The problem
Every new handmade or small-batch line needs a description for the website and a name for the till, and the details (maker, material, size, care) are on the item, not in a spreadsheet. At 20 new lines a month and 15 minutes each to check labels and write, that's 5 hours a month.
What the AI does
With ChatGPT's voice with video, you hold the item to the phone camera and talk about it: what it is, who made it, what it's made of. You can ask it to read the label and to tell you what's missing for a description, such as size or care. After the call, the transcript stays in the chat, and you ask in text for a short description, a till name and a care line for each item. Video is on Go (about $9£7€8A$13C$13 a month) and above, in the iPhone and Android apps.
A worked example
A gift and homeware shop in Hebden Bridge takes in about 20 new lines a month from local makers. The owner unpacks each delivery at the counter with the phone on a stand and talks through each piece with ChatGPT.
Before
About 15 minutes per item: 20 items, 5 hours a month
After
About 6 minutes per item including checking: 2 hours a month
What it's worth
About $80£60€71A$115C$113 a month in time saved, against about $9£7€8A$13C$13 for ChatGPT Go. Writing up 20 items drops from 5 hours to 2, and 3 hours at an assumed $27£20€24A$38C$38 an hour is $80£60€71A$115C$113.
How to set it up
- Choose ChatGPT Go (€8, about $9£7€8A$13C$13 a month) or above in the iPhone or Android app; Free doesn't include video.
- Start a chat with a standing brief: your shop's tone, the length you want, and 'use only facts I say or you can read on the label'.
- In Settings, Voice, choose the Advanced option, start voice and tap the camera button.
- Talk through each item in turn, saying 'next item' between them, and ask what's missing for a description.
- End the call and ask in text for a description, a till name and a care line per item. Check every fact against the item and the maker's details.
What goes wrong
- It may fill gaps with likely-sounding details such as 'solid oak' or 'hand-thrown'. A wrong material or origin misleads customers, so check each claim.
- Measure items yourself. It can't measure accurately from video.
- Without a clear 'next item', details from two pieces can blur together in the transcript.
- Free doesn't include video, and the newer Live voice option doesn't support it; use Advanced on Go or above.