Planning a road trip and writing a complaint letter may seem unrelated, but both are excellent jobs for AI. In the first, AI helps you turn a pile of preferences, distances, opening hours, and reservations into a workable plan. In the second, it helps you turn justified irritation into a calm, specific letter that a company can actually act on. Neither task should be handed over blindly. The value comes from giving AI the right facts, asking for a useful first draft, and checking the details yourself.

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

At 8:15 on Tuesday morning, Margaret Lewis, 62, was sitting at her kitchen table with a coffee, three browser tabs open, and a yellow legal pad covered in arrows. She and her sister were planning to drive from Columbus, Ohio, to Bar Harbor, Maine, over six days in September. They wanted scenic roads, no more than five hours of driving on any day, two nights near Acadia National Park, and hotels with elevators because Margaret’s sister had a troublesome knee. Every search produced another possibility, but none produced a sensible whole. One hotel was charming but 45 minutes from dinner. One suggested stop was closed on Tuesdays. Margaret did not need “the perfect trip.” She needed a plan she could read once and trust enough to begin checking.

Here is the exact prompt to use:

Copy and paste this into ChatGPT or Claude:

I am planning a six-day road trip for two adults, leaving from Columbus, Ohio, on September 14, 2027, and arriving in Bar Harbor, Maine, on September 19, 2027.

Our priorities are: - No more than five hours of driving on any day - Scenic routes where practical, especially water views, small towns, and historic areas - Two nights near Acadia National Park - Hotels with elevators or ground-floor rooms - Moderate lodging costs, approximately $180 to $260 per night - Good restaurants that do not require formal clothing - One substantial break every two to three hours - Avoid driving after dark

Please create a day-by-day itinerary. For each day, include: 1. Starting point and destination 2. Estimated driving time and approximate mileage 3. Two or three worthwhile stops, explaining why each is suitable 4. A suggested lunch location or type of place 5. A realistic departure and arrival time 6. Suggestions for where to stay that match my requirements 7. Any section that may be tiring, congested, seasonal, or difficult to drive

Separate facts from suggestions. Do not invent hotel availability, restaurant hours, admission prices, road closures, or reservation details. If you cannot verify something, label it “needs verification.” At the end, provide a short checklist of what I should confirm on official websites before booking, including hotel location, cancellation policy, attraction hours, parking, road conditions, and restaurant hours. Ask me up to five questions if important information is missing before producing the itinerary.

Why this prompt works: It gives AI the information that normally gets lost: dates, comfort limits, budget, interests, and the people who are traveling. It also defines the shape of the answer, so you receive a usable itinerary rather than a paragraph of general ideas. Most important, it tells the system not to pretend that estimates are reservations. That instruction creates a useful distinction between planning help and facts you still need to verify. Current driving times, opening hours, prices, and availability should always be checked on maps and official websites before you commit.

Use Case 2 of 2

Use Case 2: Writing a Complaint Letter That Actually Gets Results

At 4:40 on Wednesday afternoon, David Chen, 55, opened his laptop after returning from a repair shop for the third time. His new washing machine had leaked across the laundry-room floor, damaged a baseboard, and stopped spinning properly. He had paid $1,149 for it seven weeks earlier. Two phone calls had produced promises, but no repair date. David had plenty to say, most of it unprintable, but he understood that “This is ridiculous” was unlikely to move the company. What he needed was a short record of what happened, what he had already done, what he wanted, and when he expected an answer.

Here is the exact prompt to use:

Copy and paste this into ChatGPT or Claude:

Write a firm, professional complaint letter based only on the facts below. Do not exaggerate, threaten legal action, invent consumer-rights laws, or add facts that I have not provided.

My information: Name: David Chen Address: 1842 Maple Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402 Email: [email protected] Phone: 937-555-0184

Company: Northstar Home Appliances Store address: 4100 River Road, Dayton, Ohio 45414 Order number: NS-784219 Product: Northstar 4.8 cu. ft. front-load washing machine, model NF48X Purchase date: August 12, 2026 Purchase price: $1,149.00 Delivery date: August 19, 2026

What happened: - On September 21, 2026, the machine leaked approximately one gallon of water during a normal wash cycle. - The water damaged the unfinished baseboard beside the machine. - On September 22, I called customer service and was told a technician would contact me within three business days. - No technician contacted me. - On September 29, I called again and was given case number 66291. - On October 5, I was told the earliest available appointment was October 27. - The machine has also begun stopping during the spin cycle. - I have photographs of the water damage, a copy of the receipt, and copies of the two service-related emails.

My requested resolution: I want the company to replace the washing machine at no additional cost, arrange prompt removal of the defective machine, and reimburse me for reasonable documented repair costs to the damaged baseboard. If replacement is not available promptly, I want a full refund of $1,149.00.

Write a letter of 350 words or fewer. Use a clear subject line. Present the events in chronological order. Mention the documents enclosed, but do not claim they prove anything beyond what I have stated. Request a written response by October 16, 2026. State that I will consider appropriate further assistance if the matter is not resolved, but do not make a legal threat. End with a professional closing. After the letter, provide a five-item checklist of information or documents I should verify before sending it.

Why this prompt works: The prompt supplies the company with the information needed to locate the transaction: product, model, order number, dates, price, and case number. It gives the AI a factual timeline instead of asking it to “sound angry,” and it asks for one clear remedy with a fallback. That is important because consumer guidance recommends a concise description of the problem, copies rather than originals of supporting documents, a specific requested resolution, and a reasonable response deadline. The result is easier for a customer-service representative to route and answer.