How I Created a Working Product Without Developers in 24 Hours

Using Open AI and custom GPTs opened up a new world to me. It is so simple that everyone should try. To encourage you, I decided to share my experience of and provide some tips to get you started.

Not long ago, I ventured into creating a custom GPT for the first time and was amazed at how straightforward the process was. My experience was so enlightening that I felt compelled to share it, hoping to encourage others who haven't yet tried creating a custom GPT to give it a shot.

A few weeks back, we had an AI-themed hackathon at work. The rules were simple: any initiative had to support a business-related cause (internal or external) and incorporate AI. As a Project Manager (PM), I love bringing ideas to life that people will use, so I eagerly participate every year, usually forming a team with a designer and developers.

This year, I decided to shake things up. I formed a team with just an analyst and a sales manager—no developers, no designers. The hackathon spans two days: the first 24 hours are for working on the project, followed by presentations to a panel of mentors. The top nine teams then get another day to refine their projects before presenting to the entire company.

After our presentation, the feedback and questions poured in. The most common one was, "How did you do this without any designers or developers?" The answer is simple: OpenAI and custom GPTs.

Why You Don't Need to Be a Developer to Create a Custom GPT

Creating a custom GPT is incredibly user-friendly. OpenAI provides a comprehensive guide, asking key questions about the GPT’s purpose, its name, tone, and even helps create a thumbnail. Here are the key points from my experience:

No Coding Required

You don’t need to know any coding to create a custom GPT. OpenAI's intuitive interface guides you through the entire process.

Configuring Your GPT

After the initial setup with OpenAI’s guide, you can switch to configuring it. The more detailed information you provide, the better your GPT will perform. For example:

• User Data Analysis: We uploaded a CSV with user data for unique analyses. We provided a specific guide on the data structure, meaning of each data point, and a general guide on interpreting the data.

• Email Generation: We wanted the GPT to generate emails for our sales team, so we provided a template outlining the expected format and minimum information required.

Prompt Engineering

Think of prompt engineering as an interview with the GPT. Provide all the background information it might need for the task. Ask it what additional information it requires to succeed, and let it guide you. Additionally, ask it to save successful examples and iteratively improve based on them.

Final Thoughts

A few months ago, I read a fantastic post in Lenny’s newsletter about how people are using GPTs at work. It inspired me, but I initially thought it would be too complex to try. After creating my custom GPT and seeing how easy it was, I realized the possibilities are endless.

If you're unsure where to start, there are plenty of YouTube tutorials that can get you up and running in just 5-10 minutes. Feel free to message me if you need help—creating custom GPTs is fun and easy!

Good luck!