Ask AI to lay out a choice you can read fast

Step 1 of 6

Picking up where you left off

Last time you gathered facts. Now let's lay them out.

A big block of text hides the parts that matter. Your eyes get lost in it.

Two options shown side by side are much easier to read. You can see them at a glance.

So today's skill is the shape of the answer. You can ask ChatGPT to use a list instead of a paragraph. You tell it how to lay things out.

Pick the shape that fits your choice:

A side-by-side tablebest for numbers, like price or size

A pros-and-cons listbest for feel, like comfort or looks

One rule keeps you safe. Take out anything private before you paste it in. Private means names, your address, account numbers, or health facts.

A neat table can still hold a wrong guess. For money, health, legal, account, or safety calls, ask a real person you trust.

Buddy says

Not sure which shape? Pick the table. Two columns of facts are easy to scan.

The three things to ask for

You ask for three things in one go.

First: one line for each thing you care about. Add a line for the catch too. A catch is the downside or the hidden cost.

Second: one plain line at the end. It says which one fits you best, and why.

Third: a mark on anything ChatGPT is guessing. That way you know what to check.

That last mark matters most. Ask ChatGPT to write the word UNSURE next to any fact it is not sure of.

Then you read it once and check each fact. You decide, not the table.

Buddy says

Read the best-fit line as a suggestion to weigh. You can still pick the other one.

See it work

Watch one ask lay out a whole choice.

A quick, vague try

which phone plan is better

Add the who, what & how

A clear request

I am choosing between Plan A and Plan B. Show it as a side-by-side table. Use one row each for: monthly price, data, and the early-leave fee. End with one plain line: which fits me best if I want a low monthly cost, and why. Mark any fact you are not sure of with the word UNSURE.

What the AI sends back

| Thing | Plan A | Plan B | |---|---|---| | Monthly price | $30 | $45 | | Data | 5 GB | Unlimited | | Early-leave fee | $100 (UNSURE) | $0 | Best fit: For a low monthly cost, Plan A fits you best. It is $15 cheaper each month. Please check that early-leave fee, though. I marked it UNSURE.

Same choice, but look at the change. Each thing has its own row. You get one clear pick. And the guess is flagged, so you know to check it yourself.

Warm up

Which one lays the choice out clearly?

You've seen how a clear layout helps, tap the one you could read fast and trust more.

You did it

You turned a hard choice into something you can read fast.

Tell ChatGPT the shape. Use a table for numbers, or a pros-and-cons list for feel.
Ask for one line per thing you care about, a plain best-fit line, and an UNSURE mark on any guess.
Read it once and check each thing. A neat table can still hold a wrong guess. For money, health, legal, account, or safety, ask a real person.

Buddy says

Look at that. A messy choice, laid out clear, by you. I'm proud of you!