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get-started-with-work.md 2026-07-16 20:57 UTC to 2026-07-17 22:57 UTC

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Get started with Work mode

Introducing Work mode

Work mode is a way to delegate real work to ChatGPT.

Use Chat mode when you want an answer, explanation, brainstorm, or short draft. Use Work mode when you want ChatGPT to complete a task with a clear outcome, such as a brief, deck, analysis, recurring update, workflow, or file you can review and use. Learn more about using Chat mode and Work mode together.

Work mode can use your files, plugins, and approved tools to retrieve information, create deliverables, run workflows, and complete work that is ready for you to review. You can follow progress, answer questions, change direction, and approve important actions.

On the desktop app, Work mode can also use local files, apps, and the browser when those tools are available.

If you have used Codex for non-coding work, you can stay in Codex or switch to Work mode. Work mode gives you the same core capabilities with an experience designed for everyday work.

What to try first

First, make sure you have Work selected in ChatGPT. Then choose your first task. Good tasks have a clear outcome, a few source materials, and an output you can review.

Here are three common use cases you can get started with:

Create a presentation

Use Work mode to turn notes, docs, research, or meeting materials into a structured deck.

<PromptComponent openInCodex actionsPlacement="header" label="Example prompt" prompt={Review the attached source materials and create an eight-slide presentation for [audience]. Focus on the main themes, include supporting evidence, and flag anything that needs human review. Return a draft for my review.} />

Create a comparison spreadsheet

Use Work mode to turn notes, files, or research into a spreadsheet that compares options and helps you make a decision.

<PromptComponent openInCodex actionsPlacement="header" label="Example prompt" prompt={Create a spreadsheet comparing the options for [decision]. Use the attached notes and source materials. Include the most important criteria, score each option, flag risks or missing information, and add a summary tab with a recommendation and next steps.} />

Set up a recurring update

Use scheduled tasks when you want Work mode to repeat, monitor, or refresh something over time.

<PromptComponent openInCodex actionsPlacement="header" label="Example prompt" prompt={Every Monday morning, review new updates from @Slack and @Google Drive for [project]. Refresh the meeting agenda with decisions, blockers, owners, and open questions. Send me a draft before sharing it.} />

Learn more about scheduled tasks.

Best practices for using Work mode

Use Work mode when you want ChatGPT to complete a task, create a file, or manage work over time. It is a good fit for tasks that:

  • Use multiple sources, plugins, tools, or steps.
  • Would take meaningful time to complete manually.
  • Produce an output you will review, edit, or reuse.
  • Need to be repeated, monitored, or updated over time.

To get a better result, tell ChatGPT the outcome you need, the sources or plugins to use, any constraints to follow, what good looks like, and when to stop for review or approval.

Instead of: Make me a presentation about our customer research.

<PromptComponent openInCodex actionsPlacement="header" label="Example prompt" prompt={Review the attached interview notes and survey results. Create an eight-slide presentation for the product leadership meeting. Focus on the three most common customer problems, include supporting evidence, separate findings from recommendations, and flag any claims that are not well supported. Use @Google Drive for the source docs. Return a draft for my review before treating it as final.} />

Learn more about prompting for Work mode.

Add plugins for more context and better outputs

Plugins connect Work mode to tools your team uses, like Slack, Google Drive, SharePoint, email, calendars, CRMs, and project trackers.

  • Select Plugins in the left sidebar to view the plugins library.
  • Install the plugins most relevant to your work.
  • To point ChatGPT to a specific tool, type @ and the plugin name in your prompt.

Learn more about plugins.

Use Work mode efficiently

Work mode is best for substantial tasks that involve multiple steps, sources, or tools, or require a completed deliverable. Longer or more complex tasks may use more credits because ChatGPT is doing more on your behalf. Focus on the value of the completed result, rather than simply the number of prompts.

Keep the task focused by setting useful boundaries. For example: “use only these sources,” “compare the top five options,” or “stop before sending anything.”

Use Chat mode instead for quick questions, short rewrites, and decisions where you only need advice.

Learn more about working efficiently.

More use cases

Explore practical Work mode workflows for common teams and tasks.

<CodexCollectionList slugs={[ "productivity-and-collaboration", "business-operations", "data-science", "finance", "sales", "life-sciences", "education", ]} />