Point, click, repeat: Custom AI assistants eliminate repetitive setup work across major platforms

Custom AI assistants are transforming how professionals use generative AI, eliminating the inefficiency of repeatedly uploading background files and retyping prompts for routine tasks. These specialized tools—known as “custom GPTs” in ChatGPT, “Projects” in Claude, and “Gems” in Google Gemini—store recurring prompt elements, significantly enhancing productivity for frequent AI users and preserving the time-saving benefits that initially attracted users to generative AI platforms.

The big picture: Major generative AI platforms now offer customizable assistants that remember your context and preferences, eliminating repetitive setup work when performing similar tasks.

Why this matters: The efficiency gains from using generative AI can be undermined when users spend excessive time re-uploading files and re-writing instructions for recurring tasks.

How it works: These custom assistants store elements of prompts that would otherwise need to be repeatedly entered, streamlining the workflow for frequent AI users.

• ChatGPT calls these personalized tools “custom GPTs,” while Claude refers to them as “Projects” and Google Gemini names them “Gems.”
• Users can configure these assistants with specific knowledge, context, and instructions that persist across multiple interactions.

Key benefit: By eliminating redundant setup steps, custom AI assistants preserve the time-saving advantage that makes generative AI valuable in the first place.