Make ChatGPT Your Bitch!

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Once upon a time, I feared AI.
Not the "Skynet is coming" kind of fear (although... maybe), but the very real anxiety that as a designer, writer-adjacent creative, and overall human being, AI would one day swoop in, sip a coffee it didn't pay for, and take over my job. All of our jobs. Poof. Just like that.

So, naturally, I ignored it. Scoffed at it. Mocked it.

And then I used it.

And now here I am, fully turned out, writing a blog with ChatGPT about ChatGPT. The irony is thick, the self-awareness is present, and I am now shouting from the metaphorical rooftops: MAKE CHATGPT YOUR BITCH. (You heard me.)
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The Design Dilemma

As a designer, there’s a certain pride in spending hours (ok, days) on the perfect visual. We zoom. We kern. We stare at pixels. We art direct ourselves into oblivion.

So imagine the identity crisis when AI, with its smug little algorithmic smirk, can spit out an image in seconds.

You feed it a prompt like, “A renaissance-style portrait of Mona Lisa’s cousin, Gianna Marie, with soft lighting, subtle freckles, and the soul of a woman who’s seen things,” and BAM! It delivers a stunner.

But wait.

Zoom in and Gianna Marie has three arms, a detached floating eyelid, and what appears to be a gremlin hiding in the shadows of her neck.

Ah, yes. Trope l’oeil. (Trompe-l’oeil, for the art nerds. But to my Jersey folk? Just a butter face.)

AI art looks real... until it doesn’t. And the world’s catching on. “It’s just an AI image,” they say. “It’s not real.” And they’re right. AI images just look a little “off”. A little too perfect, too plastic.

Because what AI doesn’t have is humanity. Eraser marks. Flat shading. Weird perspective. Happy accidents and lived experience. That’s our superpower, people. Let’s not forget it.
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Now Let’s Talk Words

Can a non-writer use ChatGPT to sound eloquent, thoughtful, maybe even poetic?

HECK YEAH.

I’m not even ashamed to tell you I’ve used ChatGPT to write:

  • a sympathy card message (touchy)

  • a short bio (because talking about yourself is weird!)

  • and once, a “what the hell do I say back to this email?” moment

You can keep your judgment, thanks. These were sticky situations. And in those, I can do without the extra overthinking.

But here's the thing: I don’t use GPT to replace me. I use it to support me.

It’s a tool. Not a substitute for actual thought.

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The Key: Train Your Bot

Let’s get tactical.

I use the free version of ChatGPT. And I treat it like a digital assistant with selective memory (and no HR department). I keep separate threads for different parts of my life:

  • One for work: corporate emails — “streamlining and circling back” nonsense.

  • One for personal: everyday emails, venting, fake therapy.

  • One for DahlHouse: my design biz, creative ideas, marketing content… including separate threads for each client (“brand”).

Pro tip:
Do not start a new thread every time. That’s rookie behavior.

Stick with the same thread for the same topic. Why? Because GPT remembers. It builds on everything you’ve told it before and gives better answers because of that. It’s not magic. It’s just logic. (And yes, dominance. You tell it who’s boss.)
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Case Study: Social Media Support for a Client

Let’s go deeper.

One of the threads I’ve built is for a client with a small business whose brand is rooted in family values, community, and supporting local business — all wrapped in a friendly, casual tone.

So I told GPT:
“This thread is for social content for a small business (I am omitting her business in this blog for privacy, but you would want to state what kind of business). Her brand is centered on family first, showing glimpses into real life, emphasizing local community and businesses, and maintaining a warm, approachable voice. She’s not salesy. She’s real.”

Now when I go back in and say, “Write three post options about a local café she loves,” ChatGPT already gets the vibe. It doesn’t spit out cheesy billboard ads — it mirrors her.

Why? Because I gave it context. Because I trained it.
It’s still her words, her tone, her direction… just speedier. Like a second brain I can bounce off when my first one is fried.
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Is It Creepy?

Yes.

Let’s not pretend like this isn’t a little creepy. I’m telling all my business to a robot that’s slowly collecting enough intel to eventually plot a takeover of my household.

BUT — until that day comes?

At least I’ve got organized thoughts, drafted copy, and a creative assistant who never needs a coffee break.

I also have a newsflash for you… if you have ever had a conversation while your phone is by your side (and I think you did!) you are informing AI anyway!

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Final Thoughts

AI is not perfect. It’s got weird edges and awkward hands.
It still needs us. Our voices. Our edits. Our sarcasm. Our coffee-fueled midnight “fix this” sessions.

So no — don’t hand over your soul to the robot overlords.
But DO let this tool make your life easier.
Smarter. Faster. More aligned.

You’re still in charge.

You just have to decide if you’re going to fight it… or train it.

Me? I trained it.
Make ChatGPT your bitch. You’ve earned it.