Turning My Favorite Productivity Apps Into People With ChatGPT

Your content is the face and voice of your brand.

Your blog articles, social media posts, and newsletters give your brand an identity that your audience can relate to the same way they could to a person.?

They are what make up your brand's personality. It's beating heart. Its soul. They are the thing that makes your brand feel human.

When I have an intake call with a potential new client, I send them a Q&A form as part of my onboarding process. One of the final questions is this:

"Describe your brand voice.?

If your business were a person - a real, flesh-and-blood human being with whom you could sit down at a table and have a conversation - what would they be like? What would they talk about? What would they think about? What kind of personality would they have?

This is an important one. Go into as much detail as possible.”

There is a specific reason why I ask this.

I include this question to get a better sense of their brand voice and identity. My clients' responses to that question help guide the way I write content for them. That way I can emulate that voice in the content I write for them.

One day I was messing around with ChatGPT and realized I could take this idea to its next logical step. I can use it together with DALL-E or Midjourney to visualize my clients' brands as people!

As a fun little experiment with ChatGPT for Content Marketing, I’m going to use my robot assistant Bradbury (that's the name I gave ChatGPT) together with DALL-E to imagine my favorite productivity apps as people!

The featured productivity apps I'm showcasing are Evernote , Todoist , Freedom , and Notion . Shout-out to all of you guys, you make my day-to-day as a remote worker possible!

The Process

Note: This process uses web-enabled ChatGPT-4 with the WebPilot and Wolfram plugins

In this experiment, I'm going to be using ChatGPT (or Bradbury, as I call him) together with DALL-E to imagine my favorite productivity apps as real-life people.?

These are the apps I use every day to stay organized, productive, and on-task as a remote worker and self-employed freelancer. In no particular order, these are Freedom.to, Evernote, Notion, and Todoist.

The process I'll be using goes like this:

1. Introduce the task and steps to take, and confirm

2. Give Bradbury the links to the website, features pages, and blog posts of each app or platform.

This is so that ChatGPT can understand the tools:

• Core benefits and features
• Brand voice and writing style
• Target audience
• USP

3. Brainstorm content ideas that fit with the tool's brand

4. Personify the brand using the following prompt:

ChatGPT Prompt: If {{company name}} were a person - a real, flesh-and-blood human being with whom you could sit down at a table and have a conversation - what would they be like? What would they talk about? What would they think about? What kind of personality would they have? What would they look like? Go into as much detail as possible.

5. Finally, have Bradbuy give me a prompt to visualize the brand as a person using DALL-E

Your Content Humanizes Your Brand

So why would I bother to do this experiment in the first place?

Simply put: humanizing your brand with your content gives your audience a human face and voice that your audience can connect to.

People connect to authenticity, and can generally sense when a brand is pandering to them.?

Brand personification is an established marketing technique that guides consumers to think about brands as if they were real-live people. It’s an approach to branding that makes you consider what your brand is, and who it’s for.

how you can associate your brand with human-like qualities to better connect with your audience in a way that feels authentic. 88% of consumers consider authenticity a key factor when deciding which brands they like and support.?

Let’s see what happens when we give these well-known productivity apps a face to connect with.

Freedom

The first productivity app on our list is Freedom (or Freedom.to). Freedom is an app that blocks distracting websites and apps (streaming sites, social media, and so on) during periods when you’re supposed to be working.?

It creates a distraction-free work environment that lets you focus on what’s essential. This is important to me because decades of playing video games have left me with the attention span of an ADHD-riddled goldfish. If I didn’t have Freedom installed on my phone and laptop, I would get sucked into mindlessly scrolling Reddit when I’m supposed to be working.

I start by having ChatGPT analyze Freedom’s brand voice and writing style. Bradbury makes the following observations:

So far, so standard. This is how I usually start the research portion of my writing process.

Time to make things interesting. I ask Bradbury to imagine Freedom as a person.

ChatGPT Prompt: If Freedom were a person - a real, flesh-and-blood human being with whom you could sit down at a table and have a conversation - what would they be like? What would they talk about? What would they think about? What kind of personality would they have? What would they look like? Go into as much detail as possible.

Then, I have Bradbury make a prompt describing the app Freedom as a person to put into DALL-E.

Prompt: Give me a DALL-E-2 Prompt imagining Freedom as a person, based on what you've learned about them.

Finally, it’s time for the coup-de-grace. I take that prompt and input it into DALL-E to turn Freedom into a person.

The result?

Well, it’s not terrible. It’s just a bit bland. A little bit like hipster Jesus if he shaved his beard and got a job at a startup.

Bradbury’s description of what Freedom would be like as a person is pretty spot-on though. I’ll?list it below:

Freedom as a Person

Personality and Demeanor: This mentor exudes a serene and composed demeanor, embodying tranquility and wisdom. Their empathetic nature makes them deeply understanding of the challenges in managing digital lives.

Appearance: Adopting a minimalist style, they wear comfortable yet stylish clothing that reflects a balance between professionalism and casualness. Their appearance is neat, uncluttered, and inviting.

Conversational Topics: They engage deeply in discussions about personal growth, productivity, and achieving a balanced digital life. Their insights on mindfulness and intentional technology use are both enlightening and practical.

Thoughts and Beliefs: Holding strong beliefs in self-discipline and focused attention, they advocate for a mindful approach to digital consumption. They see technology as a tool to enhance life, not detract from it.

Hobbies and Interests: Their hobbies include activities that promote presence and mindfulness, such as meditation, yoga, and spending time outdoors. These interests underscore their holistic approach to well-being.

Summary: Portrayed in a minimalist art style, this mentor is a guiding light for those seeking to navigate the complexities of the digital world with intention and purpose. They inspire a balanced approach to technology, emphasizing its use to enrich rather than detract from the quality of life.

Evernote

Evernote is a note-taking app I have been using since I was a college student in the early 2010s.?

One of its defining features is its ability to sync your notes across all your devices - write a note on your smartphone, and it will show up on the same note if you open the app on your laptop. Hence why the logo is an elephant: it never forgets.

Tim Ferriss refers to it as his electronic brain in The Four-Hour Work Week, and that’s exactly how I use it. Every blog post, every client meeting, every time I get on the phone to my health insurance company, almost everything I do in my day-to-day life starts by opening up Evernote.

Evernote is the only reason why I remember anything.

I use it to store everything from meeting notes for my client check-ins, business cards, reminders, and support calls.

I repeat the process of having Bradbury analyze? Evernote’s brand, and then using that information to describe what Evernote would be like if they were a person.

Then take that information and turn it into a DALL-E prompt to get an image personifying Evernote.

It’s at this point that I start to notice that the images tend to look similar: a white guy in a blazer holding a tablet. There are variations, Freedom has more of an arty hipster vibe while Evernote looks more like a tech-bro.

The ChatGPT descriptions continue to be helpful though. Bradbury can analyze a brand voice in half the time that I could if I did a SWOT analysis on my own.

Evernote as a Person

Personality and Demeanor: This individual is the epitome of organization and innovation, always looking for new ways to enhance productivity. They're approachable and supportive, ready to share insights or lend a helping hand.

Appearance: Dressed in smart-casual attire, they strike a perfect balance between professionalism and approachability. Their style is clean and minimalist, reflecting their efficient and organized nature.

Conversational Topics: They love discussing the latest technology trends, productivity hacks, and ways to improve personal and professional life. Conversations often revolve around innovative solutions and creative ideas.

Thoughts and Beliefs: This person believes in the power of technology to transform lives, advocating for the use of digital tools to streamline tasks and foster creativity. They hold a strong conviction that organization is key to achieving goals.

Hobbies and Interests: Their hobbies include blogging, reading about tech and self-improvement, coding, and photography. They're also passionate about traveling and mindfulness practices, seeking balance in both digital and physical realms.

Summary: A modern minimalist at heart, this person embodies the essence of Evernote through their organized lifestyle, innovative mindset, and balanced approach to life's challenges. They inspire action and creativity, making every day more productive and meaningful.

Notion

Notion is an organizational tool that includes note-taking, task management, and project-tracking capabilities.?

I don’t use it as often as Evernote, but several of my clients use it when they give me their SEO content briefs (by the way, shout-out to all you content managers who give your writers detailed content briefs. It makes our lives SO much easier ??).

I start to see similar patterns in these images.

Blazer. Glasses. White guy. Brown, curly hair. Sleek minimalist style.

I admit at this point I was a little underwhelmed. I expected a little more variety in the personifications, but they all come across as a bit bland and samey.

ChatGPT’s written descriptions of each brand as a person are much more interesting to me, and much more compelling than the images.

Bradbury isn’t much of an artist, but he’s a dab hand at doing a brand analysis, and I can easily see the usefulness that would have in making a content strategy.

Why do the personified brand images look the same??

I think it could be one of two reasons. Most likely it’s because of the Learning Language Model on which GPT-4 and DALL-E are trained.

Hypothesis: ChatGPT assumes that tech innovators are white.

That is a pretty troubling realization, and it supports the accusations that generative AI is biased and prone to race and gender stereotypes. If true, then it means that ChatGPT assumes that being tech-savvy means being white and male.

Alternative hypothesis: It’s because the brands are all roughly in the same industry - B2B SaaS tools and productivity apps. They all have related or similar functions, so it would make sense that they have similar personalities and brand voices behind them. Not as bad, but still worrying.

Notion as a Person

Personality and Demeanor: Radiates calm intelligence and warmth, balancing analytical thinking with creative innovation. Approachable and adaptable, they thrive on helping others organize and innovate.

Appearance: Adopts a minimalist and modern style, with smart, functional attire accented by pops of color. Their neat appearance reflects a sophisticated yet practical approach to life.

Conversational Topics: Engages deeply in discussions about productivity techniques, technological innovations, and creative problem-solving. Always eager to share insights and learn from others.

Thoughts and Beliefs: Believes in the power of structured yet flexible thinking, valuing continuous learning and personal growth. Sees technology as a tool to enhance human creativity and efficiency.

Hobbies and Interests: Enjoys hobbies that blend organization with creativity, such as digital art and coding. Passionate about reading across genres to expand their knowledge and understanding.

Summary: This character embodies the essence of Notion, seamlessly integrating organization, creativity, and technology into their life. They inspire and support others in achieving their goals, making them a valued companion in both personal and professional growth.

Todoist

We’re coming up on the last app. Todoist is the app I use to make my daily to-do lists.?

Mostly I use it to prioritize my daily tasks, but I also use Todoist to check off my business management tasks like posting to LinkedIn and my client outreach. If Evernote is the only reason I remember anything, Todoist is the only reason I ever get anything done.

When I run through the process of having ChatGPT describe Todoist’s brand personality and then using DALL-E to personify Todoist as a human, I start to notice a few things different from before.

Firstly, there’s the potted plants in the background. That seems appropriate for a to-do list maker.

The pen and stationary in the foreground is a nice touch as well. It’s a departure from the digital tools and tablets used by the other personified apps.

Todoist as a Person

Personality and Demeanor: This individual exudes calm and organization, approaching life with a methodical and thoughtful demeanor. They embody efficiency, always seeking the most effective way to accomplish tasks.

Appearance: Dressed in sleek, monochromatic attire, their appearance is the epitome of minimalist sophistication, reflecting their preference for simplicity and functionality.

Conversational Topics: They enthusiastically share insights on productivity hacks and the importance of maintaining a work-life balance, demonstrating a deep passion for self-improvement and efficient living.

Thoughts and Beliefs: With a firm belief in continuous growth and learning, they hold that structured organization and mindfulness are key to achieving a fulfilling and balanced life.

Hobbies and Interests: Their hobbies range from exploring the latest tech advancements to gardening, showcasing a blend of intellectual curiosity and a love for the tranquility found in nature.

Summary: This character represents a harmonious blend of growth, balance, and the pursuit of helping others achieve a similarly enriched life, through a lifestyle that marries productivity with peace.

Then, I Tried Using Midjourney

The similarities between the DALL-E images so far are a little underwhelming, but the text descriptions are quite vivid Bradbury gives me are quite vivid.

The description of each productivity app as a person could be useful on intake calls with new clients by themselves. It can help me visualize each brand’s personality and emulate it in my writing to better connect with their audience.

Then, on a friend’s suggestion, I got the idea to repeat the same process again, only with Midjourney.

The results? They were like night and day. They were such an improvement upon the DALL-E images that I was floored.

Not only that, but Midjourney is also much more woke.

Freedom

Evernote

Notion

Todoist

Not only do the figures represented in the images feature more women and people of color, but the images and art styles themselves are much more compelling and memorable. If I were a brand manager, I would much rather use these.

I’ll briefly run through my process again for each productivity app, this time personifying them using Midjourney.

For each productivity app, I used Midjourney to make three different images: one realistic, one stylized, and one with a prompt simply using “/imagine {productivity app} as a person. I had ChatGPT/Bradbury assign an art style for each productivity app’s brand and recreate the image prompts for each one.?

Each brand gets three new Midjourney images: one realistic, one stylized, and one made with “imagine brand X as a person”. I’ll include the Midjourney prompts I use for each one, and make notes on my observations.?

For the stylized images, I ask Bradbury to choose an art style appropriate for the brand, using the prompt:

ChatGPT Prompt: What art style do you think the personification of {productivity app} should have? Explain your reasoning.

Roughly, the process goes:

1. Condense the original description, include the same content
2. Give an art style for the image
3. Put them together into a prompt
4. Do two MidJourney images: one realistic, and one stylized

Let’s see what happens. We’ll start from the top, with Freedom.

Freedom as a Person: Midjourney

Realistic

Prompt: a serene and insightful mentor, embodying the essence of balance and mindfulness, seated in a minimalist, sunlit study. This person, named Freedom, wears comfortable yet stylish attire that blends professionalism with a touch of casual elegance. Their demeanor is calm and composed, with an inviting smile and eyes that reflect depth and understanding. Around them, elements that symbolize focus and productivity, such as an open journal, a digital device displaying a serene nature scene, and a small, vibrant plant, creating an atmosphere of tranquility and purpose. Freedom is engaged in a thoughtful conversation, offering wisdom on navigating the digital world with intention and balance.

This is right on the money. In this image, Freedom looks like a yoga teacher or a life coach. Someone who’s probably into crystals, or maybe a counselor. Appropriate for an productivity app that promotes mindfulness.

Stylized

Prompt: A mentor who not only speaks of balance, mindfulness, and productivity but embodies these principles in every aspect, portrayed in a minimalist art style that captures their essence with simplicity and elegance. This individual, dressed in minimalist yet stylish attire, mirrors the art's clean lines and restrained color palette, symbolizing their commitment to reducing digital clutter and enhancing mental clarity. Their presence is calm and composed, reflecting the clear, uncluttered compositions of minimalist art, which aligns with their mission to foster focused attention and tranquility in the digital realm. In conversation, they engage with the depth and clarity characteristic of minimalist art, discussing the importance of a balanced digital life with empathy and insight. Their beliefs in self-discipline and the value of focused attention are conveyed through the harmonious balance and simplicity found in their minimalist portrayal, emphasizing the need for a harmonious balance between online and offline worlds. Their relationships, built on trust and mutual respect, echo the universal appeal and accessibility of the minimalist art style, transcending cultural and linguistic barriers to connect with a broad audience seeking digital well-being. Outside of mentoring, their hobbies--such as meditation, yoga, and outdoor activities--reflect the elegance and timelessness of minimalist art, highlighting the enduring value of mindfulness and intentional living in a constantly connected digital landscape.

Bradbury chose a minimalist art style with clean lines and a restrain color palette. The woman in the eames chair is serene, elegant, and completely unbothered. I love it.

Midjourny Prompt: /imagine the app Freedom.to as a person.

I love this image as well. It epitomizes serenity and clear, uninterrupted focus amidst a sea of chaos and distraction.

The bird motifs are neat. They popped up in the other variations Midjourney came up with in its depictions of Freedom.

Evernote as a Person: Midjourney

Realistic

Midjourney Prompt: A person who is the embodiment of organization and innovation, dressed in smart-casual attire that strikes the perfect balance between professionalism and approachability. Their workspace is equipped with the latest technology, showcasing their love for digital tools that enhance productivity. This individual thrives on intellectual curiosity, dedicating their time to a range of activities that reflect their broad interests. They are an avid blogger and reader, constantly exploring new ideas in tech and self-improvement. Their passion for coding leads them to develop apps that simplify complex tasks, while photography serves as a creative outlet for capturing and organizing life's moments. Traveling is more than a hobby; it's a quest for knowledge, offering fresh perspectives and experiences. To maintain balance, they practice mindfulness, ensuring clarity and focus amidst their tech-driven pursuits. DIY projects provide a tangible means to apply their organizational skills, merging digital precision with the physical world.

The realistic Evernote is South-East Asian. Clean-cut, but more approachable than the DALL-E image from before.

Stylized

Prompt: Create an image of a person who personifies Evernote, characterized by their highly organized and innovative nature, with a deep passion for technology and productivity. They are dressed in smart-casual attire, embodying professionalism and approachability. This individual is engaged in hobbies such as blogging, reading on technology and self-improvement, coding, and photography, all within a modern minimalist office environment. Their appearance and the surrounding space are rendered in a modern minimalist art style, emphasizing clean lines, functional design, and a neutral color palette with strategic pops of color for emphasis. The art captures the essence of simplicity, efficiency, and creativity, showcasing a seamless blend of digital and physical worlds. Visualize this through a lens of sophistication and clarity, where every element is purposeful and reflects a lifestyle of innovation and balanced productivity.

For the art style, Bradbury chose a modern minimalist art style to represent Evernote’s efficiency and simplicity.

Evernote is also green when stylized, which makes sense because the logo is green. The prompt I used here mentions Evernote by name, which likely clued Midjourney off to the brand style.

/imagine Evernote as a Person

This image is really endearing to me. This is an elephant that truly never forgets.

Todoist

Realistic

Midjourney Prompt: Picture a person who is the embodiment of efficiency and tranquility, situated in a sunlit, minimalist office, encircled by plants. They're clad in refined, monochromatic attire, exuding a sense of calm and meticulousness as they interact with a digital planner. With a passion for sharing insights on enhancing productivity and achieving a balanced lifestyle, they talk about attending workshops, embracing morning exercise routines, and practicing meditation. Their hobbies range from delving into the latest in tech advancements to nurturing a garden, showcasing a knack for organization. Evenings are dedicated to participating in book clubs or writing about personal growth. This character is a testament to the pursuit of personal development, equilibrium, and inspiring others towards a fulfilling life.

This is a much more fitting representation of Todoist, in my opinion. I do notice though that the potted plants once again make an appearance, just like the DALL-E images.

Stylized

Midjourney Prompt: Picture a person who embodies peak efficiency and clarity, captured in a fusion of Flat and Swiss Design styles. Set within a minimalist workspace where bold, flat colors and crisp lines converge with structured, grid-based layouts. This character, a model of simplicity and concentration, is dressed in sleek, streamlined clothing, engaging with a geometric, vividly colored digital planner. This scene encapsulates the essence of intuitive productivity and aesthetic appeal, marrying the straightforwardness of Flat Design with the meticulous organization of Swiss Design.

This is where things start to get really interesting. Rather than have ChaGPT assign Todoist an art style, I asked it to give me a few different options, along with an explanation for each. The ones I went with are Flat Design and Swiss Design. I had Bradbury do a blend of the two and then build that into the new prompt.

/imagine Todoist as a Human

This one is the winner for me. It’s striking and bold, and immediately grabs your attention. It also uses Todoist’s red and white color palette that you see in the app and its branding.

Notion

Realistic

Here, Notion gives me the feeling of someone calm, cool, and in control. Notion is a woman in the realistic image, she is sophisticated and listens more than she speaks.

Stylized

Midjourney Prompt: a character that embodies the essence of organization, creativity, and adaptability, depicted in a blend of Digital Minimalism and Surrealist Digital Art styles. This character stands confidently in a sleek, modern workspace defined by clean lines and a monochromatic color scheme, symbolizing the clarity and efficiency of Digital Minimalism. Surrounding them, the environment transitions into a vibrant, imaginative landscape filled with surreal elements--words flowing like a river, ideas blooming from trees, and tasks floating around like clouds, representing the boundless creativity and innovative spirit of Surrealist Digital Art. The character interacts seamlessly with both worlds, using a digital tablet to bridge the structured realm of their workspace with the fantastical nature of their surroundings. This portrayal captures the duality of their personality: a master of organization with a heart of boundless creativity, navigating between the concrete and the conceptual with ease.

I had ChatGPT give me three art styles to choose from for the stylized image, which were digital minimalism, vibrant flat design,and surrealist digital art.

I went with digital minimalism and surrealist digital art for the first one. Then, I took things a step further, and had Bradbury give me another art style to test. Of all things, he gave me Cyberpunk Futurism.

Cool, I love cyberpunk! Let’s give that a try. I mix Cyberpunk Futurism with Digital Minimalism, and at the end of the variations I get this.

This is so rad. Like something right out of Cyberpunk 77. It’s bright, colorful, and fun.

/imagine Notion as a human

A woman with flowers in her curly hair. The spectacles are a nice touch. This is an image that has some life to it.

Final Thoughts

ChatGPT is much better with words, and Midjourney is much better with images.

DALL-E is better at incorporating feedback, but overall the Midjourney images are much higher quality and much more representative of each app’s brand and personality.

How can you use this information as a marketer? Have ChatGPT do your brand analysis and turn that into a creative brief, then turn that creative brief into a personality and a persona for your brand.

The possibilities are limitless though. ChatGPT opens up a whole new world of possibilities for us as content creators, writers, and marketers.

What brands, apps, or tools should I do next? Tell me in the comments and I’ll do them in the next post!