Two useful jobs for AI this week: planning a road trip and writing a complaint letter that actually gets read. One saves time before you hit the road; the other helps you say something plainly, firmly, and without losing your temper. Both matter because most people do not need “AI magic.” They need a tool that turns a messy task into something usable.

Try at least one before Sunday. That is the whole assignment.

Use Case 1 of 2

Use Case 1: Planning a road trip using AI

On Tuesday at 6:40 p.m., Linda Perez is standing in her kitchen with a yellow legal pad, three open browser tabs, and a half-packed cooler. She and her husband are leaving from Columbus on Friday morning to visit their daughter in Asheville, then looping through the Blue Ridge Mountains before heading home. She wants a good route, decent places to stop, a realistic driving plan, and hotels that will not feel like a gamble. She is not trying to win an award for “most adventurous itinerary.” She just wants the trip to feel calm instead of chaotic.

That is where AI can help. Planning a road trip usually means juggling distance, rest stops, meal breaks, weather, traffic, and the simple human need to not arrive exhausted. AI is useful here because it can organize those moving parts quickly and in plain English. Used well, it does not replace judgment. It gives you a draft you can sanity-check in ten minutes instead of spending two hours piecing it together yourself.

Here is the exact prompt to use:

Copy and paste this into ChatGPT or Claude:

```text Help me plan a relaxed road trip for two adults.

Start here: - Starting city: Columbus, Ohio - Destination: Asheville, North Carolina - Travel dates: Friday morning through the following Tuesday - Goal: Enjoyable drive, not the fastest possible drive - Driving style: No more than 5 to 6 hours of driving per day - Interests: Good food, scenic views, safe stops, easy walking, and one or two memorable stops - Budget: Moderate, not luxury - Hotel preference: Clean, quiet, reliable chain hotels or highly rated independent inns - Food preference: Simple local restaurants, diners, barbecue, and coffee stops - Avoid: Overcrowded tourist traps, very long detours, and anything that would make the trip feel rushed

Please give me: 1. A day-by-day driving plan with approximate drive times 2. Suggested stop points for meals, rest breaks, and overnight stays 3. One scenic detour worth considering if it does not add too much time 4. A short list of things to book in advance 5. A practical packing checklist for this trip 6. Any safety or timing issues I should know about, especially if weather could affect the drive

Before you answer, ask me up to 5 clarifying questions if needed. If not, make your best recommendation and keep it realistic. ```

Why this prompt works: It gives AI a clear job, real constraints, and a trip style instead of vague wishes. That matters because “plan my road trip” is too fuzzy for a useful answer. The prompt also tells the system what *not* to do: no rushed itinerary, no fancy detours, no abstract advice. Good prompts are specific enough that the AI has less room to wander and more room to be helpful.

Use Case 2 of 2

Use Case 2: Writing a complaint letter that actually gets results

On Thursday at 9:15 a.m., James Carter is sitting at his dining room table with a billing statement in one hand and his reading glasses in the other. A company charged him twice for the same service, customer support has already wasted three calls, and he is tired of repeating himself. He does not want to write an angry rant. He wants the charge removed, a clear apology, and a record of the problem in case he has to escalate it later. In other words, he wants a complaint letter that is calm, specific, and hard to ignore.

This is one of the best uses for AI because most people are too frustrated to write well when they are upset. AI can help you turn emotion into structure. It can make you sound firm without sounding unhinged. That matters because complaint letters work better when they are short, factual, and easy for the reader to act on. A good letter is not a performance. It is a clean request backed by details.

Here is the exact prompt to use:

Copy and paste this into ChatGPT or Claude:

```text Write a professional complaint letter for me.

Here are the facts: - My name: James Carter - Company: [insert company name] - Problem: I was charged twice for the same service - Date of service or charge: [insert date] - Amount charged: [insert amount] - What I already tried: I called customer service three times on [insert dates], and the issue was not resolved - What I want: A refund of the duplicate charge, written confirmation that the account is corrected, and a response within 7 business days - Tone: Calm, firm, and respectful - Length: One page or less - Audience: A customer service manager or billing department

Please write: 1. A strong subject line 2. The complaint letter itself 3. A shorter version I can paste into an online contact form 4. A final sentence that clearly states what I expect next

Do not make the letter emotional. Do not threaten unless I tell you to. Do not over-explain. Keep it clear, direct, and specific. ```

Why this prompt works: It gives the AI the facts it needs and, just as important, the tone it should avoid. Complaint letters fail when they are too long, too vague, or too emotional to act on. This prompt asks for a specific outcome, a deadline, and two versions of the message, which makes the result more practical. Good prompts do not just ask for “help.” They define success.

Know someone who spends too long on things AI could do in two minutes? Forward this to three people who subscribe and I will send you my free AI Prompt Starter Pack: 20 ready-to-use prompts for everyday life.

By Dr. Rowan Hayes Current date: Sunday, September 13, 2026