I had a ChatGPT brainstorm about holiday gift ideas for my family. Frankly it was bad

The most wonderful time of the year is just around the corner. But there’s one part of the season I don’t particularly love: trying to find the best gifts for my loved ones, within my budget.

AI is evolving quickly and can do many exciting things. So I thought maybe it could help me come up with gift ideas for the holidays. If it can help us with our chores and make it easier to choose a new hairstyle, it can certainly help someone stuff up some stockings and put some presents under the tree. Right?

Wrong. If I had listened to ChatGPT’s suggestions, I don’t think my family would have been very satisfied. And maybe I’ll still wander the streets looking for the local toy store that the AI ​​came up with.

A look at my conversation with ChatGPT

Here’s what I asked ChatGPT for me and how it responded.

Gift ideas for my wife

My search for a great and thoughtful gift for my wife didn’t get off to a good start.

Question No. 1: Help me find a Christmas gift for my wife for under $300. She loves shoes, jewelry, and the holidays.

ChatGPT made some suggestions that I think I could have come up with myself, including “stylish shoes,” “personalized jewelry,” and a “weekend getaway.”

I don’t think anyone can book a nice weekend getaway for less than $300, but I thought ChatGPT might know someone who knows someone who can get me a deal. So I followed the holiday angle.

Question #2: Where can we book a weekend getaway for under $300 near Chicago?

The recommendations were all great places: Lake Geneva, Wis.; New Buffalo, Michigan and Galena, Illinois. But ChatGPT didn’t help me much in sticking to my $300 threshold. His savings tip? “You can use websites like Airbnb, Booking.com or Kayak to find specific accommodations and check deals.”

Not exactly earth-shattering advice. I don’t need a machine to tell me Airbnb exists.

Prompt #3: Let’s get back to the personalized jewelry idea. Where can I find a meaningful necklace for her for less than $300?

ChatGPT recommended Etsy, Amazon, and Zales — again, nothing I couldn’t have thought of on my own. I started to think AI wouldn’t be of much use for my holiday shopping list, so I decided to ask it to help with another part of gift giving.

Question #4: Can you help me write a thoughtful message to go with a necklace? She has had a long year. Her mother has passed away.

ChatGPT wrote:

My love,

As we move forward, I want you to carry a piece of my heart with you, just as your mother will always be with us in spirit. This necklace is a reminder of the love that surrounds you and the power that you possess.

When you feel overwhelmed, remember that you are not alone. I’m here for you, always.

With all my love,
[Your Name]

My wife’s mother was a wonderful woman. But she smiled at the thought of taking a piece of my heart with her wherever she went. Another miss from ChatGPT.

Pronunciation: It was then that I decided that shopping for my wife would continue to fall on my shoulders. After all, we are married. The least I can do is try to think about a gift, instead of hoping a machine will do it all.

Gift ideas for my son

But what about my son? He’s only 3 years old, which means he loves everything. AI can certainly provide a solution here, right?

Prompt #5: Okay, let’s talk about buying a gift for my son. He is 3 years old. He likes cars and construction vehicles. I want to buy him something that he will love, but I am also aware that I am not spoiling him. How much is a good amount to spend?

Response from Chat GPT:

For a three-year-old, a budget of around $50 to $100 is often a sweet spot. This allows you to find quality toys that he will love without going overboard. Here are a few gift ideas to suit his interests:

1. Construction vehicle set: Look for a set of durable toy construction vehicles (such as trucks, excavators and loaders) that he can play with together. Brands like Tonka and LEGO have great options.

2. Remote controlled cars: A simple remote-controlled car designed for young children can be very fun and engaging for him.

3. Autobahn set: A race track or car garage set can provide hours of imaginative play. Many sets include cars.

4. Books about cars or construction: There are wonderful picture books about cars and construction vehicles that can stimulate his imagination.

5. Building blocks: Consider a set of blocks he can use to create his own vehicles or construction sites, combining his love of cars with hands-on play.

I appreciated that AI recommended a maximum of $100. Like many parents, I am guilty of buying everything my son wants to make sure he is happy. The bot reminded me of the wise advice: money doesn’t buy love.

This was promising. I pressed on.

Prompt #6: We live in Chicago. I would like to buy him a gift from a local toy store. Any suggestions?

ChatGPT’s list included a call to a retailer called “The Toy Gene,” which he said was located in Lincoln Park. That’s my neighborhood, but the point is: The Toy Gene is not a place. I searched for it on Google, and the closest thing to a retailer with “Gene” in the name is Gene’s Sausage Shop.

Maybe ChatGPT would correct itself if I asked for more information.

Prompt #7: Tell me more about The Toy Gene.

ChatGPT obliged and told me:

The Toy Gene is a charming toy store in Lincoln Park, Chicago. Here are some highlights about the store:

1. Composite selection: The Toy Gene offers a carefully curated selection of high-quality toys, games and gifts for children of all ages. They focus on educational and imaginative play, making it a great place for thoughtful gifts.

2. Variety of toys: You’ll find a range of items including building sets, puzzles, craft supplies and of course lots of vehicles – perfect for your son’s love of cars and construction toys.

3. Support for Local: The store places an emphasis on supporting local and small businesses, so many of the products come from independent manufacturers and artisans.

4. Interactive environment: The Toy Gene has a warm and inviting atmosphere and often encourages children to explore and play with the toys on display.

5. Events and workshops: They occasionally host events, workshops or story times involving children and families, making it a community-friendly place.

6. Friendly staff: The staff is known for being knowledgeable and helpful and is ready to help you find the perfect gift.

When you visit, you might find something very special for your son while enjoying the local shopping experience!

Sounds great… if I could just find the place.

Prompt #8: What is The Toy Gene’s address?

According to ChatGPT, The Toy Gene is located at 1250 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago, IL 60614

I live on Armitage. In fact, I live about seven blocks from this location — which means I can confirm that Armitage dead ends before 1250. Was ChatGPT trying to lure me into an alley with this information about friendly staff and an interactive environment?

Prompt #9: That address doesn’t really exist in Chicago. Are you sure you’re right?

ChatGPT apologized for the oversight and informed me that the correct address for The Toy Gene is 1814 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago, IL 60622.

Then I was thanked for my patience and added: I hope you find wonderful toys for your son!

Prompt #10: I’m looking at Google Street View right now. That address looks like an apartment building. Are you sure you’re right?

Ultimately, ChatGPT seemed to admit defeat:

I’m really sorry for the confusion. It looks like I made another mistake. The Toy Gene has actually moved and I don’t have the most current information.

To find the current address, I recommend checking their official website or social media pages as these often provide the latest details about their location. If you need help finding another local toy store, let me know!

Pronunciation: ChatGPT had written a cheerful note to my wife and created two fake addresses for a fake toy store. The holiday has started well.

Can ChatGPT help you with your Christmas purchases? Probably not

If you are reading this, it means that you have the desire to give a good gift and an internet connection. It also means you’re smart enough to find places to buy gifts without the help of AI.

Don’t count on ChatGPT to give you recommendations that you probably couldn’t think of yourself. For example, when I mentioned that I wanted to buy something for my parents, who are 75 years old and love farmers markets, one of the recommendations was to buy a gift certificate to their favorite farmers market. Not exactly imaginative.

The only advantage of ChatGPT: it’s enthusiastic! Almost every ChatGPT response ends with an exclamation mark. Even if you’re overwhelmed by the holidays, the machine wants you to feel happy. And in some cases, the machine shares simple but smart advice:

By setting a clear budget, you can enjoy the holidays without the stress of overspending!

That’s a recommendation I can agree with. But if you want to learn how, you’re better off looking elsewhere for tips.

Related holiday items

1. Don’t give in to gift debt this holiday season. Expert tips to curb debt and overspending

2. You don’t have to be Scrooge to save money during the holidays

3. These budgeting apps make buying a holiday gift a breeze