Why Not Use ChatGPT for Personal Tech Support?
One of the first things you learn when you become an independent consultant is that you are largely on your own when computer problems arise. Over time, I’ve watched that reality shift—from phone based call centers or or inhouse staff to ChatGPT.
My current use of ChatGPT (I pay for a subscription, which remembers my conversations) has helped resolve problems related to printers, software installation, cameras, microphone controls, non-responsive online help systems, and phone–computer integration. I’ve even used ChatGPT to categorize text data and clean up lists that later served as mail-merge inputs for promoting my consulting services.
ChatGPT (and, I assume, other AI tools) combine several powerful features:
A generalized diagnostic approach that adapts to different situations (for example, hardware versus software, installation versus day-to-day use, etc.)
Conversational information exchange, rather than forcing users through rigid, pre-structured forms.
An evolving repair process, where the solution and discussion evolve as more detail is added.
Persistent conversations that can be paused and resumed later with no loss of context—a real boon when multitasking.
Multiple input modes, allowing information to be shared via text, voice, or images.
Sure, it would be nice to have a personal tech-support specialist who knows my name. But I can contact ChatGPT at any time of day, and we simply pick up where we left off.
Let’s be honest, though: dealing with traditional tech support or with ChatGPT—whether through a live human, a phone call, or a keyboard—requires time that can be more productively spent on income-generating work. For now, though, I’m genuinely glad I have ChatGPT and don’t have to rely solely on my own ignorance!
Copyright © 2026 by Dennis D. McDonald.
