Thanks to the continued growth of the ChatGPT plugin store, there are always new ways to use ChatGPT and AI in the workplace.

But how do you get the most out of each ChatGPT plugin?

With over 550 to choose from, it can be difficult to get a real sense of the benefits of each plugin from the 100 character description in the plugin store.

Luckily we can help.

Here’s how to use the latest ChatGPT plugins for work-related tasks and beyond, from choosing the right plugin to guiding ChatGPT on how to use it effectively.

Access the ChatGPT plugin store

Only ChatGPT Plus subscribers have access to GPT 4 plugins.

Screenshot of ChatGPT, June 2023

You can find the ChatGPT plugin store via Plugins (Beta) under GPT-4.

Screenshot of ChatGPT, June 2023

Search for ChatGPT plugins by keywords

Until OpenAI categorizes the plugin store, there are two ways to find new plugins to try. You can browse all new and popular ChatGPT plugins.

Screenshot of ChatGPT, June 2023

Or you can use search to find plugins by keyword.

Screenshot of ChatGPT, June 2023

Note that the search results will only return plugins with the exact keyword in the plugin name or description. Plugins with a similar name or similar functionality are not included.

Screenshot of ChatGPT, June 2023

If you can’t find a plugin, search for related keywords or function types. Chances are there’s something in there with the features you need.

Install ChatGPT plugins

You can install one or more plugins by clicking the install button next to each one. While ChatGPT limits you to using a maximum of three plugins per chat, you can install as many plugins as you like.

When you click install, two things can happen. The plugin may install immediately, or you may be redirected to a third-party website to create an account and use the third-party service in connection with ChatGPT.

For example, the Reflect Notes app will redirect you to create an account and ask you to authorize ChatGPT with your account.

Screenshot of Reflect.app, June 2023

Once the app is installed and connected to all required third-party accounts, you can use the plugin in ChatGPT.

While OpenAI checks plugins for usage that violates its Acceptable Use Policy, it’s up to you to research third-party ChatGPT plugins, as you would any WordPress plugin or Chrome extension, before giving them access to your data or your grant credit card.

Screenshot of ChatGPT, June 2023

A quick web search for most plugins will lead to an official website, media mentions, or directory listing with more details.

Screenshot by Google, June 2023

Ask ChatGPT for directions

If you’re not sure what to do with your new ChatGPT plugin, you can ask it for suggestions. First activate the plugin in a new chat with a tick.

Screenshot of ChatGPT, June 2023

Once you have activated the plugin, ask ChatGPT for advice on your next steps.

You can inquire about using the plugin or get advice on how to use it for a specific task, whether comprehensive or specific.

Screenshot of ChatGPT, June 2023

Discover the most effective prompts

Not only can you ask for instructions on how to use the plugin, but you can also ask for the prompts you should be using for the plugin and the task at hand.

In the example below, I switched to the SEO Assistant plugin and asked for the best prompts to use with it.

Screenshot of ChatGPT, June 2023

ChatGPT, in this case, shares the plugin’s description followed by prompts mostly focused on keyword research.

Find out which enabled plugin is best suited for the task

If you find a few plugins with similar functionality, you can enable up to three and ask ChatGPT which one is best for your task.

Screenshot of ChatGPT, June 2023

Know when ChatGPT is confused

It’s important to know what you’re working with well enough to recognize when ChatGPT is hallucinating or making logical errors, such as statements that sound true but are factually incorrect.

In this example, ChatGPT forgets that plugins exist and starts inventing some that it believes should be based on WordPress plugins.

None of the following are ChatGPT plugins.

Screenshot of ChatGPT, June 2023

Let ChatGPT experiment to determine the best plugin

If you enable three plugins with similar functionality, ChatGPT will choose the one that best suits your specific request.

In the example below, I’m asking for a competitor analysis of OpenAI’s website. Tried two out of three enabled SEO plugins to get the best answer.

Screenshot of ChatGPT, June 2023

Discover how ChatGPT plugins request a response

How did ChatGPT respond to your input?

With plugins, you can sometimes find this out by expanding the dropdown menu while the plugin is working to fulfill your request.

In this example, VoxScript used DuckDuckGo’s search results to search for the answer to my question, but ultimately failed after two attempts.

Screenshot of ChatGPT, June 2023

Rephrase your request

Interestingly, the plugin used in the example above answered a similar question in a previous chat using various sources from DuckDuckGo search results.

This is an important reminder that you may need to rephrase your request more than once to ChatGPT and any enabled plugins to get the information you want.

Even the slightest change in your prompt can make the difference in getting a valuable answer rather than an inaccurate, incomplete, or useless answer.

Use ChatGPT plugins on iPhone or Android

Unfortunately, ChatGPT plugins are not yet available in the official iOS app. However, you can access ChatGPT plugins through a mobile browser like Google Chrome through the app or the Play Store.

Screenshot of ChatGPT, June 2023

As shown in the example above, when surfing the web with the Link Reader app, a long list of motivational tips requires an additional prompt to complete the list with the correct number of items and sources for each piece of advice.

Impressive performance with room for improvement

The ChatGPT plugin store offers many options to extend the features of ChatGPT, especially for ChatGPT Plus subscribers.

With over 550 plugins available, users can enhance their ChatGPT experience by installing and using them efficiently.

However, due to the current limitations of the store’s search functionality, users are encouraged to conduct additional research and rely on external sources for insight into the plugins’ functionalities and security.

Once installed, ChatGPT can sometimes guide users in using the plugins effectively, including providing prompts and suggestions on how to use the plugin for specific tasks.

However, there may be occasional bugs as these features are still in beta.

While mobile application support is still evolving, mobile browsers offer an alternative way to use ChatGPT plugins across multiple devices.

Users are encouraged to explore and experiment with different plugins to allow ChatGPT to crawl the web and craft accurate, valuable responses.

Featured image: Ascannio/Shutterstock