By Dr. Rowan Hayes

Two everyday jobs are especially well suited to AI: planning a road trip that fits your actual energy and interests, and writing a complaint letter that is firm enough to be taken seriously without sounding angry or unreasonable. Neither requires technical expertise. You simply give AI the facts, the limits, and the kind of help you want.

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, 64, sat at her kitchen table with a cup of coffee and three browser tabs open. She and her sister wanted to drive from Columbus, Ohio, to Asheville, North Carolina, in October. Margaret knew the broad route, but she did not want a punishing two-day drive, a hotel with stairs, or a vacation built around attractions neither woman cared about. Her sister had a bad knee, and Margaret was the only driver. What she needed was not a pretty list of tourist destinations. She needed a practical plan with shorter driving days, sensible rest stops, accessible lodging, and enough flexibility if traffic or weather changed. AAA specifically recommends fewer miles and hours per day for older drivers, along with checking accommodation accessibility and preparing for weak-signal areas. AI can help turn those preferences into a first draft.

Here is the exact prompt to use:

Copy and paste this into ChatGPT or Claude:

> I am planning a road trip and want a practical itinerary, not a rushed tourist checklist. > > Starting point: Columbus, Ohio > Destination: Asheville, North Carolina > Travel dates: October 12 - 16, 2026 > Travelers: Two adults, ages 64 and 67 > Driving: I will be the only driver > Health and comfort needs: One traveler has a bad knee, so avoid unnecessary stairs and suggest rest stops with easy parking and short walks > Preferred driving limit: No more than 5 hours of driving on any day, excluding breaks > Interests: Scenic drives, gardens, local history, quiet restaurants, and small towns > Avoid: Long hikes, crowded nightlife, expensive luxury hotels, and complicated downtown parking > Budget: About $180 per night for lodging, before taxes > > Create a day-by-day itinerary. For each day, include the approximate driving time, two or three worthwhile stops, suggested areas to stay, and a realistic schedule that includes lunch and rest breaks. Offer two lodging options per overnight location, but do not pretend that rooms are available or that prices are current. Clearly label anything that must be verified. > > Also include: > 1. A shorter or easier alternative if the driving becomes tiring > 2. Questions I should ask hotels about elevators, parking, and accessible bathrooms > 3. A packing and car-preparation checklist > 4. Places where I should download maps or directions before leaving reliable cell service > 5. A final list of facts I need to confirm myself, including road conditions, weather, opening hours, hotel availability, and accessibility > > If any part of this plan is unrealistic, say so plainly and revise it.

Why this prompt works: It gives AI the information a human travel planner would need: dates, starting point, destination, driver limits, budget, interests, health concerns, and dislikes. It also tells AI what format to use and requires it to distinguish suggestions from facts. That matters because a useful itinerary must account for fatigue, parking, meals, and accessibility - not just mileage. Asking for alternatives makes the plan more resilient instead of pretending everything will go perfectly.

Use Case 2 of 2

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

On Wednesday at 6:40 p.m., David Chen, 58, finally opened the folder on his desk labeled “New Furnace.” Three months earlier, he had paid $7,840 for installation. The furnace had stopped working twice, and the second repair visit left a dent in the outdoor unit. David had already spent forty minutes on hold and exchanged several increasingly irritated emails with the company. He was tempted to write, “Your service is disgraceful, and I will make sure everyone knows it.” That might have felt satisfying, but it would not necessarily help the person responsible for resolving the problem understand what David wanted. Effective complaints work better when they identify the purchase, document the problem, state a specific remedy, and set a reasonable deadline.

Here is the exact prompt to use:

Copy and paste this into ChatGPT or Claude:

> Help me write a firm, professional complaint letter to a company. Do not exaggerate, threaten, insult anyone, or invent facts. Use only the information I provide. > > Company name: [company name] > Company address or email: [address or email] > My name and contact information: [your details] > Product or service purchased: [exact description] > Purchase or installation date: [date] > Price paid: [amount] > Invoice, order, or account number: [number] > > The problem, in chronological order: > [Write what happened, including dates, failed repairs, missing items, damage, or other specific facts.] > > Previous contacts with the company: > [List dates, names or departments, what was promised, and what happened afterward.] > > Documents I have: > [Receipt, contract, warranty, photographs, work orders, emails, or other records.] > > What I want the company to do: > [State the exact remedy - for example, repair the product at no charge, replace a damaged part, refund a specific amount, or reimburse a documented expense.] > > Write a complaint letter of 400 words or fewer. Begin with a clear subject line. Summarize the purchase and problem in the first paragraph, provide the key timeline in the second, state my requested resolution plainly, and ask for a written response within 14 calendar days. Keep the tone calm, factual, and firm. Do not include claims about laws or legal rights unless I have supplied a source confirming them. After the letter, provide a short list of documents I should attach and three factual details I should verify before sending it.

Why this prompt works: It forces the complaint to answer the questions a company needs answered: What was purchased? When did the problem occur? What has already been tried? What remedy is being requested? The instruction to use only supplied facts reduces accidental exaggeration, while the deadline creates a clear next step. Asking for a document list also helps preserve evidence; keep originals and send copies, not irreplaceable paperwork.