Planning a road trip sounds simple until you are staring at three possible routes, six hotel choices, an aging car, and a partner asking, “Are we sure this is the best way?” This week, AI can help you turn that jumble into a sensible travel plan - and help you write a complaint letter that a real company can act on instead of quietly filing away.

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 7:15 on Tuesday evening, Margaret Lewis, 62, sat at her kitchen table with a notepad, a road atlas, and her laptop open to four different travel websites. She and her sister wanted to drive from Columbus, Ohio, to Bar Harbor, Maine, in early September. They had five days, did not want to drive more than six hours a day, hoped to see the Adirondacks, and needed hotels with easy parking because her sister uses a cane. Margaret had already found plenty of possibilities. That was the problem. She did not need more ideas; she needed help making decisions.

That is where AI is genuinely useful. It can compare your priorities, expose unrealistic expectations, divide a long journey into manageable days, and give you a first draft of the trip. It can also remind you about the unglamorous details - fuel, rest stops, weather, car preparation, and an emergency kit - that are easy to forget when you are dreaming about the destination. A good road-trip plan should include room for breaks, fatigue, changing weather, and unexpected expenses, not merely the fastest route.

Here is the exact prompt to use:

Copy and paste this into ChatGPT or Claude:

> I am planning a road trip and want a realistic, comfortable itinerary rather than the most aggressive driving schedule. Please act as a careful travel planner. > > Starting point: Columbus, Ohio > Destination: Bar Harbor, Maine > Travel dates: September 8 - 12, 2026 > Number of travelers: 2 adults > Maximum driving time per day: 6 hours, not counting meal breaks > Priorities: scenic roads, interesting small towns, reasonably priced lodging, easy parking, and short walks > Mobility considerations: one traveler uses a cane and should not be expected to walk more than 10 minutes at a time > Interests: lakes, historic sites, local food, bookstores, and quiet scenery > Avoid: very late arrivals, difficult mountain roads, crowded nightlife, and changing hotels every night if a two-night stay would make sense > Budget: approximately $225 per night for lodging, excluding taxes > > Create two possible itineraries: > 1. The most scenic practical route > 2. The simplest route with the least driving stress > > For each itinerary, provide: > - The overnight town for each night > - Estimated driving time and distance for each day > - Two or three worthwhile stops > - A suggested lunch or rest break roughly halfway through the day > - The type of lodging area to search for, including parking and accessibility considerations > - A rough daily budget for fuel, lodging, meals, and activities > - Any parts of the plan that may be tiring or unrealistic > > Do not invent specific hotel prices, opening hours, road closures, or attraction availability. Clearly label anything that must be verified. End with a practical checklist covering car maintenance, weather, medications, documents, food, water, phone charging, and emergency supplies.

Why this prompt works: It gives the AI the facts that change the answer: dates, starting point, driving limit, budget, mobility needs, interests, and dislikes. It also asks for two versions, which is better than pretending there is one perfect route. Most importantly, it tells the system what not to invent and asks it to identify assumptions. That turns AI from a cheerful idea machine into a planning assistant. The prompt follows the sensible basics of trip planning: route, budget, stops, fatigue, and preparation.

Use Case 2 of 2

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

On Thursday at 9:40 a.m., Daniel Ortiz, 55, opened the refrigerator and found the food inside warm. The appliance was only eight months old and still under warranty. He had already spent forty minutes on the phone with the retailer, been transferred twice, and received a service appointment three weeks away. Daniel was angry, but anger was not the part he needed help with. He needed a short letter that established the facts, stated what he wanted, included the right evidence, and gave the company a reasonable deadline.

AI can help because it is good at turning a scattered story into an orderly one. A persuasive complaint is not a courtroom speech. It identifies the product or service, explains what happened, names the previous contacts, says exactly what resolution is requested, and includes the relevant documents. Consumer guidance makes the same point: be clear and concise, state the remedy and response time, and keep copies of receipts, warranties, work orders, and correspondence.

Here is the exact prompt to use:

Copy and paste this into ChatGPT or Claude:

> I need help writing a firm, professional complaint letter to a company. Do not exaggerate, threaten legal action, insult anyone, or invent facts. Use only the information I provide. > > Write the letter in plain English, no more than 400 words. Include: > - A clear subject line > - The date and recipient > - What I bought, when I bought it, and the price > - The specific problem and when it began > - The steps I have already taken, including dates and names if provided > - The practical effect of the problem > - The exact remedy I am requesting > - A reasonable deadline for a written response > - A list of attached documents > - A polite closing > > My information: > Name: Daniel Ortiz > Address: 1847 Maple Street, Dayton, Ohio 45406 > Company: Northstar Home Appliances > Product: Northstar 28-inch refrigerator, model NSR-2800 > Purchase date: January 14, 2026 > Purchase price: $1,149 plus tax > Order number: 774219 > Problem: On October 22, 2026, the refrigerator stopped cooling properly. The freezer is only slightly cold, and food in the refrigerator compartment is spoiling. > Previous contact: I called customer service on October 23 and October 26. On October 26, I was given service reference number 88341 and told the earliest technician appointment was November 18. > Requested resolution: Arrange an earlier repair appointment within seven calendar days, or provide a replacement refrigerator if an earlier repair is not available. Please also explain how the company will address food that spoiled because of the malfunction. > Documents available: purchase receipt, warranty, photographs of the temperature display, service reference number, and photographs of spoiled food. > > Before writing, identify any important missing information I should add. Then write the letter. Make the tone calm, factual, and firm.

Why this prompt works: It gives the AI a job, a word limit, a tone, and a checklist. It separates facts from emotion and asks for missing information before producing the letter. The requested remedy is specific, and the deadline is reasonable rather than theatrical. That matters: a company can route a precise request to the right department; it cannot easily act on “I am furious - fix this.” The document list also signals that the complaint is supported by evidence.

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