AI assistant how-to guides
Each guide takes one task and walks through it with the tools that document how to do it, starting with OpenAssistant where it can do the job. The steps come from each vendor’s help pages, linked and dated in the guide, and we say where another tool is stronger. Not sure which assistant to use? Read the overall ranking, or go back to the home page.
Choose and stay in control
- How to Choose an AI Assistant: 7 Questions to Ask Before You Pay: seven questions to ask before you pay for an assistant.
- How to Give an AI Assistant Calendar Access Safely: read or write access, least-access setup and how to take access back.
- How to Limit What an AI Assistant Can Do on Your Accounts: limits for OpenAssistant, ChatGPT, Claude, Google and Microsoft accounts, with a 10-minute checklist.
Calls, bookings and texting
- How to Get an AI Assistant to Make a Phone Call for You: steps for OpenAssistant, Gemini Call for me and Google Search calls.
- How to Have AI Book a Restaurant Reservation in a Single Message: steps for OpenAssistant, ChatGPT, Gemini with OpenTable and Google AI Mode.
- How to Text an AI Assistant to Get Things Done: steps for OpenAssistant, Poke and Gemini in Google Messages.
- How to Set Up an AI Receptionist for a Small Business: steps for OpenAssistant, RingCentral AI Receptionist, Quo Sona and Goodcall.
Email and inbox
- How to Set Up an AI Assistant to Manage Your Gmail: steps for OpenAssistant, Gemini in Gmail and Fyxer.
- How to Use AI to Follow Up on Unanswered Emails: steps for OpenAssistant, Gmail Nudges, Superhuman and Fyxer.
- How to Run a Shared Inbox With AI: steps for OpenAssistant, Help Scout and Front.
Meetings and calendar
- How to Have AI Schedule Meetings Over Email (Just Cc It): steps for OpenAssistant, Skej and Howie, plus Gmail’s Help me schedule.
- How to Have AI Write Your Daily Agenda Every Morning: steps for OpenAssistant, ChatGPT scheduled tasks and Gemini.
- How to Prep for a Meeting in 5 Minutes With AI: steps for OpenAssistant, Microsoft 365 Copilot and Claude.
- How to Coordinate an Event and Collect RSVPs With AI: steps for OpenAssistant, Luma and Google Forms with Gemini.
Trips, errands and admin work
- How to Have AI Plan a Trip End to End: Plan, Book, Keep Track: steps for OpenAssistant, Google AI Mode, ChatGPT with travel plugins and TripIt.
- How to Use ChatGPT Agent for Errands (Now ChatGPT Work): a step-by-step run through ChatGPT Work errands, with Claude in Chrome as the alternative.
- How to Use Claude Cowork for Admin Work: a step-by-step run through Claude Cowork tasks, files and scheduled tasks.
Money, sales and reporting
- How to Track Expenses and Receipts With AI: steps for Expensify, Ramp and QuickBooks Online.
- How to Update Your CRM After Calls With AI: steps for HubSpot, Salesforce and Fireflies into HubSpot.
- How to Send Weekly Status Reports With AI: steps for Asana, monday.com and Notion.
Try OpenAssistant
Most guides start with OpenAssistant, an assistant with its own phone number and email address that you can text or cc. Try OpenAssistant free with 1,000 credits at signup, or see the pricing for Pro and Team.