFs."
This is useful for reports, manuals, research papers, business documents and other large files.
Create and Analyze Spreadsheets
ChatGPT can also work with spreadsheets and data.
You can upload a spreadsheet and ask it to analyze the information or create a new spreadsheet for a particular purpose.
For example:
"Create an Excel spreadsheet to track my monthly expenses."
Or:
"Analyze this sales spreadsheet and tell me which products are generating the most revenue."
You can also ask for calculations, summaries, trends and charts where supported.
This can be helpful for businesses because you don't always need to manually go through hundreds or thousands of rows to find useful information.
Templates Make Work Faster
Another useful part of the newer ChatGPT experience is the use of templates.
Instead of starting every project from zero, you can use a suitable template for the type of work you're doing.
Templates can be useful for things such as business reports, presentations, project planning, spreadsheets, documents and other common tasks.
The advantage is simple: you don't have to spend time deciding how to structure everything.
You can start with a suitable format and then tell ChatGPT what information you want to add or change.
ChatGPT Browser and Web Research
ChatGPT can also browse the web when web search is available.
This is particularly useful for information that changes frequently.
For example, you can ask about the latest technology news, current product information, software updates, travel information or other recent developments.
Instead of relying only on information from its training, ChatGPT can search the web and use current sources for its answer.
You can also ask it to research a topic and summarize the important information instead of opening dozens of websites yourself.
For example:
"Research the latest Windows 11 features and give me the five most important changes."
Or:
"Compare these three laptops and tell me which one is better for video editing."
PC Management and Computer Control
One of the most interesting developments is computer-use capability.
AI is gradually moving from simply telling you how to do something to being able to interact with computer interfaces in supported environments.
For example, instead of asking:
"Where is the Bluetooth setting in Windows?"
you can use AI to help navigate the computer interface.
Similar workflows can involve websites and applications, depending on the particular computer-use capability available.
This can be useful for tasks involving Windows settings, applications, browsers and other interfaces.
However, it's important to understand that this does not mean ChatGPT has unlimited control over your PC. Access and capabilities depend on the specific feature and permissions, and sensitive actions may require your confirmation.
Windows Settings, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
ChatGPT is also useful even when it isn't directly controlling the computer.
If you're having a problem with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or another Windows feature, you can describe the problem and ask for help.
For example:
"My laptop is connected to Wi-Fi but there is no internet. Help me troubleshoot it."
Or:
"Bluetooth headphones are not connecting to Windows 11. What should I check?"
ChatGPT can walk you through the troubleshooting process step by step.
If a supported computer-use feature is available, the AI may also be able to interact with parts of the interface rather than only explaining what you should click.
Create AI Images
AI image generation is another feature that has become a normal part of the ChatGPT experience.
You can simply describe the image you want.
For example:
"Create a professional 16:9 YouTube thumbnail showing a laptop running ChatGPT, with Windows settings and AI features visible on the screen."
You can then continue refining it.
You might say:
"Make it brighter."
"Make the laptop larger."
"Remove the unnecessary elements."
"Make it more professional and clean."
This conversational editing process is much easier than starting the design again every time you want to make a small change.
AI Video Scripts and Content Creation
ChatGPT can also help with video production.
You can give it a simple topic and ask it to create a complete YouTube script.
For example:
"Write a 10-minute YouTube video explaining the new ChatGPT Windows features."
It can create the introduction, hook, main sections, examples and conclusion.
You can also ask for a Shorts script, voice-over, scene ideas, B-roll suggestions, thumbnail concepts, video titles and descriptions.
For creators, this means one idea can become an entire content package.
You can start with a topic, create the script, generate an image for the thumbnail, prepare the description and then use other supported tools for the design work.
Codex: The Feature Developers Should Know
If you're interested in programming, one of the biggest features to learn about is Codex.
Codex is OpenAI's coding agent. It's designed to work on software projects rather than simply giving you a code snippet in a chat.
You can give it a programming task and it can work with project files, write or modify code, investigate problems, run tests and help improve the application.
For example, suppose you want to build an image converter.
You could tell Codex:
"Build an image converter that supports JPG, PNG, WebP and AVIF. Add drag-and-drop, batch conversion and compression."
Instead of manually creating every file yourself, Codex can help build the project.
Once the basic application is working, you can continue with instructions such as:
"Add dark mode."
"Add image resizing."
"Add a progress bar."
"Fix the error I'm getting when converting WebP."
This makes the development process much more conversational.
Can Codex Build Real Apps?
Yes. Codex can help build real software projects.
You can use it for websites, web applications, desktop tools, automation scripts, APIs and many other types of software.
You don't necessarily have to start with a complicated technical specification.
You can explain the idea in simple language and then work with Codex to turn it into a project.
For example:
"I want to build a marketplace profit calculator where users enter product cost, selling price, shipping charges, commission and GST. The application should calculate profit and profit margin."
You can then ask Codex to add features as the project develops.
Of course, building a real application still requires testing and checking the final result. AI-generated code can contain mistakes, so you should test the application properly, particularly when dealing with security, payments, user accounts or sensitive information.
