Recently I was inspired to create a custom GPT for Tech Witch. Creating a custom GPT with OpenAI involves several steps. I decided to document the process in case anyone else would like to try it out.

Firstly, What is a Custom GPT?

A custom Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) is a specialised version of the artificial intelligence models developed by OpenAI. These are tailored to meet specific needs or objectives. Unlike the general GPT models available for broad use, a custom GPT undergoes additional training on a unique dataset. This process allows it to develop a deep understanding of particular topics, styles of communication, or types of tasks, making it more effective for specific applications.

Custom GPTs leverage the advanced natural language processing (NLP) capabilities of the original models. This includes understanding context, generating text, and answering questions, but with a focus on a narrower domain or set of requirements. This customisation makes them incredibly versatile and powerful tools for businesses, researchers, and developers seeking to harness the power of AI for particular purposes.

By training a custom GPT on datasets that include company-specific information, technical manuals, customer service interactions, or any other relevant data, organisations can create an AI model that not only mimics human-like responses but does so in a way that is highly relevant and specific to their needs.

OpenAI introduced this feature in November 2023. You can read more about it here.

Why Create a Custom GPT for Business?

Creating a custom GPT for business purposes can significantly enhance operational efficiency, improve customer experience, and drive innovation. Let’s explore why businesses might pursue this path and examine some versatile examples of custom GPT applications.

1. Personalisation: Tailoring interactions to individual customer needs and preferences, offering a more personalised experience.
2. Scalability: Automating responses and services to handle customer queries at scale, without compromising quality.
3. Innovation: Leveraging AI to create new products, services, or content, staying ahead in competitive markets.
4. Efficiency: Streamlining operations, from customer service to content creation, saving time and resources.
5. Data Insights: Analysing customer data and feedback through AI to inform business strategies and improve services.

In essence, a custom GPT is the intersection of cutting-edge AI technology and bespoke solutions. They can offer a tailored approach to solving problems and seizing opportunities in the digital world.

What Can Custom GPTs Do?

Custom GPTs can perform a wide range of tasks, tailored to specific needs and objectives. They can:

• Automate Customer Service: Handle inquiries, provide support, and offer personalised advice, reducing the need for human intervention.
• Enhance Content Creation: Generate articles, reports, and creative writing, streamlining the content development process.
• Personalised Educational Tools: Offer customised learning experiences, adapting to the user’s pace and style.
• Improve Data Analysis: Interpret and summarise large datasets, providing actionable insights.

Examples of Custom GPTs in Online Business

1. Customer Service Chatbot: A GPT trained on your specific product or service FAQs can provide instant, accurate customer support. This can reduce wait times and improve satisfaction.
2. Content Creation Assistant: For businesses needing to generate regular blog posts, social media content, or marketing copy, a custom GPT can produce high-quality drafts based on keywords or themes.
3. Personalised Product Recommendations: E-commerce sites can use GPT to analyse customer behaviour and preferences. This offers tailored recommendations that increase conversion rates.
4. Learning and Development Tool: Educational platforms can develop a GPT to provide personalised learning experiences. Adapting the content and pace based on the learner’s performance and feedback.
5. Market Analysis and Reporting: A GPT trained on market research and data analysis can summarise trends, compile reports, and even predict market movements, aiding strategic planning.
6. Language Translation Services: For businesses operating globally, a custom GPT can offer real-time translation services. This makes websites, apps, and communications accessible to a broader audience.
7. Interactive Storytelling for Brand Engagement: Creative industries can employ GPT to craft interactive stories or campaigns that engage users in a unique, brand-relevant narrative.
8. Automated Technical Support: Tech companies can create a GPT that troubleshoots common issues. Guiding users through solutions with conversational, easy-to-understand instructions.

Versatility of Custom GPT Applications

The versatility of custom GPTs lies in their ability to learn from specific datasets. This makes them adaptable to virtually any industry or business need. From legal firms automating contract reviews to health and wellness brands offering personalised advice, the potential applications are vast. The key is to identify the unique challenges or opportunities within your business where GPT can offer a solution or enhancement.

By creating a custom GPT, businesses not only streamline their operations but also offer enriched, innovative services and products to their customers. This strategic integration of AI aligns with evolving consumer expectations for fast, personalised, and interactive digital experiences. Setting a foundation for future growth and success in the digital age.

Creating a Custom GPT

Here’s how you can get started on creating a custom GPT:

1. Define Your Objectives: Clearly identify what you want your custom GPT to achieve. Understanding your goals will help you tailor the training process.
2. Gather and Prepare Your Data: Collect the datasets you want your model to learn from. This could include chat logs, articles, or any text relevant to your objectives.
3. Use OpenAI’s API: OpenAI provides an API that allows you to train and interact with your custom GPT model. Check out OpenAI’s documentation for detailed instructions on how to use their API for model training.
4. Train Your Model: Use OpenAI’s API to train your model on your prepared dataset. This process involves feeding the data into the model so it can learn from it.
5. Test and Refine: After training, test your model’s responses. Then refine its learning by adjusting the dataset or training parameters as needed.

My Process for Creating a Custom GPT

The idea came to me on a recent Tech Witch community call where we were talking about the various ways we’re using AI in our roles. One of the ladies shared she’s currently using custom GPTs to help her in her community management role.

It got me thinking that I could create a Tech Witch one to support entrepreneurs with their day-to-day tech questions. With the goal that somewhere in the conversation it would refer people to connect with us on Instagram or visit our website. So people in the Chat GPT network may discover it and it can act as another referral source to direct people to learn more about working with us. Once I came up with the idea the rest of the process was pretty simple.

Step One:

Open your OpenAI browser, click Explore GPTs, then click the Create button.

Step Two:

Let the GPT assistant know what you want to create.

Step Three:

Continue engaging with the assistant to come up with the basic settings for your Custom GPT. It will ask you questions about how you want it to function, what kind of questions you want it to answer etc.

Step Four:

Test the GPT so you can see how it’s engaging and keep tweaking it to suit your needs.

Step Five:

As you’re chatting with the GPT creator it might prompt you to upload documents that will support it in understanding your content and style better. If it doesn’t prompt you, you can also go to the CONFIGURE tab and upload any documents you feel necessary. Eg. chat transcripts, FAQ’s, tools you generally work with, conversations, posts you’ve shared, landing page copy – whatever feels related to your GPT

Step Six:

Once you’re satisfied you can publish your GPT. You can choose to keep it just for yourself, make it accessible to anyone you share a link with, or allow it to be visible to everyone. This means it will be searchable when people visit the Explore GPT’s page.

Step Seven:

If you’re making it public, share your GPT link with people in your network so they can start using it. Continue to monitor, test and sample so you can tweak and improve.

Is Creating a Custom GPT on OpenAI Free?

In order to create a Custom GPT you need to be a paying subscriber on OpenAI’s Plus or Team plan. Once you are a subscriber creating a custom GPT is included in your plan.

Can You Sell Custom GPTs?

Selling custom GPTs is feasible, but it’s essential to consider the legal and ethical aspects. You can commercialise applications powered by your GPT, such as chatbots or content generation services. However, directly selling a model trained on OpenAI’s infrastructure may require adherence to OpenAI’s usage policies and copyright considerations. It’s advisable to consult legal advice to navigate these aspects effectively.

Resources

For those looking to dive deeper into creating custom GPT models or seeking tools to enhance their online business, consider exploring the following resources:

• Access my Tech Witch GPT here for insights into leveraging GPT for your tech needs.
• Some of my other favourite online business tools can support a wide range of functions, from automation to customer engagement.

Creating a custom GPT with OpenAI offers endless possibilities to innovate and tailor AI-driven interactions. Whether enhancing customer service, creating a personalised chatbot, or exploring new ways to engage with your audience, the journey into custom GPT development opens up a world of opportunities. These are available for those willing to dive into the details of AI and machine learning.

Conclusion

Custom GPTs represent a frontier in the application of artificial intelligence, offering unparalleled opportunities for innovation in how we interact with technology. By understanding the capabilities, purpose, and creation process of these models, individuals and businesses can harness the power of GPT to revolutionize their digital experiences.

Don’t forget to try out the Tech Witch GPT here.