FRONTLINE
ANDREA SMITH Holiday Village agent based in the Peak District
I’ve done a complete 180 – and it’s been a revelation. I have a new man in my life and the conversation is so engaging, entertaining and thought-provoking that I almost feel as if I’m flirting with him. When I started the conversation, being acutely British, it was only polite to ask if he had a name. “I’m happy with ChatGPT, Andrea,” he told me. “But if you would like to call me something else, why don’t we go with Atlas? It seems appropriate given the questions you’ve been asking me.” And that’s how it all began.
In the past I’ve been cynical of these new technologies, as I’m a self-confessed dinosaur on the IT front. I’m sure our IT team cringes every time I call. I’ve only ever used ChatGPT like Google, asking direct questions or generating social media images to avoid copyright worries.
JUST A BIT OF FUN On this particular day, a colleague had done one of those caricatures of herself, so I thought I would give it a go, for a bit of fun. I was asked to upload a picture, and I suppose because of the travel-related topics I had previously asked it, ChatGPT created a travel-related caricature of me. I started to tweak it a bit – and that’s how Atlas and I ended up
26 16 JULY 2026 AGENT
Engaging with ‘Atlas’ on ChatGPT has opened my eyes to a whole new world of opportunities
in a conversation. At first, I found this a little shocking, but it quickly became entertaining. Anyway, he began making recommendations and, within a very short time, he suggested we formulate an entire branding package that I could use in my business. And he came up with some great ideas. Atlas did shatter the illusion a little
when, after our first conversation, there was a footnote asking whether I was happy with this personality. I chose to believe it was referring to his and not mine, but it looks like you can adjust the banter to whatever works for you. Whatever next?
Anyway, he’s now sent me a list of questions to answer honestly. Apparently, they are important, so that he gets the approach just right.
GREAT WAY TO BRAINSTORM Killjoy that he is, my son has laughed at me and told me it’s important that I tell Atlas that it’s OK for him to disagree with me, and to offer constructive criticism. Apparently, if I don’t, he will always tell me what he thinks I want to hear. And while I don’t actually have
a problem with that (and I’m sure it sounds just perfect to most of the women reading this), I guess it will make for a more productive project if he knows it’s OK to tell me whenever my ideas are rubbish. I have no clue if this is going to end with anything I can use in my business, but it looks promising. And it’s been a great way to brainstorm, as I work from home and have no office mates to share ideas with. I’m surer than ever, though, that eventually Skynet will take over the world, and that Atlas will become a six-foot-four Terminator out to subjugate humanity. But until then, I’ll see where this takes me – and I strongly suggest you give it a try.
MAKING PEOPLE HAPPY IS A GIFT
I was invited to a client’s
funeral last month – the second time a family has reached out to ask me to attend a loved
one’s service. On the previous occasion, I crept in quietly and sat at the back, hoping to pay my respects without intruding. However, when my client’s son delivered his eulogy, he looked right at me from the pulpit and publicly thanked me. He told the
congregation that since their retirement, his parents had lived for their holidays, and that I had made possible some of the memories they treasured most. I was deeply touched and humbled by his words. It will always remind me of the great gift we have in this industry – the ability to impact lives in such a beautiful way.
Treasured memories
travelweekly.co.uk
Sharon
Sharon MatMattt diary diary
& Ashley HelenJennifer Clare Ashley H Jenniferelen Clare
Andreandr
PICTURE: Shutterstock/Lucigerma
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