(Image credit: Future)
Like a lot of people who use AI every day, my ChatGPT sidebar had become crowded. I have a custom GPT for just about everything from fact-checking to dedicated brainstorming sessions and messy notes. And while each one is useful, together they are a problem.Every single new task starts with another new decision as I wonder if I should open research GPT first or jump straight into writing and come back for editing? And then there's always the question of "Wait, didn't I already design this assistant a few months ago?"In other words, my GPTs were chaotic and I knew I wasn't being as productive as I could be. So instead of creating another specialist, I tried something different. I built one AI whose only job is deciding which AI should handle the task.Surprisingly, it has become the most useful assistant in my workflow.Why I stopped thinking about AI as one chatbot
(Image credit: Future)Most people still use AI as though it's a single assistant that should be good at everything, but users are finally catching on that there is a better way. AI models can handle many types of tasks and jobs reasonably well, but I've found they perform better when each assistant has one clear responsibility.With any productive team, everyone has a specialty. That's why I decided my AI should work the same way. So I built five specialist agents.Here's the team I originally built:Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.Research Agent. Finds reliable sources, identifies missing context and suggests follow-up questions before I begin writing.Brainstorm Agent. Similar to a research agent, this one takes my messy notes and turns them into bullet points with viable ideas.Fact-check Agent. Flags unsupported claims, reminds me where citations are needed and looks for weak sourcing.Editor Agent. Improves readability, removes repetition and smooths awkward transitions before publication.Review Agent. Takes a look at traffic, follow up possibilities and engagement.I've built agents that work for me as a journalist, but you could create your own depending on your needs or career. If you aren't sure what types of agents to create, just thinking about what your ongoing needs are and how they aren't being met. You could even ask ChatGPT to suggest agents for you.Routing agents have changed everything for me. Instead of asking myself which GPT to open, I now start every project with one assistant.Its only responsibility is deciding what happens next.For example, if I tell it: "I'm considering writing about [i.e. Apple Intelligence] but don't have quotes or much information yet."It will automatically respond with the best agent for the job. It also knows when not to suggest an agent. For example, it's not going to suggest a Fact-check agent if I'm rewriting an email in a softer tone to my neighbor who borrowed my lawn mower.If I'm brainstorming ideas, it may suggest Research agent after our brainstorming session. Instead of forcing me to remember my workflow, it creates one automatically. That small change has made me far more productive than I expected.How to build your own routing agent
