Getting started with ChatGPT Plus

Section 10.3.1 : Getting started with ChatGPT Plus

🎯 Learning objective

Mastering the interface and advanced features of ChatGPT Plus: available models, file analysis, web search, integrated DALL-E, custom GPTs, memory, custom instructions, and advanced workflows for maximum productivity.

ChatGPT Plus: much more than a chatbot

ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) is the premium version of ChatGPT giving access to OpenAI's most powerful models and exclusive features. It's the most widely used AI tool in the world with over 200 million weekly users (OpenAI, 2025).

Beyond the basic chatbot, ChatGPT Plus is a complete multimodal platform: you can analyze files, generate images, execute Python code, browse the web, and create custom assistants — all in a single interface. Understanding how to leverage each of these features is what separates the casual user from the expert user.

The ChatGPT interface in detail

Left sidebar: conversation history, organized by date. Ability to create folders (Projects), archive, rename. History search lets you find a past conversation in seconds — a considerable time saver when you have hundreds of conversations.

Chat area: the main interaction space. Each message can include text, files (PDF, Excel, CSV, images), screenshots, and web links. The attachment button (📎) allows uploading up to 10 files simultaneously.

Model selector: at the top of the conversation, select the model to use. Each model has different strengths and limitations — choosing the right model multiplies response quality.

Canvas: an extended workspace (activated via the Canvas button or by asking "open Canvas") where ChatGPT can create and edit documents or code in a side editor, with the ability to modify specific sections without regenerating everything.

Available models (March 2026)

Advanced features: the complete guide

1. File and data analysis (Advanced Data Analysis)

This is one of the most powerful and most underutilized features. ChatGPT can:

• →PDF: summarize, extract information, answer questions about the content
• →Excel/CSV: analyze data, create charts, calculate statistics, detect anomalies
• →PowerPoint: summarize a presentation, extract key points
• →Images: analyze screenshots, read text in images (OCR), interpret charts
• →Code: write and execute Python in a secure sandbox (data analysis, matplotlib charts, file processing)

Concrete example: upload a CSV export of your sales and ask "Analyze monthly trends, identify the 3 most profitable products, and create a YoY growth chart". ChatGPT executes Python in the background and delivers the analysis with charts.

2. Real-time web search

ChatGPT can search the internet in real time, with cited sources and clickable links. This feature is automatically activated when your question requires recent information.

When to use:

• →Information post-model training cutoff date
• →Recent news and events
• →Prices, market statistics, and real-time data
• →Fact-checking a claim

Limitation: ChatGPT's web search is less comprehensive than Perplexity for in-depth research. Use it for quick verifications, not for extensive competitive intelligence.

3. Integrated DALL-E (image generation)

Generate images directly in the conversation. Conversational context is preserved — you can iterate: "The image is good but make the background bluer and add a title at the top".

4. Persistent memory

ChatGPT retains information between conversations if you activate this feature (Settings > Personalization > Memory). It remembers:

• →Your profession, company, role
• →Your communication preferences (tone, length, format)
• →Projects you're working on
• →Your recurring constraints

Tip: explicitly say "Remember that I'm Marketing Director at XYZ, managing a team of 8, and our executive meetings are Tuesday mornings". ChatGPT will store it and adapt all future responses.

5. Custom Instructions

Define permanent instructions via Settings > Personalization > Custom Instructions. Two complementary fields:

"What would you like ChatGPT to know about you?" (personal context):

I'm Sophie Martin, Marketing Director at LearnIA (EdTech startup, 
45 employees). My team: 3 content managers, 2 designers, 1 growth hacker. 
Marketing budget: €200K/year. Goals: +50% qualified leads, 
+30% organic traffic. Stack: HubSpot, Semrush, Google Analytics 4, Figma. 
Market: AI training for businesses in France.

"How would you like ChatGPT to respond?" (response style):

- Respond in French unless I speak in English
- Direct tone, no platitudes. Start with the answer, then elaborate.
- For tasks, provide an actionable step-by-step plan
- If you lack info, ask rather than make things up
- Use bullet points and tables when more readable
- For marketing, always include KPIs to track
- Default length: concise. I'll say "elaborate" if I want more.

Shortcuts and advanced tips

Complete practical exercise

Duration: 30 minutes

1. →Set up your profile: activate memory in Settings > Personalization. Fill in your Custom Instructions with your real professional context (use the template above).
2. →Test 3 models on the same question: "How to improve my landing page conversion rate?" with GPT-5, o3, and GPT-4o. Compare quality, depth, and style.
3. →Upload a file: take a PDF or Excel you have on hand and request an analysis. Compare the result with what you would have done manually.
4. →Generate an image: ask for an illustration for your next LinkedIn post or presentation.
5. →Activate Canvas: ask ChatGPT to write a document in Canvas and test section-by-section editing.