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Who would turn down extra help at this hectic time of year? She is certainly not an exhausted 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 from my husband, offering to wrap the kids’ gifts for the first time in his life. .
Instead, as I quickly run out of time as December progresses, I find myself turning to a more unusual source of assistance: ChatGPT.
The online AI chatbot is free and, it turns out, quite easy to use.
All you have to do is type your questions into the search box (at chatgpt.com) and a detailed answer will be generated within seconds, sourced from a wealth of information online.
According to recent statistics, 1.4 million Britons now use the service every day, but it is more commonly used by students for sneaky homework help or people dealing with complex data, rather than festive crisis management. So can technology be a mother’s match for Christmas?
Here’s how ChatGPT fared on everything from writing my Christmas cards to grocery shopping.
I had imagined (perhaps foolishly) that help might come from a friend, sharing some elusive gift ideas or foolproof Christmas recipes, writes SARAH RAINEY.
CORNITAS CHRISTMAS CARDS
Writing cards is one of my least favorite (and most time-consuming) Christmas tasks.
If my kids or I were to design them ourselves, ChatGPT has suggested images to draw on the front, from ‘a cozy cabin with gently falling snow’ to ‘a Christmas tree shining in a window’ or ‘a few reindeer prancing around’ .
Hardly imaginative, and while some paid AI programs can design images based on text prompts, ChatGPT is not one of them.
However, you have ideas about what to say inside; Ideal if you suffer from writer’s block.
‘To (Name),’ he 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 the precious 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 show. Maybe take some notes.
VERDICT: 3/5
GREAT GIFT IDEAS
This is where the chatbot really comes into its own and could really take some of the holiday load off my tired brain.
“Give me some gift ideas for my husband,” I beg. ChatGPT offers generic inspiration for men’s gifts (boxers, whiskey, concert tickets), so I personalize my question: ‘He’s in his late 40s, likes cricket, gardening and running.’ Oh, and my budget is £50.
The list of suggestions reaches 35, many more than I had thought, and apparently all of them are guaranteed to “make you feel appreciated, loved and special this season.”
Some gifts (like a personalized cricket ball or a cricket-themed planter) are inspired; others (like a compost bin or a set of garden lights) are not.
“Eco-friendly gift ideas for my children, ages three and five,” I write below, in an attempt to reduce plastic use. One more time,
I’m impressed: I added your suggestions (a recycled Lego set, a Paw Patrol puzzle, and bamboo pajamas) to my list. This is much faster than searching on Google.
Will he be able to tackle the most difficult of all: my mother-in-law? “At 72 years old, she can appreciate gifts that promote relaxation and self-care in a mindful and sustainable way,” says ChatGPT, summing up my mother-in-law (who is actually really lovely) into a series of unpromising stereotypes.
But she goes on to suggest an aromatherapy set, a perfume subscription, and a pressed flower necklace—all inspired ideas that wouldn’t have crossed my mind.
VERDICT: 5/5
BEST TIPS FOR DECORATION
I ask ChatGPT how to decorate my house. It tells me to “consider a theme, like rustic, vintage, or modern” and “search Amazon,” far from being as clever as I’d hoped.
However, when it comes to home decorating ideas, it stands out. The kids and I followed the instructions to make Santa out of red paint handprints, we filled the Christmas tree room with pine cones, and I’ve lost count of the times I’ve been asked to redo the ‘slime’ doll. snow’ (a sticky combination of glue, glitter, baking soda and shaving foam).
For gift wrapping, I decide to ignore the chatbot’s advice to “make gift wrapping a family activity.” Play Christmas music, prepare snacks and get everyone involved.’ That’s not for me. Swaddling is certainly not my kids’ strong suit, and the last thing I need is more on my to-do list.
There are tips for covering oddly shaped gifts (use double-ply wrapping paper and twisting the ends like a cookie) and for making gift tags from craft paper or old photographs.
“For a polished final look, double-check folds and edges, and smooth out any bubbles or wrinkles,” he advises.
“The recipient is sure to be impressed by your elegant technique.”
VERDICT: 3/5
FOOD STORE SALVATION
My friends have started using ChatGPT to plan their weekly meals, so I’m excited at the prospect of using it to sort out my Christmas food and drink.
I enter my budget (£100), my family size (six of us on Christmas Day) and tell the chatbot that we’d like a traditional meal with lots of indulgent snacks.
Lo and behold, in a meal and shopping plan that would have taken me half a day to compile, it offers suggestions, quantities and prices in a matter of seconds, including a recipe for homemade stuffing and suggestions for a holiday cheese board.
Although it can’t tell me the exact prices in my nearest supermarket, it can estimate them based on general data from UK stores and tells me that the whole meal should cost less than £90. I check the prices at Sainsbury’s and Tesco and they’re not far off: £96 and £94 respectively.
However, where it falls down is creativity: there is none here.
Brussels sprouts are, he says, “essential for Christmas dinner.” You can steam them or roast them. Carrots must be “boiled”. For vegetables, he suggests “steamed broccoli”; no condiments in sight.
Consulting the chatbot may be fine for the basics, but when it comes to recipes, you’ll need a cookbook written by a human.
VERDICT: 2/5
COUNTDOWN FOR THE CHEF
For a hassle-free Christmas Day, there’s nothing better than a schedule, covering everything from when to put the turkey in the oven to when to whisk the sauce. Since it is purely a numbers game, Chat GPT does this brilliantly.
Prep should start at 8am, he tells me, and the turkey should be in the oven by 9.30am. Then there’s a 90-minute gap before it’s time to prepare the vegetables, stuffing and pigs in blankets.
The timing isn’t as detailed as I’d like (it goes in intervals of 15 minutes to two hours), but I don’t expect the chatbot to be a professional chef, just a helpful guide.
At 12.15pm and again at 2pm it’s time to check on the turkey, before adding the sides, making the Christmas pudding and putting the bird out to rest.
Seeing the holiday organized in this clear and concise calendar makes it seem calm and uncomplicated instead of overwhelming; I will definitely do it this way.
VERDICT: 5/5
HOLIDAY TELE ORDERED
If you missed the festive edition of Radio Times or can’t agree on what to watch, ChatGPT is a blast.
In answer to my question, “What should I watch on Christmas Day?”, it produces succinct summaries of the best-watched shows on major terrestrial channels (you can also do this on satellite or subscription services like Netflix and Disney+, if you ask), as well as lists of movies, carol concerts, comedy shows and children’s daytime television.
It won’t offer any surprises (preferring EastEnders, Mrs Brown’s Boys and Strictly), but neither do the programmers.
VERDICT: 4/5
KEEP KIDS FUN
“Keeping kids interested and well-behaved at Christmas dinner can be a challenge,” ChatGPT tells me without a trace of irony, clearly having never tried it.
It then offers a surprisingly useful list of ways to keep under-6s entertained during a long meal. Start by involving them in menu planning, table decorations and seating arrangements, which is a great idea.
Next, suggest personalized activity sheets and placemats to keep them busy, as well as engaging them in conversations, with topics they can contribute to and enjoy.
Finally, he suggests what all exhausted parents will resort to on Christmas Day: bribery. Mention a “small incentive” (in the form of candy or chocolate) to help young people stay.
There’s not a single hint about screen time, which is refreshingly analogous to a computer program and, as any parent knows, completely unrealistic.
VERDICT: 4/5