Editor's note: This article is part of a series you can see here: 5 Ways We Use AI Series
There’s something wildly satisfying about asking a machine for help and having it actually solve your problem—especially when that problem involves obscure settings, shifting team roles, or the mystery of why your monitor keeps blinking. This past week, our team leaned into ChatGPT more than usual, not just for content or code, but for real-world troubleshooting, technical clarity, and even drafting internal policy.
Here are five ways we put AI to work—and saved hours in the process.
Trading in without tearing out your hair
Type: Preparing an iPhone for secure trade-in (From CEO and article author)
Example: When it came time to trade in an older iPhone at a Verizon store, our CEO found themselves tangled in a maze of settings, delays, and SIM card mysteries. Stolen Device Protection? A 60-minute security delay? What exactly needs to be turned off—and in what order?
Result & Reflection: ChatGPT delivered a clear, step-by-step breakdown, including:
With all the guesswork gone, the trade-in process went off without a hitch. And the relief of knowing that nothing was left behind—data or device settings—was priceless.
Estimated Time Saved: 40–55 minutes
Type: Troubleshooting home network issues after a router reset (From: COO)
Example: Following a power outage, our COO’s internet connection flatlined. The ISP’s advice? “Reset the router.” Unfortunately, that reset wiped out the saved Wi-Fi network name and password, leaving all wireless devices stranded—even though the wired internet worked fine.
Result & Reflection: ChatGPT not only confirmed that the reset was the culprit, but also pinpointed where in the ISP’s app to restore the wireless settings. Bonus: It provided additional steps for reconnecting other devices efficiently—no more support calls or Wi-Fi whack-a-mole.
Estimated Time Saved: 20–30 minutes
Type: Retrieving user behavior data from GA4 (From: Virtual Assistant)
Example: GA4 is powerful, but for many users, it's also... intimidating. Our Virtual Assistant needed to pull metrics like new vs. returning users, site search terms, and average engagement time—but the interface wasn’t exactly intuitive.
Result & Reflection: ChatGPT walked through exactly where to find each data point using GA4’s predefined reports and how to customize Explore reports for more focused insights. Along the way, we also got clarity on Enhanced Measurement settings and built a cleaner, smarter dashboard.
This wasn’t just a time saver—it was a crash course in GA4 reporting logic.
Estimated Time Savings: 45–60 minutes
Type: Drafting a flexible internal task handoff policy (From CEO and article author)
Example: As our team responsibilities have shifted, so has some of the clarity around who does what—and when. That means duplication of efforts, confusion about “who’s on third,” and potential “Wait, who’s handling that,” conversations.
Result & Reflection: Using ChatGPT, we developed a smart, adaptable internal policy. It outlines:
Best of all, it didn’t read like a bureaucratic rulebook—it felt like a playbook designed for actual humans. We’re now developing handoff processes to help clarify shifts in responsibilities.
Estimated Time Savings: 3–4 hours of leadership/team coordination effort (plus ongoing savings)
Type: Diagnosing display flickering caused by NVIDIA Capture Server Proxy (From: Level 2 ProAdvisor)
Example: Intermittent display flickers and recalibrations were driving our ProAdvisor up the wall. After ruling out hardware issues, they suspected the NVIDIA Capture Server Proxy—but weren’t sure what it actually did or if it could be safely disabled.
Result & Reflection: ChatGPT explained that the Proxy process is tied to screen capture features in NVIDIA utilities like ShadowPlay. It doesn’t technically recalibrate displays—but it can interfere with color profiles and resolution when other apps (like Zoom or OBS) are in use.
Disabling the In-Game Overlay and related services solved the issue without uninstalling the driver. A clear fix—without the need for time-consuming diagnostics or hardware replacement.
Estimated Time Savings: 2–4 hours of troubleshooting
Each of these examples started with a simple question and led to a faster, better solution. Whether we were smoothing out tech hiccups, decoding GA4, or eliminating policy gaps, ChatGPT served as a helpful guide and supplementary brain.
The more we experiment with creative AI use cases, the more confident we become in using it as part of our daily workflow—not just for writing, but for solving real operational puzzles.
So next time you’re staring down a confusing process or a technical mystery, try asking your AI sidekick. You might just be one prompt away from your next breakthrough!