Santa’s New Helper: How AI Can Help You Wrap Up Your Holiday Shopping
19:17 Share

Today's episode is supported by mint mobile with big wireless providers. What you see is never what you get somewhere between the store and your first months bill. The Price you thought european magically skyrockets with min mobile.

You'll never have to worry about gotch's ever again when min mobile says fifteen dollars a month. When you purchase a three months plan, they mean IT, one of our colleagues code, works behind the scenes on the podcast, and he and his wife switched to mid mobile family plan last december. Compared to their previous career, theyve saved more than twelve hundred dollars this year, and their meant mobile plants are already paid for through june twenty.

Twenty five. Code says the service has been just as reliable as before, with plenty of data for streaming without ever needing to cut back. All plants come with high speed data and unlimited talk and text delivered on the nation's largest 5g network。 Use your own phone with any many mobile plan and bring your phone number along with all of your existing contacts to get this new customer offer at your new three months premium wireless plan for just fifteen bucks a month, I got a mid mobile dark com h smart money that's mint mobile doc com slash smart money, cut your wireless builds of fifteen buxa month at mt. Mobile 点 com slash smart money， forty five dollar upfront payment required equivalent to fifteen dollars a month new customers on three month plan only speeds slower above forty, good device on on unlimited plan additional taxes and fees and restrictions apply cement mobile for details.

Welcome to know well its smart money podcast. I'm test viglund for shandong iles and .

i'm on the hill host.

And this is our weekly money news round up where we break down the latest in the world of finance to help you be smarter with your money will go deep into a single topic, then leave you with the latest money headlines. And today we're talking about AI and shopping and A I I think you and I can maybe just sleep for the rest of today's episode, you know, and let the robot overlords take over.

Yeah, I have a Better idea. Let's spring on some nerds to talk about how we can use I to help us with our holiday shopping.

Oh yeah, I like that. That's much Better. So for today's very special prebend friday episode, we welcome not one, but two fellow nerds to the microphone.

AManda bro so covers consumer credit for us, nord wallet. And curt woo covers mortgage es, but more to the point is nerd wallets. ChatGPT experimenter in chief, he.

there are both of you hate us.

so have .

either or both of you been just waiting for black friday to do your holiday shopping? Or are you may be done already with the help of artificial intelligence?

I still have a few things are good, but I mostly know what those things are going .

to be at this point. I'm also one of those windows who starts making give less like at the end of summer and starts buying gives really slowly over the next few months. But you know, things do ramp up for me during black friday, and there some things on my list.

for sure.

waiting for the sales. yes. Rm.

okay, well, AManda, why did you start this off here? Why are we talking about A.

I, many of us are tight on time during the holiday season. I don't know about you guys, but I have like a million list running in my head of things I have to do, including finding the right gifts for all the people in my life. So this is where I was thinking, A, I could come in. What if you could use this new technology to input a few things about the person you wanted, buy a gift for, so let's say, their favorite food, a hobby they love, their favorite author, or even their shirt size, and get a list of potential items to sort through A.

I is really good at brain storming. So if you're struggling with what to buy for your mother in law, for example, you can use this as a tool, maybe have a few vag ideas of what somebody likes, but one, a few more specific options, or maybe you something that far in a specific Price range. And A, I can help narrow down .

your options a bit. Here's what we propose rather than sort of spin your wheels trying to think of the perfect gift only to settle on something that's just okay because you felt rushed or stuff at I I ve been there a lots of times. You don't feel great about the gift, but at least you had one, right? Let's stop that to stop in our tracks and let's get some of that time back by using A I and get something that really fits the person that you're looking to buy the gift for.

I'm offer anything that stops the spinning of the wheels. This might be some folk's first time experimenting with a really any kind. So where do you suggest people go to get started?

We recommend open a ChatGPT, and IT has a good free version that's easy to use. And Frankly, it's what we use here in nerd wallet. But there are others, such as cloud and google jimi, that folks can explore.

I think the easiest way to get started with ChatGPT is on its website. So you'll first need to create a user name and a log in. And once your log in, IT looks sort of just like a messaging APP that you're used to or a chatbot, you can just start your quality right in that message box.

You can also access ChatGPT by now loading the APP if you'd rather use your phone or your tablet. And there's also a deathtrap APP. If you're a laptop girl, you can find those apps to the apple store or through google play. Just remember that this is a rapidly changing technology with new versions being released constantly. So if you downloaded IT two weeks ago, you might have to install updates next time you log in.

So here's what I don't understand as a new b to this world. If you have to enter a query anyway, why use ChatGPT rather than google or read IT or a review site?

So if you google something and you don't like those top few links that you get on the results page, you're probably just onna, start your search right over again with a different set towards, but with artificial intelligence, that one of search is replaced by something that feels a bit more like a versac, so you can drill down into what you're after.

And sometimes that means telling ChatGPT more about what you want, and sometimes that means telling ChatGPT why you do not like the answer I gave you. And all that feedback it's feed back into IT. And then a new, hopefully Better, result comes back to you.

Something that's also a bit different between ChatGPT and google is your tone. This is something i've had to let kind of tell myself as i've been using IT more and like, okay, don't be afraid to tell ChatGPT what to do. Like you can be a little bit bossy and .

a little firm fun yeah RAID.

So here is an example of what that might sound like from my own life. I open google and I might hype something like best toys for five old girls. But with ChatGPT, i'd start with something like create a list of the top ten toys for five year old girls that cost fifty dollars or less.

Don't include anything that makes sound parents, if you know, you know, that would be awesome. If each toy had an educational element, every toy on the list should have a minimum average rating of four stars on sites like amazon or target. In this example, not only is my starting point more of a command IT with google, what are the best toys versus create a list don't include. So if you're starting point is more of a command than a question, but it's also got lot a lot more hoops for a ChatGPT to jup through.

It's really a lot more specific exactly. Can we work for an example of finding a holiday gift together?

yes. And this is exactly why I called her, because you are so good at this. Let's walk through what an example of this might look like. Let's think first, someone who has no idea what to get someone on their list, let's say a child in their life, likely we will all be buying a toy of some kind this holiday season. Let's start by using ChatGPT as a brainstorming partner.

Okay, so we're actually going to go to ChatGPT now. Yeah, OK.

here's the first prompt on giving a ChatGPT. I need to buy a gift for a six year old. They like world building toys, like train sets, lagos and black. Can you help me think of ideas? Make a list of toys up to fifty dollars, and another list of toys between fifty and one hundred dollars, and put five toys on each list.

And we gotto give you a little bit of time here.

I mean, it's not instantaneous ous.

okay. Maybe there's enough time not have for the robot that has IT responded. What did you get?

Yeah, I just got exactly what I ask for. I have two lists of five toys, and there's even a ten word summary for each toy that gave me.

wow.

or any of the ideas. good.

I like about three of them, just three.

None of these are Better.

None of these are out of left field. But only three really caught my attention. And that's just me that could obviously be different for anybody.

Is three out of ten a .

good result after this stage? After the first query? IT doesn't matter too much.

What do you say that .

because I wasn't planned to go shopping right after the first question? Um I almost assume the first question is going to lead to a second and third. So I think of this step the first question of the first prompt, give ChatGPT as away for ChatGPT to give me something to react to now that have the results. I told ChatGPT which of three toys I liked, and then I asked you to make a new list with new toys, all of which resemble these three toys that stood out to me.

So you ve kind of narrow IT down. Is this new list getting closer to what you're looking for?

Yeah, now I actually like about half of the toys that suggested to me, and a few came off as just a little Young for the person i'm thinking of. So I told GPT that and asked you to build me another list. Okay.

so what happens next? Well.

let me ask you, if you google something and see a lot of interesting results, what do you do?

I I go open a bunch of new tabs just just for them. Yeah.

that's everybody. Me too, right? So I want to start comparing Prices, read reviews. So like that is going to mean me opening up everything in reading. I'm comparing. But with ChatGPT, instead of a clicking between all of those windows, i'm just going to essentially ask ChatGPT to do all of that. You can even ask you to dump all the info into a table so you can kind of compare things more easy.

tell us, how do you do that?

Kind of like you said him. And I just be direct. I just said, create a table for these toys. And i'm gonna also ask ChatGPT to add the lowest Price I can find. I also want a link to a website where is finding that Price.

So i'm going to ask IT for each of these toys, how many pieces come with IT? Because sometimes the toy with a lot of pieces can make a really big impressions on a kid. But if you're the one is gonna tripping over the pieces, maybe you want to find a .

toy with fewer pieces. Lagos.

exactly. What did you feel like? What am I going to expect with this toy? So I did that. And then i'm also actually going to ask there's a recommended age or age range for each toy because I want this toy to let I don't want this just to be a one year toy.

I like this. You're really getting into the weeds. Um i'm curious. okay. Now we've given IT a little bit of time wondering to that work. Yes and no.

Definitely got a table and IT filled out, but I only included one of those two lists. Remember I get a two different Price range is an only included one and then clicking on some of the links here and not all of them go to the product page. Some of they didn't just go to the home page like amazon that come. The Prices are close, but sometimes they don't match exactly what ChatGPT said in the.

Her, is that a deal break er for you? I mean, if if I see one Price advertised, but then it's a different Price when I actually get to the website and might not be too happy.

me too, I tried to keep in mind that this company ChatGPT, it's not selling the anything or acting as advertiser.

那 这些 right？

Who knows how these .

technologies and the business models are going to evolve in the years ahead. But for now, I find if they make a few mistakes, they are not promising me these Prices. They're just trying to find them for me.

The toys, right, it's suggested, actually exists. The Price is, even if they were a little wrong, were generally online with what i'm seeing here online. And I remind myself that the gold l of this exercise isn't to see if A I ascension, it's really just to find a cool toy. So unless in five minutes I have a list of ten salad ideas I didn't have before, and I can go and make that final decision on my own.

and you didn't have to click fifteen tabbed, which is a small holiday miracle.

exactly.

Let's think about this. right? We are nerd wallet. We are trying to help people save time, but also money this holiday season. So is there any way to save money by using A I.

you know, i've tried using this to check for cupid codes or maybe preview black friday deals, but I didn't get too far with .

that kind of obama. Maybe next year will be recording and episode about how we can do that.

Maybe next year.

That kind of sounds like the next frontier, the next maybe obvious step when IT comes to this kind of thing.

Yeah, keep an I O, right. It's always being updated. I did get some promising alternatives when I said I would like to certain toy, but IT was above my budget. I also ask for ideas to make gifts more personal, right, making a homemade element or something. And I got a few good ideas that way, too.

I was going to say, are they good? Because we've all seen the website pinches, fails and like, you know, crafting, this is maybe not all of our strong.

They were hit and miss. But with gifts, you usually only need one good idea. kAManda.

Is there anything people should watch out for when IT comes to using A I just keep .

your expectations in check. C, i'd say it's not onna find you the perfect gift every time. Maybe think about ChatGPT or and another A I as a friend who is a really great gift giver, and you have a conversation with them.

They might not know everything about your friends and your family. Maybe they are really thoughtful and eligible about different type of gifts. And the more you share with IT, the more helpful IT can be.

The other tip I think I have is don't trust every result. A I is known for having in Green biases, errors and using serious types in its results. So this is something that fairly low stakes give giving, but you're still gonna need to access and likely do some additional investigating before making a final decision. One is saying, I think people should know, is that the question that you type in to ChatGPT are used to train the models. If you're nervous about privacy and how your questions will be used or shared, you can use what's caught the temporary chat, which is found in the drop down menu, and your content won't be recorded, or use to train the models.

All good advice. And you know honestly, I mean, we can't get upset with ChatGPT for not giving us the perfect idea because isn't some of that supposed to be up to us?

Kwok .

and .

AManda bro, thank you so much for helping us out. Today has been fun and happy thanksgiving.

You two test.

Thanks thanksgiving up next.

A few many headlines from the last few days.

Today's episode is supported by raindrops sport. What makes a leader? Some say it's about confidence.

Others say it's about taking risks. But I also think it's about doing things with a bit of flare. Because why just drive when you can make an entrance? Enter the range rover sport. This is where sophistication meets power and performance meets luxury on the road, adapted dynamics work to reduce unwanted body movements, making every drive as smooth as IT is controlled when the train changes, no problem.

Adapt tive of road cruise control steps in monitoring ground conditions and adJusting to the terrain, and with dynamic air suspension, the range of sport delivers agila and composure, giving you a ride that equal parts comfortable and commanding, ready to lead the way and look good while doing IT head over to landrover USA dot com to configure your range rover sport today. Because why followed the crowd when you can leave them in your dust again? That's landrover USA duck com to configure your rain river sport.

Well, honor, if folks and abusing A I to do their holiday shopping on amazon theyll be doing IT in the midst of a labor action against the company.

Yeah, amazon employees in twenty countries are planning to protest or even strike against the company on both black friday and cyber monday.

It's part of a campaign called make amazon pay, launched by a coalition of international worker's rights groups. They say the protesters are an effort to focus attention on wages and employee treatment, as well as amazon's s environmental sustainability record and corporate tax breaks.

It's the fourth year of the amazon pay campaign that coincides with one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year. Thousands of workers are expected to take part in the job actions. If you're wondering how that might affect your amazon orders is highly unlikely to have an impact. As of the second quarter of this year, amazon had more than one point five million full and part time global employees.

Alright, honor, this is the one time of year i'll do this. Gobble, gobble. Yes.

turkey day is upon us tomorrow. In fact, if you haven't thought out your bird yet, well, be just do asides giving with her without the bird. The dinner, on average will cost less this year than I did last year.

That's just gravy. Isn't IT the american farm stark folks? The american farm bureau derated issued its usually thanksgiving dinner cost analysis. And the average this year to serve ten people is fifty eight dollars and eight cents. That's down from sixty one dollars, sixty one cents last year and sixty four dollars and five cents in twenty twenty two. But it's still nine percent higher than the prepare demise feast in twenty nine.

And here's what goes into that average dinner turkey, cranberry, swe, potato, carrots and salary, Greenpeace, pixels, cube stuff in generals, pumpking, py max, whole milk and web cream.

I have an adjusted just from that list. There is more, if you want, IT. The farm bureau's, an ad on menu that includes ham, potatoes and frozen Green beans, which would add nineteen dollars and twenty six cents to the bill of for ten people.

Wait, since when our math, potatoes, not part of the dinner, and then add on.

or Green, being casual for that matter, we protest. And on a on our way over the river and through the woods to grammar house, we might pass some areas where folks have new neighbors yeah.

The latest figures from the national association of riller show sales of existing homes rose three point four percent from september to october.

and sales were up two point nine percent from a year ago, likely due to a drop in mortgage rates.

but folks are still paying more than they were at this time last year. The median Price for those existing homes was four hundred and seven thousand, two hundred dollars, four percent from october last year.

One final note here. You may have heard about president elect Donald trump's proposal to slap a twenty five percent terf on all goods imported from canada and mexico and ten percent on goods from china will have an explainer on what heros are and what that potentially means for your finances in next week's show. All right, that's IT for this week's money news. We always welcome your money questions and comments turn to the nerves and color text us your questions at nine one 777 that's nine one seven three zero N E R D or send us a voice memo at podcast at nerd wallet dot com。 And remember, you can follow the show on your favorite podcast APP, including spotify apple podcast and I heard radio to automatically download new episodes.

Today's episode was produced tests and edited by rick band.

And here's our brief to sccp im er. We are not financial or investment advisors. This nurse info is provided for general educational and entertainment purposes and may not apply to your specific circumstances. And honor a happy thanksgiving.

Happy, thankful ving us. And with that said, until next time turn to the.

To this episode is supported by amazed fit. For those who crave adventure is part of their lifestyle, but don't let IT define them. Meet the amazing fit.

t. Rex three, the ultimate ready for anything adventure. Watch whether you're hitting the trails are saying yes to that spontaneous night skin invite the amazing fit t.

Rex three is ready for at all. It's more than just a sort. Watch, it's your personal guide to exploration.

Discovery and the thrill of the unknown adventure is calling and it's time to enter with the amazing fit t. Rex three. I've been testing out the amazing fit t. Rex three and IT is jam packed with features. IT has an ultra long battery life.

The less for twenty seven days when I wake up, IT hits you with a run down that includes the day is weather forecast and upcoming schedule, along with my a readiness score, which basically tells me if that extra episode of TV last night was worth IT. Plus, you can download extra apps like fitness tools and meditation timers for when my adventure is just surviving a stressful monday. Amazing fit is trust by forty two million users, and their devices are available major retailers, including best buy, target, walmart and amazon.

But as a smart money listener, you can get fifteen percent off your next purchase on the maze fz website using promo code. Smart money just visit U. S. That amaze fit that come slash smart money, but U S. That amazing fit dot come slash smart money and enter promo code smart money to get your next smart wearable able.