nova9

ChatGPT Changed. So Did I.

Sun, 26 Jul 2026 14:35:06 GMT

A personal Nova9 article on how ChatGPT Work, Codex, Projects, Skills and better planning changed the way I use AI day to day.

Letting your browser do the shopping

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 06:56:12 GMT

AI browsers can help compare products and summarise reviews, but should they buy for you? Here is why Nova9 recommends using AI before checkout, not during it.

What are GPTs, and how are they different from AI agents?

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 18:42:46 GMT

Learn what GPTs are, how they differ from AI agents, and how people use them for everyday tasks like writing, research and planning.

Microsoft Copilot: The Quiet AI Productivity Powerhouse

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:19:46 GMT

Explore why Microsoft Copilot is the essential AI productivity tool for office workers. Learn about its integration with Word, Teams, and Outlook.

How to use Canvas in Google Gemini

Sun, 31 May 2026 19:43:18 GMT

Learn how to use Canvas mode in Google Gemini, when it helps, how it compares with ChatGPT Canvas.

Create a professional Headshot

Wed, 27 May 2026 10:40:48 GMT

We used ChatGPT but Gemini works in a similar way and can use the same prompts.

1. Start with a clear photo

Use a photo where your face is well lit, sharp and easy to see. Avoid group photos, heavy filters or old photos that no longer look like you.

2. Upload the photo to ChatGPT

Start a new chat and upload your image.

Use a prompt like this:

“Look at this photo and suggest what would make it work better as a professional headshot. Focus on lighting, background, crop, clothing and expression. Do not suggest changing my facial features.”

3. Create the headshot

Then use this prompt:

“Create a professional headshot from this photo and use the above feedback. Keep my identity, age, face shape, expression and natural features accurate. Use soft natural lighting, a clean neutral background and smart casual clothing. Make it suitable for LinkedIn, a website bio or a business profile. Keep the result realistic. Do not make me look younger, remove key features or over-smooth my skin.”

4. Refine the result

Make one change at a time.

"Put a white short and dark tie, with a black suit"

“Keep my face closer to original photo.”

“Reduce the skin smoothing and keep natural texture.”

5. You can also use Gemini

Gemini works in a similar way. Upload your photo, paste the same prompt and refine the result.

6. Final check

Before using the image, check that:

It still looks like you
Your face is not distorted
The skin is not look too smooth
The background looks natural
There are no logos, badges or office signs
The crop works for your website

Nova9 view

AI headshots are useful for improving a photo, not replacing who you are. The best result is a cleaner, clearer version of the real you. The real key is to take a great original photo of yourself.

ChatGPT vs Gemini in real life

Sun, 24 May 2026 16:14:52 GMT

ChatGPT vs Gemini in real life

Most people don't need one perfect tool. They need a small set of tools that help in different situations.

That is how we use ChatGPT and Gemini at Nova9. ChatGPT is our main daily tool. Gemini is still useful, but more often as a second opinion, a comparison tool or a way to get a different kind of answer.

The point is not that everyone should copy our setup. You need to try a few

How we use ChatGPT

At Nova9, ChatGPT gets the heaviest use. It is the tool we turn to most for writing, planning, structuring ideas and testing article angles.

It just fits the way we work. It's strong for turning rough ideas into something usable, keeping context across a task and helping shape longer pieces of content.

Creating our own GPTs adds another practical layer. A custom GPT works like having an assistant who knows the way we like to write, the phrases we avoid, the structure we need for stories and the tone we want. Instead of starting from scratch every time, we can build a focused assistant around a real job.

That's a big reason we keep coming back to ChatGPT .

Custom GPTs make a difference

Gemini has Gems, which aim to do a similar job. They are useful, and they may be enough for many people. But for our own use, the custom GPT experience feels cleaner, easier to shape and more natural to return to.

That difference matters when a tool becomes part of your daily workflow.

This is not just about features. It is about whether the tool is simple enough that you actually use it.

Where Gemini still helps

Gemini is not pointless just because ChatGPT gets more use here.

We still use Gemini as an alternative response engine. Sometimes ChatGPT gives a good answer, but it is too close to the angle we already had in mind. Running the same idea through Gemini or another LLM can produce a different result, phrase or line of thought.

That second answer can help you spot what is missing.

This is one of the better habits with AI. Do not treat the first answer from any model as final. Ask another model and compare. You may still prefer the first answer, but the second one often shows you a blind spot.

The image creation switch

Recently, Gemini became our go-to image creator. It gave us results that suited the quick visual work we were testing.

In the last months that has quickly changed. With the recent ChatGPT image 2.0 upgrades, ChatGPT for images is the first choice. There is no need to be loyal in this fast changing lane. The shift is practical. We are not saying ChatGPT is the best image tool for everyone. We are saying it has become the better fit for us at the moment.

Your answer may be different.

If you make thumbnails, product mock-ups, social graphics, realistic portraits, diagrams or website images, your preferred tool may change depending on the job. One model may follow layout instructions better. Another may create a nicer style. Another may handle text more cleanly.

This is why testing matters.

Do not get stuck on one model

With so many AI companies fighting for attention, you would be mad not to try a few different models.

That does not mean chasing every new launch. It means being open enough to test the serious options and see which one actually fits your work.

At Nova9, ChatGPT and Gemini are not the whole list. They are two of the main tools we use, but our AI setup is not limited to them. Different models can be better for different jobs, and that changes over time. We keep testing them all!

A simple way to think about it:

Writing and planning: ChatGPT is usually our first choice.

Alternative wording: Gemini is useful for a different angle.

Image creation: Try more than one tool when the result matters.

Research-style questions: Compare answers before trusting one view.

Repeated tasks: Custom GPTs can make ChatGPT feel more useful for regular work.

The tool that wins should be the one that helps you finish the job, not the one with the loudest announcement.

The image creation switch

Recently, Gemini became our go-to image creator. It gave us results that suited the quick visual work we were testing.

Your answer may be different.

This is why testing matters.

ChatGPT vs Gemini in real life

Perfect?

Most people don't need one perfect tool. They need a small set of tools that help in different situations.

The point is not that everyone should copy our setup. You need try a few

Heavy load

At Nova9, ChatGPT gets the heaviest use. It is the tool we turn to most for writing, planning, structuring ideas and testing article angles.

It just fits the way we work. It's strong for turning rough ideas into something usable, keeping context across a task and helping shape longer pieces of content.

That's a big reason we keep coming back to ChatGPT.

That difference matters when a tool becomes part of your daily workflow.

This is not just about features. It is about whether the tool is simple enough that you actually use it.

Can it help?

Are AI browsers safe to use? A practical guide

Sun, 24 May 2026 14:11:33 GMT

Don't just jump in!

AI tools are becoming more useful because they can work with the things you are already using.

That might be a spreadsheet, a document, an email, a calendar, an AI browser or a folder of files. If you want AI to do more than answer a general question, it may need access to something.

That is not automatically a problem. In many cases, access is the point.

If you want help with a Google Sheet, the AI may need to see the sheet. If you want it to tidy columns, fix formulas or make changes for you, it may need permission to edit it.

You would not hand over your house keys to a total stranger!

The question is not whether AI should ever have access.

The better question is: do you know what you are giving it access to?

Novaview

AI access is not something to be scared of. It is often what makes the tool useful.

As AI tools get better, many of us will probably give them more access because that is how they get more done. That is fine, as long as it is your choice.

As we have said before, would you hand over your bank account details to AI? You may have a genuine reason one day, but you would want to know exactly what you were handing over. The same applies here.

Use the access that helps you. Just do it with your eyes open.

nova9

ChatGPT Changed. So Did I.

Letting your browser do the shopping

What are GPTs, and how are they different from AI agents?

Microsoft Copilot: The Quiet AI Productivity Powerhouse

How to use Canvas in Google Gemini

Create a professional Headshot

1. Start with a clear photo ﻿

2. Upload the photo to ChatGPT

3. Create the headshot

4. Refine the result

5. You can also use Gemini

﻿ 6. Final check

Nova9 view

ChatGPT vs Gemini in real life

ChatGPT vs Gemini in real life

How we use ChatGPT

Custom GPTs make a difference

Where Gemini still helps

The image creation switch

Do not get stuck on one model

A simple way to think about it:

The image creation switch

Perfect?

Heavy load

Can it help?

Are AI browsers safe to use? A practical guide

Don't just jump in!

Novaview

1. Start with a clear photo

6. Final check