Who would turn down extra help at this manic time of year? Certainly not this frazzled mother of two.
I had imagined – perhaps foolishly – that this help might come from a friend, sharing some elusive gift ideas or foolproof Christmas recipes, or even my husband, offering to wrap the kids’ presents for the first time in his life.
Instead, rapidly running out of time as December ticks away, I find myself turning to a more unusual source of assistance: ChatGPT.
The online artificial intelligence chatbot is free and – it turns out – pretty easy to use.
All you have to do is type your questions into the search box (at chatgpt.com) and within seconds a detailed answer, sourced from a huge amount of online information, is generated.
According to recent statistics, 1.4 million Brits now use the service every day, but it’s more commonly used by students for sneaky help with homework or people handling complex data, rather than festive crisis management. So, can technology be any match for a mum at Christmas?
Here’s how ChatGPT fared on everything from writing my Christmas cards to doing the food shop.
I had imagined – perhaps foolishly – that help might come from a friend, sharing some elusive gift ideas or foolproof Christmas recipes, writes SARAH RAINEY
CORNY CHRISTMAS CARDS
Writing cards is one of my least favourite (and most time-consuming) Christmas tasks.
Were I, or my children, designing them ourselves, ChatGPT has suggestions for pictures to draw on the front – from ‘a cosy cabin with snow falling gently’ to ‘a Christmas tree twinkling in a window’ or ‘a few reindeer prancing’.
Hardly imaginative, and while some paid-for artificial intelligence programs can design images based on text prompts, ChatGPT is not one of them.
It does, however, have ideas for what to say inside; ideal if you’re suffering from writer’s block.
‘To [Name],’ it suggests. ‘As the year draws to a close, may your heart be filled with peace, joy and all the warmth of the season. Here’s to family, love and treasured moments that make this time of year so special. With love and warmest wishes, [Your Name].’
It’s a little OTT for my tastes, but surprisingly sentimental for a computer program. I might take a few notes.
VERDICT: 3/5
GENIUS GIFT IDEAS
This is where the chatbot really comes into its own – and could genuinely take some of the festive load off my weary brain.
‘Give me some gift ideas for my husband,’ I plead. ChatGPT offers some generic male present inspiration (boxers, whisky, concert tickets) so I personalise my question: ‘He’s nearing 40, likes cricket, gardening and running. Oh, and my budget is £50.’
The list of suggestions runs to 35 – far more than I’d thought of and, apparently, all guaranteed ‘to make him feel appreciated, loved and special this season’.
Some gifts (like a personalised cricket ball, or a cricket-themed garden planter) are inspired; others (like a compost bin, or a set of garden lights) are not.
‘Eco-friendly gift ideas for my sons, aged three and five,’ I type in next, in a bid to cut down on plastic tat. Once again,
I’m impressed – adding its suggestions (a recycled Lego set, Paw Patrol puzzle and bamboo pyjamas) to my list. This is much quicker than trawling Google.
Could it tackle the most difficult one of all: my mother-in-law? ‘At 72, she may appreciate gifts that promote relaxation and self-care in a mindful, sustainable way,’ says ChatGPT, summing up my mother-in-law (who is actually really lovely) in a set of unpromising stereotypes.
But it goes on to suggest an aromatherapy set, a perfume subscription and a flower-pressed necklace – all inspired ideas that would not have crossed my mind.
VERDICT: 5/5
TOP TIPS FOR DECOR
I ask ChatGPT how to decorate my house. It tells me to ‘consider a theme, like rustic, classic or modern’ and ‘search on Amazon’ – far from as clever as I’d hoped.
When it comes to homemade decoration ideas, however, it excels. The children and I follow the instructions for making Santa out of red paint handprints, we fill the living room with pine cone Christmas trees, and I’ve lost count of the times they’ve asked to make the ‘snowman slime’ again (a sticky combination of glue, glitter, baking soda and shaving foam).
For wrapping presents, I decide to ignore the chatbot’s advice to ‘turn gift-wrapping into a family activity. Play Christmas music, prepare snacks, and get everyone involved.’ That’s not for me. Wrapping is certainly not my kids’ forte, and the last thing I need is more on my to-do list.
There are tips for covering odd-shaped gifts (use double-layered wrapping paper and twist the ends like a cracker) and for making gift tags out of craft paper or old photographs.
‘For a polished final look, double-check the creases and edges, and smooth out any bubbles or wrinkles,’ it advises.
‘The recipient is bound to be impressed by your elegant technique.’
VERDICT: 3/5
FOOD SHOP SALVATION
Friends have started using ChatGPT to plan their weekly meals, so I’m excited at the prospect of using it to sort my Christmas food and drink.
I input my budget (£100), family size (six of us on Christmas Day) and tell the chatbot we’d like a traditional meal with lots of indulgent nibbles.
Lo and behold, in a meal and shopping plan that would have taken me half a day to compile, it pumps out suggestions, quantities and prices in mere seconds, including a recipe for homemade stuffing and suggestions for a festive cheeseboard.
Though it can’t tell me exact prices at my nearest supermarket, it can estimate, based on general data from UK shops, and informs me the whole meal should cost less than £90. I cross-check the prices at Sainsbury’s and Tesco and it’s not far off: £96 and £94, respectively.
Where it falls down, however, is creativity – there’s none here.
Brussels sprouts are, it says, ‘essential for Christmas dinner. You can either steam or roast them.’ Carrots should be ‘boiled’. For greens, it suggests ‘steamed broccoli’; no seasoning in sight.
Consulting the chatbot might be fine for basics, but when it comes to recipes, you’ll need a cookbook written by a human.
VERDICT: 2/5
COUNTDOWN FOR COOKS
For a fuss-free Christmas Day, nothing beats a timetable – covering everything from when to put the turkey in the oven to when to whisk the gravy. As this is entirely a numbers game, Chat GPT does it brilliantly.
Prep should start at 8am, it tells me, with the turkey going in the oven by 9.30am. Then there’s a gap of 90 minutes before it’s time to prep the veg, stuffing and the pigs in blankets.
The timing isn’t as detailed as I’d like – it goes in gaps of 15 minutes to two hours – but I’m not expecting the chatbot to be a pro chef, just a helpful guide.
At 12.15pm and again at 2pm, it’s time to check the turkey, before putting in the sides, prepping the Christmas pudding, and taking the bird out to rest.
Seeing the festive day laid out in this clear, concise schedule makes it seem calm and fuss-free rather than overwhelming – I’ll definitely be doing it this way.
VERDICT: 5/5
FESTIVE TELLY SORTED
If you’ve missed the festive edition of Radio Times, or can’t agree between you what to watch, ChatGPT is a whizz.
In response to my question, ‘What should I watch on Christmas Day?’, it produces succinct summaries of the top-rated shows on the main terrestrial channels (it can also do satellite, or subscription services such as Netflix and Disney+, if you ask), as well as lists of films, carol concerts, comedy shows and child-friendly daytime TV.
It won’t offer up any surprises – preferring EastEnders, Mrs Brown’s Boys and Strictly – but, then, nor do the programmers.
VERDICT: 4/5
KEEPING KIDS AMUSED
‘Keeping kids engaged and well-behaved during Christmas dinner can be a challenge,’ ChatGPT tells me with no trace of irony, having clearly never tried.
Then it offers a surprisingly useful list of ways to keep under-6s amused during a lengthy meal. It starts by involving them in planning the menu, decorating the table and doing the seating plan, which is a great idea.
Next, it suggests activity sheets and personalised placemats to keep them busy, as well as including them in conversation, with topics they can contribute to and enjoy.
Finally, it suggests what all frazzled parents will resort to on Christmas Day – bribery. It mentions a ‘little incentive’ (in the form of sweets or chocolate) to help youngsters stay put.
There isn’t a single hint about screentime, which is refreshingly analogue for a computer program – and, as any parent knows, entirely unrealistic.
VERDICT: 4/5
By Daily Mail Online, December 19, 2024
