The thing about clichés is that, more often than not, they're borne out of universal truths.
And none more so than the classic post-Christmas dinner scene — some familiar variation on a lethargic family holding their over-indulged stomachs, while grandpa snoozes in his comfy chair, the kids complain that their siblings received more presents, and auntie has just had one more glass of cheap sparkling wine than would be deemed appropriate on any other day of the year. Oh... and somebody just turned on "A Christmas Story" for the millionth time.
If it's one tradition that you are desperate to break this year, then ChatGPT could prove a very useful elf.
OpenAI's chatbot is a bottomless stocking of ideas to keep you and the family in suitably good cheer throughout the day — these five prompts should keep even the hardiest Grinch in your home entertained.
"Come up with a Christmas-themed game to play with my family"
Regardless of how much mom might insist to the contrary, everybody enjoys a Christmas Day game. But we're not totally with her when it comes to the suggestion of dusting off the Monopoly board.
ChatGPT will come up with fresh game ideas that can be as quick and simple or long and complicated as you wish.
As ever with AI chatbots, you'll get the best results if you feed in specific details about who will be playing and what you're into. Is it something for a family with ages ranging from 4 to 104? Or is it a group of adults who want something a little PG-unsuitable?
Quizzes are a great option, and you can make them specific to sports, entertainment, science and nature, or any other topic you'd normally see on the "Trivial Pursuit" board (and beyond).
"Make us laugh with some festive jokes"
If you've ever spent the holidays in the U.K. you'll know all about Christmas crackers — those decorated cardboard tubes that a pair of revelers pull from each end to create a loud bang, before a cheap plastic toy, garish paper hat and silly joke tumble out.
While the toys and headwear are no great loss stateside, it seems a real pity that the one-liners haven't made it across the Atlantic. Yes, they're usually more worthy of a groan than a belly laugh, but it's a moment of levity that most British Christmas Days wouldn't be the same without.
Keep things generically festive (Why was the Christmas tree so bad at knitting? It kept dropping its needles) or ask for something more topical (What did Elphaba think of Glinda's Christmas gifts? She was green with envy).
You could even get ChatGPT to come up with a whole set of gags about members of the family. Feed in some information about each person present, and then let the chatbot produce the funnies.
"Teach me about this new tool I just got as a present"
The joy of opening a new tool or tech present can often be quickly dampened by then having to trawl through a tome of instructions in 23 languages to work out how to use it.
Or perhaps somebody you know is more ambitious about your home improvement skills than you are. Did they not see that rickety birdhouse you tried knocking together in the summer?
Ask ChatGPT to give you a summary of what the gadget you've received is, what it's best for and how to use it.
If it's some new smart tech, the chatbot can give you a step-by-step quick start tutorial and some key settings you can optimize to make sure you're making the most of your newly cherished gift.
This is also handy for a kid's present that you just can't figure out. What was ever wrong with a few marbles and a bit of string...?
"Tell me some great recipes I can make out of Christmas Day leftovers"
What do smoked salmon risotto, roasted ham pho-inspired soup, and Brussels sprout galette have in common? Well, they're all meal ideas generated from the following prompt to ChatGPT:
"Give me 3 creative recipe ideas from the following leftovers: honey-roasted ham, Brussels sprouts, carrots, smoked salmon, cream, red wine."
Other than picking at cold cuts and grazing on crumbs of cheese, it can sometimes be hard to think of what will become of the Christmas Day leftovers.
Thankfully, you don't need to be Gordon Ramsay to conjure up some mouth-watering meals from the scraps you have left.
Once you've chosen what you like from ChatGPT's special menu of delights, you can then ask it to give you the full list of ingredients you'll need together with the method. Be as demanding as you like, asking what ingredients you can swap around or add in to the specific taste of you and any other lucky diners.
"Help me make a list of New Year's resolutions"
As well as enjoying the moment, Christmas comes at a time in the year when we look back at the last 12 months and think ahead to the next dozen.
It's not too early to start thinking about what your New Year's resolutions might be. And, if you want something a bit different to the usual "Go to the gym more" or "Try to eat more healthily," then confide in your chatbot as to what areas of your life you'd like to change or improve.
It's rare for us to say this, but this is one area where you don't have to be really prescriptive with your prompt. It may actually be better for ChatGPT to come up with some ideas that are totally off the wall to get you considering lifestyle changes you had never before contemplated.
"Learn the basics of an obscure skill each month" and "Try a 'tech-free' hour a day, but creatively" were two that caught our eye when we asked.
It might be fun (or, let's be honest, a complete disaster) to do this as a group with everybody else around you. Get ChatGPT come up with resolutions for everybody, and then see who can make theirs last longer over the course of the year!
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