AI is starting to get access to more of the places where we actually live our lives: email, calendars, online accounts, travel plans and work tools.

That can be incredibly convenient. It also means we need to pay more attention to what we're letting AI see and do.

Here are a few updates that caught my attention.

ChatGPT can now handle more online tasks

ChatGPT Work can now complete certain tasks on websites that require you to sign in. OpenAI's examples include booking a DMV appointment, filling out passport-renewal forms, and researching medical costs through an insurance portal.

This is another step beyond asking AI for advice. We're now giving it permission to act on our behalf.

That doesn't have to be scary, but it does need some boundaries. A sensible approach:

1. Clearly define the task.
2. Limit what the AI can access.
3. Let it handle the low-risk, reversible steps.
4. Require approval before it submits, purchases or commits to anything.
5. Review the final result yourself.

ChatGPT can now work across multiple Google accounts

Users on supported paid plans can connect multiple Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Contacts accounts. So ChatGPT can search across your personal and work inboxes or juggle multiple calendars when helping plan your day.

Genuinely useful. It also means more of your personal info might be sitting in the same conversation.

Before connecting an account, ask:

• What information can the AI access?
• Can it only read information, or can it take action?
• Do I really need to give it access to everything?
• Can I disconnect it later?
• Am I comfortable mixing personal and work info?

Honestly, understanding permissions may soon be just as important as knowing how to write a good prompt.

Google is making AI-assisted travel booking more practical

Google's AI Mode can now track flight prices, show certain flights and hotels in points or miles, and help you complete hotel reservations.

The key distinction: AI can research and narrow down the options, but you should still review the dates, prices, fees and cancellation policies before booking.

A handy way to think about it:

Let AI research, compare and prepare. You make the commitment.

Same principle works for shopping, appointments and other online transactions.

AI education is putting more emphasis on human review

Google and Khan Academy introduced AI-generated interactive diagrams for math and science. Teachers can also use AI to create practice questions, but they can edit, approve or reject everything before students see it.

That's a great model for all of us:

AI creates the first version. A human reviews it and makes the final call.

Being good at AI isn't about handing over the whole process. It's about knowing which parts it can handle, and where your own judgment needs to take over.

One prompt to try this week

Before connecting AI to an account or service:

I'm considering connecting AI to [email, calendar, website or app]. Explain in plain English what information it may be able to access, what actions it could potentially take, what risks I should consider and which permissions I should review first. Don't assume I should connect it.

The big takeaway

As AI gets more capable, knowing what to ask is only part of the equation.

We also need to understand what access we're granting, and make sure we stay in control once we grant it.

– Steve

Want to get comfortable using AI every day, minus the overwhelm? That's exactly what AI Unlocked is for: 10 short, hands-on modules in plain English.

This post originally went out to my email list on August 31, 2026.