{
  "id": "personal-ai-assistant",
  "title": "Personal AI agent for everyday life",
  "category": "assistants",
  "job": "Get a daily brief of your calendar, the emails that actually need you, and what's due this week, with replies drafted but never sent without you.",
  "difficulty": "Beginner",
  "tools": [
    {
      "id": "chatgpt",
      "name": "ChatGPT",
      "url": "https://chatgpt.com",
      "kind": "research",
      "summary": "OpenAI's assistant with Deep Research and data analysis; Plus also includes Codex.",
      "open_source": false,
      "pricing": {
        "plans": [
          {
            "name": "Plus",
            "usd_month": 20,
            "note": "Monthly"
          }
        ],
        "source": "https://aiplantracker.com/compare/chatgpt-vs-perplexity/",
        "status": "verified",
        "notes": "Price via third-party tracker; Deep Research quotas aren't published."
      },
      "last_checked": "2026-10-21"
    },
    {
      "id": "claude",
      "name": "Claude (app)",
      "url": "https://claude.com",
      "kind": "assistant",
      "summary": "Anthropic's assistant app. Paid plans add connectors (Gmail, Google Calendar, Drive), custom MCP servers in Claude Desktop, and the Claude for Excel add-in.",
      "open_source": false,
      "pricing": {
        "plans": [
          {
            "name": "Pro",
            "usd_month": 20,
            "note": "$17/mo billed yearly; includes Claude for Excel and Gmail/Calendar connectors"
          },
          {
            "name": "Max 5x",
            "usd_month": 100,
            "note": "5x Pro usage per session"
          }
        ],
        "source": "https://claude.com/pricing",
        "status": "verified",
        "notes": "Claude for Excel is generally available on Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise (claude.com/docs/office-agents/excel). Gmail and Calendar connectors are read-only."
      },
      "last_checked": "2026-10-21"
    },
    {
      "id": "lindy",
      "name": "Lindy",
      "url": "https://www.lindy.ai",
      "kind": "assistant",
      "summary": "AI assistant that manages your inbox, drafts replies in your voice, schedules meetings, takes meeting notes and runs scheduled routines across 1,500+ integrations.",
      "open_source": false,
      "pricing": {
        "plans": [
          {
            "name": "Free",
            "usd_month": 0,
            "note": "$50 in credits, valid 7 days, no card"
          },
          {
            "name": "Team",
            "usd_month": 49.99,
            "note": "Per active user, 5,000 credits/mo; top-ups $10 per 1,000 credits"
          }
        ],
        "source": "https://www.lindy.ai/pricing",
        "status": "verified",
        "notes": "Lindy pauses when credits run out, so no surprise bills."
      },
      "last_checked": "2026-10-21"
    }
  ],
  "model": "Built into each app",
  "mcp_servers": [],
  "config": {
    "filename": "assistant-brief.md",
    "language": "markdown",
    "code": "# About me\nTime zone:\nWork hours:\nPeople who always get a reply:\nNever do without asking: send email, accept invites, pay, delete\n\n# Daily brief (weekdays 7:30)\n- Today's meetings, with a one-line prep note each\n- Emails from real people that need a reply, with a short draft\n- Bills, deliveries and renewals due this week\n\n# Weekly (Sunday 18:00)\n- Next week at a glance, with conflicts flagged"
  },
  "starter_prompt": "Every weekday at 7:30, check my Gmail and Google Calendar and send me a brief: today's meetings with a one-line prep note each, emails from real people that need a reply (skip newsletters and receipts), and anything due this week such as bills, deliveries or renewals. Draft replies, but never send email, accept invites or delete anything without asking me first. Here's my brief: <paste assistant-brief.md>",
  "monthly_cost": {
    "min_usd": 20,
    "max_usd": 70,
    "note": "ChatGPT Plus $20/month runs the scheduled brief (5 active tasks, hourly schedules). Lindy Team is $49.99/month per user for 5,000 credits if you want inbox triage and meeting scheduling all day; try its free $50 credits (7 days) first. Claude Pro ($20) is an alternative if you only need answers about your email."
  },
  "steps": [
    "Fill in the brief, especially the 'never do without asking' line.",
    "In ChatGPT, connect Gmail and Google Calendar under Settings > Apps.",
    "Paste the starter prompt to create a scheduled task, then check it on the Scheduled page.",
    "Want it to react when an email arrives? Create an event-triggered task in Work (Plus and above, Gmail, Slack or GitHub).",
    "After two weeks, if you're still triaging email by hand, trial Lindy for inbox management and meeting scheduling."
  ],
  "why_this_works": "Scheduled tasks turn a chatbot into an assistant that shows up on time, and keeping every send or change behind your approval makes it safe to connect real accounts.",
  "watch_out": "ChatGPT pauses a task when an action that sends a message or changes data needs approval; keep it that way. Claude's Gmail and Calendar connectors are read-only, which is a safe first step. Never put passwords, account numbers or health details in task instructions, since shared task links include the full instructions.",
  "unverified": [
    "Which Google Calendar actions ChatGPT can take (not just read) depends on your account and the app's permissions; this loadout only relies on reading."
  ],
  "tested": false,
  "last_checked": "2026-10-21"
}